Several Columns Have the Same Name
I have several workspaces that people use to make different sheets. The problem is that whenever I try to make a report for someone and I'm sorting out which columns to include, there are several columns with the same name. For instance, if the column name was 'Contacts', there are four columns named 'Contacts' which each one being used on multiple different sheets. How can I fix this issue to prevent people who have access to these workspaces in the future from making a column with the same name and how do I get all of these options narrowed down to one?
Best Answer
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Monique_Odom_Comcast ✭✭✭✭
Hello@happinessisland,
What is likely happening here is that the columns from the various sheets are different column types. For example, one sheet might have the Contacts column as a Contact List, another might have it as a Dropdown List, and yet another might have it as Text. Each column type will show up separately on a report. If you want the data to combine into a single report column, they should all be the same Column Type.
I would suggest changing them all to the same type and then educating people using those sheets on the preferred way to use Contacts columns in your process.
Monique Odom
Process Manager
Smartsheet Automagician
Pronouns: She/Her (What’s this?)
“Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!” – Ms. Frizzle
Answers
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Monique_Odom_Comcast ✭✭✭✭
Hello@happinessisland,
What is likely happening here is that the columns from the various sheets are different column types. For example, one sheet might have the Contacts column as a Contact List, another might have it as a Dropdown List, and yet another might have it as Text. Each column type will show up separately on a report. If you want the data to combine into a single report column, they should all be the same Column Type.
I would suggest changing them all to the same type and then educating people using those sheets on the preferred way to use Contacts columns in your process.
Monique Odom
Process Manager
Smartsheet Automagician
Pronouns: She/Her (What’s this?)
“Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!” – Ms. Frizzle
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Thank you so much! I didn't think of that.
Categories
<\/p>
I personally prefer to just insert a date type column and then set up a Record A Date automation to record the date in this new column daily at 12:00am.<\/p>"},{"commentID":398086,"body":"
\"Just to confirm, on the Record a Date option, this will update all the formulas that use TODAY() in the sheet? I don't need to point at that date instead of using TODAY() do I?\"<\/p>
<\/p>
That is correct. You can maintain your TODAY references. You do not need to reference the [today's date] column.<\/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":334,"urlcode":"automations","name":"Automations"}]},{"discussionID":111040,"type":"question","name":"Chart Widget","excerpt":"Is it possible to add a pattern (e.g., diagonal lines) to a dashboard chart?","snippet":"Is it possible to add a pattern (e.g., diagonal lines) to a dashboard chart?","categoryID":321,"dateInserted":"2023-10-02T13:00:01+00:00","dateUpdated":null,"dateLastComment":"2023-10-02T14:14:09+00:00","insertUserID":167431,"insertUser":{"userID":167431,"name":"Ben B.","title":"Business Process Manager","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Ben%20B.","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/defaultavatar\/nWRMFRX6I99I6.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-10-03T14:55:48+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":true,"label":"✭✭"},"updateUserID":null,"lastUserID":167431,"lastUser":{"userID":167431,"name":"Ben B.","title":"Business Process Manager","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Ben%20B.","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/defaultavatar\/nWRMFRX6I99I6.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-10-03T14:55:48+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":true,"label":"✭✭"},"pinned":false,"pinLocation":null,"closed":false,"sink":false,"countComments":2,"countViews":33,"score":null,"hot":3392508850,"url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/111040\/chart-widget","canonicalUrl":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/111040\/chart-widget","format":"Rich","tagIDs":[292],"lastPost":{"discussionID":111040,"commentID":397846,"name":"Re: Chart Widget","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/comment\/397846#Comment_397846","dateInserted":"2023-10-02T14:14:09+00:00","insertUserID":167431,"insertUser":{"userID":167431,"name":"Ben B.","title":"Business Process Manager","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Ben%20B.","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/defaultavatar\/nWRMFRX6I99I6.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-10-03T14:55:48+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":true,"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":"2023-10-02T13:48:22+00:00","dateAnswered":"2023-10-02T13:31:53+00:00","acceptedAnswers":[{"commentID":397827,"body":"