You need data from one board to appear in another. Naturally, you use mirror columns. They’re easy to set up and look great—until you try to use that mirrored data in:

• Formulas
  
• Automations
  
• Reporting
  
• Filtering or conditional logic
  

That’s where mirror columns fall short.

The Problem with Mirror Columns

Mirror columns are:

• Read-only: You can’t use them in most automations or update them manually
  
• Limited in functionality: They don’t support formulas, dropdowns, or deeper integrations
  
• Inflexible: You can’t extract or reuse the mirrored data in workflows across multiple boards
  

If your team is scaling, mirroring becomes more of a constraint than a solution.

The Better Way: VLOOKUP Auto-link by Jetpack Apps

VLOOKUP allows you to pull data from one board into another—just like a mirror column—but with full control, flexibility, and automation support.

Here’s how VLOOKUP outperforms mirror columns:

What You Can Do with VLOOKUP That Mirrors Can’t

• Use synced data in conditional logic, automations, or dashboards
  
• Update values across boards and write data back if needed
  
• Pull complex field types—like people, numbers, statuses, or dropdowns
  
• Sync sub-items between boards
  
• Use multiple matching conditions for more granular linking

How to Replace Mirror Columns with VLOOKUP

Step 1: Install the VLOOKUP App

If you haven’t already, install VLOOKUP Auto-Link from the monday.com App Marketplace.

Step 2: Open the VLOOKUP View

Navigate to your target board and open the VLOOKUP app view.

Step 3: Create Your First Recipe

• Select a source board (where your original data lives)
  
• Select a target board (where you want to bring the data)
  
• Choose a matching key (like email, ID, or name)
  
• Map the source columns to the target columns
  
• Pick an activation trigger (e.g., when an item is created or changed)
  

Now, when data is added or updated on your source board, VLOOKUP will pull it into your target board—just like a mirror column, but smarter.

The Result: Full Visibility + Full Flexibility

You’ll now have:

• Syncing that works with formulas, filters, and automations
  
• Editable values that can be used downstream
  
• Scalable workflows that don’t break under complexity
  

Conclusion:

If mirror columns are holding you back, VLOOKUP gives you a powerful, flexible upgrade that doesn’t just reflect data—it empowers it.

It’s the smart way to connect boards, sync data, and unlock automation across your monday.com workspace.