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?

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Best Answer

  • Monique_Odom_Comcast
    Monique_Odom_Comcast ✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    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

  • Monique_Odom_Comcast
    Monique_Odom_Comcast ✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    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

  • Thank you so much! I didn't think of that.

You are going to need to set up a second automation that unlocks an hour later if you want to keep with the lock\/unlock method.<\/p>


<\/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":"

Hi @Ben B.<\/a> <\/p>

Technically no, you can't add diagonal lines. You could add an image of a diagonal line but it would take up the same space as a square and leave excess blank space. You could submit a feature request though. I'd upvote that.<\/p>

Have a great day.<\/p>

Matt<\/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":292,"urlcode":"dashboards","name":"Dashboards"}]},{"discussionID":110995,"type":"question","name":"Setting up a weekly automation to alert someone in 30, 60 and 90 days of a date","excerpt":"I have a sheet that tracks employees certifications. I'd like to setup a single automation that runs weekly to alert the employee when the expiration date is within 180, 90, 60 and 30 days away. I'd prefer that the 180 day alert only be sent monthly until the 90 day date is hit, then weekly. I'd like the message sent to…","snippet":"I have a sheet that tracks employees certifications. I'd like to setup a single automation that runs weekly to alert the employee when the expiration date is within 180, 90, 60…","categoryID":321,"dateInserted":"2023-09-29T14:35:03+00:00","dateUpdated":null,"dateLastComment":"2023-10-02T13:16:13+00:00","insertUserID":56876,"insertUser":{"userID":56876,"name":"Mike.Jennings56876","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Mike.Jennings56876","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/defaultavatar\/nWRMFRX6I99I6.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-10-03T11:09:30+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭✭"},"updateUserID":null,"lastUserID":45516,"lastUser":{"userID":45516,"name":"Paul Newcome","title":"","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Paul%20Newcome","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/userpics\/082\/nQPUTVFKKWDJ2.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-10-03T15:11:08+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭✭✭✭✭✭"},"pinned":false,"pinLocation":null,"closed":false,"sink":false,"countComments":3,"countViews":35,"score":null,"hot":3392252476,"url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/110995\/setting-up-a-weekly-automation-to-alert-someone-in-30-60-and-90-days-of-a-date","canonicalUrl":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/110995\/setting-up-a-weekly-automation-to-alert-someone-in-30-60-and-90-days-of-a-date","format":"Rich","lastPost":{"discussionID":110995,"commentID":397817,"name":"Re: Setting up a weekly automation to alert someone in 30, 60 and 90 days of a date","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/comment\/397817#Comment_397817","dateInserted":"2023-10-02T13:16:13+00:00","insertUserID":45516,"insertUser":{"userID":45516,"name":"Paul Newcome","title":"","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Paul%20Newcome","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/userpics\/082\/nQPUTVFKKWDJ2.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-10-03T15:11:08+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":"2023-09-30T01:41:46+00:00","dateAnswered":"2023-09-29T16:44:55+00:00","acceptedAnswers":[{"commentID":397707,"body":"

I would suggest a helper column that uses a nested IF to output which alert should be sent (or blank if no alert is to be sent). Then you can set your automation up to run weekly and use a condition of this helper column being in that particular range.<\/p>

=IF([Expiration Date]<= TODAY(30), \"30 Days\", IF([Expiration Date]@row<= TODAY(60), \"60 Days\", IF([Expiration Date]@row<= TODAY(90), \"90 Days\", IF([Expiration Date]@row<= TODAY(180), \"180 Days\"))))<\/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":5120,"limit":3},"title":"Trending in Smartsheet Basics","subtitle":null,"description":null,"noCheckboxes":true,"containerOptions":[],"discussionOptions":[]}">

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