Date and Timestamp Action in an Automation Workflow

Kleerfyre

There needs to be an option when setting up a workflow that when the triggers that we have set up happens, that we can have the workflow record not only a date of when it trigger, but also the time at which it triggered. The time at which things have happened inside of Smartsheet is captured everywhere already (Logs, Cell History, Created System Column), so it should be an easy thing to just add the timestamp to the record a date option in the actions for the workflows. That way, we won't have to use an overly complicated workaround create helper sheets and columns to accomplish this.

Adrian Mandile CHESS

It would be great if in the Automation Actions section, we could Record a DateAND Time. this could be achieved with an option under the existing 'Record a Date' action or in a separate action. In this way we could properly timestamp certain changes, such as item approval or closure. This is especially useful for Service Level Agreements that require requests to be actioned within a pre-set number of hours, not just a full day. I have seen so many 'solutions' in the Community that suggest to copy rows just to get the time using Created/Modified - this new feature would solve this easily.

AmandaWebb

We need the ability to log timestamps.

My personal use case is to determine the handle time on tasks that my team receives via Smartsheet. I want a timestamp when the task is started (preferably this would be a workflow I could create; when "status" changes to In Progress, log the timestamp in column X), and then another timestamp when the task is marked Complete. Then we can log the handle time it took.

This is a really basic piece of information that we're shocked Smartsheet still doesn't have functionality for. If you look on the forums, there is a lot of discussion about this topic, and some really ingenious, although ridiculously complex, formulas and suggestions to work around this limitation. None of that should be necessary.

Kleerfyre

@Adrian @ ChessI so agree with you! We need this feature asap.

Jean H.

I'd like to be able to create a checkbox "Start" column where when I check, the current time is automatically entered into a different column. This combined with a similar "Stop" column would allow me to calculate the difference between Start/Stop and easily gather statistics for the average time specific tasks take to complete.

JennS_

This is a feature I could use right now. Does anyone know if there is a time stamp for when a form is STARTED & COMPLETED? Currently it looks like it just adds a time stamp when the entire row is added to the sheet or the form is submitted.

Jean H.

@JennS_,当我叫代表内容aid that the time stamp currently available is only for when a ROW is created or modified. Apparently adding to the community and upvoting is how changes may be incorporated in the future. It seems like a simple (easy for me to say) request and it would be oh so helpful.

Andrée Starå

Hi@Jean H.@JennS_

I hope you're well and safe!

Here's a possible workaround or workarounds

Please have a look at my post below with a method I developed.

More info:

Hi all,<\/p>

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

I've developed a solution that lets you store the date or value.<\/strong><\/p>

You'd use the copy-row automation and a VLOOKUP or combination of INDEX\/MATCH to make it work.<\/p>

We'd trigger the copy-row to another sheet and get the created date\/other value and then use the VLOOKUP\/INDEX\/MATCH to get it back to the main sheet in another so-called helper column. As long as you have a unique id\/value that we can use, it will work.<\/p>

Also, this opens up more options with auto-numbering and similar.<\/p>

Depending on other workflows, you could reuse one sheet for multiple workflows.<\/p>

I hope that helps!<\/p>

Let me know if you have any questions!<\/p>

Stay safe and have a fantastic day!<\/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 help the Community by <\/em>marking it as helpful<\/em><\/strong>. It will make it easier for others to find a solution.<\/em><\/p>","bodyRaw":"[{\"insert\":\"Hi all,\\nI hope you're well and safe!\\nI've developed a solution that lets you \"},{\"attributes\":{\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"store the date or value.\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\\nYou'd use the copy-row automation and a VLOOKUP or combination of INDEX\\\/MATCH to make it work.\\nWe'd trigger the copy-row to another sheet and get the created date\\\/other value and then use the VLOOKUP\\\/INDEX\\\/MATCH to get it back to the main sheet in another so-called helper column. As long as you have a unique id\\\/value that we can use, it will work.\\n\\nAlso, this opens up more options with auto-numbering and similar.\\nDepending on other workflows, you could reuse one sheet for multiple workflows.\\n\\nI hope that helps!\\nLet me know if you have any questions!\\nStay safe and have a fantastic day!\\nBest,\\n\"},{\"attributes\":{\"bold\":true,\"link\":\"mailto:andree@workbold.com\"},\"insert\":\"Andrée Starå\"},{\"insert\":\" | Workflow Consultant \\\/ CEO @ \"},{\"attributes\":{\"bold\":true,\"link\":\"https:\\\/\\\/community.smartsheet.com\\\/home\\\/leaving?allowTrusted=1&target=https%3A%2F%2Fworkbold.com%2F\"},\"insert\":\"WORK BOLD\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n✅\"},{\"attributes\":{\"italic\":true},\"insert\":\"Did my post(s) help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please help the Community by \"},{\"attributes\":{\"italic\":true,\"bold\":true},\"insert\":\"marking it as helpful\"},{\"attributes\":{\"italic\":true},\"insert\":\". It will make it easier for others to find a solution.\"},{\"insert\":\"\\n\"}]","format":"rich","dateInserted":"2020-05-24T11:36:34+00:00","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":"2023-08-26T17:06:33+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭✭✭✭✭✭"},"displayOptions":{"showUserLabel":false,"showCompactUserInfo":true,"showDiscussionLink":true,"showPostLink":true,"showCategoryLink":false,"renderFullContent":false,"expandByDefault":false},"url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/68589\/lock-or-store-date-value-solution-without-using-zapier","embedType":"quote","name":"Lock or Store Date\/Value Solution without using Zapier"}"> https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/68589/lock-or-store-date-value-solution-without-using-zapier

Would that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe, and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå| Workflow Consultant / CEO @WORK BOLD

✅我的帖子(s)帮助或回答吗your question 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!

Jean H.

Andrée, thank you. I had seen your other posts. I'd prefer if this was a simple function within Smartsheet without involving additional software.

jl.furstenberg

It would be incredibly helpful if there could be some sort of timestamp option. Thinking about the created or modified column types (add time) or an automation option. There are instances where we need to know the time something was approved in an update or approval workflow.