Using Help Text for Update Requests

I understand how to use automated update requests, which is great, but when the update is sent it only shows the column headings. Can I include "help text" like I can in forms when sending an update request or, alternatively, include the column description in update requests?

Example: I use forms to gather information into a sheet. The column header may be something like, "Data Types." But the form includes "help text" for that field to describe how to use the field (e.g., Describe the types of data that your organization collects on our behalf"). Because I want an update on this next year, I set up automated updates. But the update request only provides the recipient "Data Types" with their previous answer and no context or "help text" to understand the field.

Answers

  • Andrée Starå
    Andrée Starå ✭✭✭✭✭✭

    Hi@Tammy Fanara

    I hope you're well and safe!

    Here's a possible workaround or workarounds

    You can add so-called helper columns for each helper text and include the text by using column formulas on each row and then lock the column and include it in the Update Request.

    Make sense?

    Would that work/help?

    I hope that helps!

    Be safe, and have a fantastic week!

    Best,

    Andrée Starå| Workflow Consultant / CEO @WORK BOLD

    了我的帖子(s)帮助或回答你的问题吗tion or solve your problem? Please support the Community bymarking it Insightful/Vote Up, Awesome, or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!

    SMARTSHEET EXPERT CONSULTANT & PARTNER

    Andrée Starå| Workflow Consultant / CEO @WORK BOLD

    W:www.workbold.com| E:[email protected]| P: +46 (0) - 72 - 510 99 35

    Feel free to contact me about help with Smartsheet, integrations, general workflow advice, or something else entirely.

\n \n https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/108888\/is-it-possible-to-url-query-an-embedded-form\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n

Hi,<\/p>

I hope you're well and safe!<\/p>

Unfortunately, as far as I know, it's not possible now (if you mean that the Query should be included in the URL to Dashboard, it's only possible in the URL to the form), but it's an excellent idea!<\/p>

Please submit this as a Product Feedback or Idea <\/strong>(If it hasn't been added already)<\/em><\/strong> when you have a moment.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

How would you like to use it? What's the use case?<\/p>

I hope that helps!<\/p>

Be safe, and have a fantastic weekend!<\/p>

Best,<\/p>

Andrée Starå<\/strong><\/a> | Workflow Consultant \/ CEO @ WORK BOLD<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Did my post(s) help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community by <\/em>marking it Insightful\/Vote Up, Awesome, or\/and as the accepted answer<\/em><\/strong>. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!<\/em><\/p>"}]}},"status":{"statusID":3,"name":"Accepted","state":"closed","recordType":"discussion","recordSubType":"question"},"bookmarked":false,"unread":false,"category":{"categoryID":321,"name":"Smartsheet Basics","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/smartsheet-basics%2B","allowedDiscussionTypes":[]},"reactions":[{"tagID":3,"urlcode":"Promote","name":"Promote","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":5,"count":0},{"tagID":5,"urlcode":"Insightful","name":"Insightful","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0},{"tagID":11,"urlcode":"Up","name":"Vote Up","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0},{"tagID":13,"urlcode":"Awesome","name":"Awesome","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0}],"tags":[{"tagID":204,"urlcode":"Forms","name":"Forms"},{"tagID":254,"urlcode":"Formulas","name":"Formulas"},{"tagID":292,"urlcode":"Dashboards","name":"Dashboards"},{"tagID":530,"urlcode":"url","name":"URL"}]},{"discussionID":108886,"type":"question","name":"Why does a user show an email address?","excerpt":"When I'm adding users to Assigned, it usually shows the First Name Last Name, but sometimes it just shows the email address. How do I fix this? See screenshot example.","snippet":"When I'm adding users to Assigned, it usually shows the First Name Last Name, but sometimes it just shows the email address. How do I fix this? See screenshot example.","categoryID":321,"dateInserted":"2023-08-12T18:59:03+00:00","dateUpdated":null,"dateLastComment":"2023-08-12T20:33:33+00:00","insertUserID":128842,"insertUser":{"userID":128842,"name":"Karen Bruer","title":"","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Karen%20Bruer","photoUrl":"https:\/\/aws.smartsheet.com\/storageProxy\/image\/images\/u!1!5MPAuTrWZX4!elHDp9qhGX4!HMSKFvshvfI","dateLastActive":"2023-08-13T15:19:32+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭✭✭✭"},"updateUserID":null,"lastUserID":161632,"lastUser":{"userID":161632,"name":"SteyJ","title":"Jacob Stey","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/SteyJ","photoUrl":"https:\/\/aws.smartsheet.com\/storageProxy\/image\/images\/u!1!5Zjq-V_rc4o!zmkrczO71bo!6kwXWfi9FUH","dateLastActive":"2023-08-13T15:59:45+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭✭✭"},"pinned":false,"pinLocation":null,"closed":false,"sink":false,"countComments":1,"countViews":21,"score":null,"hot":3383739756,"url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/108886\/why-does-a-user-show-an-email-address","canonicalUrl":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/108886\/why-does-a-user-show-an-email-address","format":"Rich","lastPost":{"discussionID":108886,"commentID":390375,"name":"Re: Why does a user show an email address?","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/comment\/390375#Comment_390375","dateInserted":"2023-08-12T20:33:33+00:00","insertUserID":161632,"insertUser":{"userID":161632,"name":"SteyJ","title":"Jacob Stey","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/SteyJ","photoUrl":"https:\/\/aws.smartsheet.com\/storageProxy\/image\/images\/u!1!5Zjq-V_rc4o!zmkrczO71bo!6kwXWfi9FUH","dateLastActive":"2023-08-13T15:59:45+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭✭✭"}},"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/"},{"name":"Get Help","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/get-help"},{"name":"Smartsheet Basics","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/smartsheet-basics%2B"}],"groupID":null,"statusID":3,"image":{"url":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/I85D28MOQEGC\/image.png","urlSrcSet":{"10":"","300":"","800":"","1200":"","1600":""},"alt":"image.png"},"attributes":{"question":{"status":"accepted","dateAccepted":"2023-08-13T15:20:11+00:00","dateAnswered":"2023-08-12T20:33:33+00:00","acceptedAnswers":[{"commentID":390375,"body":"

\n \n https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/108886\/why-does-a-user-show-an-email-address\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n

You can have them update their contact card by going to Settings -> Personal Settings<\/p>"}]}},"status":{"statusID":3,"name":"Accepted","state":"closed","recordType":"discussion","recordSubType":"question"},"bookmarked":false,"unread":false,"category":{"categoryID":321,"name":"Smartsheet Basics","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/smartsheet-basics%2B","allowedDiscussionTypes":[]},"reactions":[{"tagID":3,"urlcode":"Promote","name":"Promote","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":5,"count":0},{"tagID":5,"urlcode":"Insightful","name":"Insightful","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0},{"tagID":11,"urlcode":"Up","name":"Vote Up","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0},{"tagID":13,"urlcode":"Awesome","name":"Awesome","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0}],"tags":[]},{"discussionID":108879,"type":"question","name":"Not all recipients are receiving automated emails","excerpt":"Hello. I have many sheets with automation and i have one that is giving me an issue. I am getting the above email notice from smartsheets for this one automation on one sheet. I have double checked that the restrictions are set to \"Unrestricted\". See attachments. Thank you! Any ideas what is happening or how to fix it?","snippet":"Hello. I have many sheets with automation and i have one that is giving me an issue. I am getting the above email notice from smartsheets for this one automation on one sheet. I…","categoryID":321,"dateInserted":"2023-08-11T22:17:59+00:00","dateUpdated":null,"dateLastComment":"2023-08-12T15:59:01+00:00","insertUserID":165014,"insertUser":{"userID":165014,"name":"David Sprague","title":"Fire Chief","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/David%20Sprague","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/defaultavatar\/nWRMFRX6I99I6.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-08-12T22:17:23+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭"},"updateUserID":null,"lastUserID":8888,"lastUser":{"userID":8888,"name":"Andrée Starå","title":"Smartsheet Expert Consultant & Partner | Workflow Consultant \/ CEO @ WORK BOLD","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Andr%C3%A9e%20Star%C3%A5","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/userpics\/0PAU3GBYQLBT\/nXWM7QXGD6464.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-08-13T15:40:14+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭✭✭✭✭✭"},"pinned":false,"pinLocation":null,"closed":false,"sink":false,"countComments":3,"countViews":36,"score":null,"hot":3383650020,"url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/108879\/not-all-recipients-are-receiving-automated-emails","canonicalUrl":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/108879\/not-all-recipients-are-receiving-automated-emails","format":"Rich","lastPost":{"discussionID":108879,"commentID":390368,"name":"Re: Not all recipients are receiving automated emails","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/comment\/390368#Comment_390368","dateInserted":"2023-08-12T15:59:01+00:00","insertUserID":8888,"insertUser":{"userID":8888,"name":"Andrée Starå","title":"Smartsheet Expert Consultant & Partner | Workflow Consultant \/ CEO @ WORK BOLD","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Andr%C3%A9e%20Star%C3%A5","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/userpics\/0PAU3GBYQLBT\/nXWM7QXGD6464.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-08-13T15:40:14+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭✭✭✭✭✭"}},"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Home","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/"},{"name":"Get Help","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/get-help"},{"name":"Smartsheet Basics","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/smartsheet-basics%2B"}],"groupID":null,"statusID":3,"attributes":{"question":{"status":"accepted","dateAccepted":"2023-08-12T22:18:07+00:00","dateAnswered":"2023-08-12T15:04:58+00:00","acceptedAnswers":[{"commentID":390360,"body":"

Hi @David Sprague<\/a>, <\/p>

I hope you're well and safe!<\/p>

There's a known issue at the moment.<\/p>

I'll get back to the post if I can find the thread.<\/p>

I hope that helps!<\/p>

Be safe, and have a fantastic weekend!<\/p>

Best,<\/p>

Andrée Starå<\/strong><\/a> | Workflow Consultant \/ CEO @ WORK BOLD<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Did my post(s) help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community by <\/em>marking it Insightful\/Vote Up, Awesome, or\/and as the accepted answer<\/em><\/strong>. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!<\/em><\/p>"}]}},"status":{"statusID":3,"name":"Accepted","state":"closed","recordType":"discussion","recordSubType":"question"},"bookmarked":false,"unread":false,"category":{"categoryID":321,"name":"Smartsheet Basics","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/smartsheet-basics%2B","allowedDiscussionTypes":[]},"reactions":[{"tagID":3,"urlcode":"Promote","name":"Promote","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":5,"count":0},{"tagID":5,"urlcode":"Insightful","name":"Insightful","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0},{"tagID":11,"urlcode":"Up","name":"Vote Up","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0},{"tagID":13,"urlcode":"Awesome","name":"Awesome","class":"Positive","hasReacted":false,"reactionValue":1,"count":0}],"tags":[]}],"initialPaging":{"nextURL":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/api\/v2\/discussions?page=2&categoryID=321&includeChildCategories=1&type%5B0%5D=Question&excludeHiddenCategories=1&sort=-hot&limit=3&expand%5B0%5D=all&expand%5B1%5D=-body&expand%5B2%5D=insertUser&expand%5B3%5D=lastUser&status=accepted","prevURL":null,"currentPage":1,"total":4943,"limit":3},"title":"Trending in Smartsheet Basics","subtitle":null,"description":null,"noCheckboxes":true,"containerOptions":[],"discussionOptions":[]}">

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