Can you force/require a user to enter information into all fields?

I am working on a tracker in Smartsheet, which requires a large number of individuals to enter multiple rows/columns of information. That being said, I'd like to "control" the integrity of the tracker to some degree. Is there any way to "force" or "require" a user populate all columns, if data is entered into one column? For example, if someone enters Client Name in column A, they have to enter Client Manager into column B, # of Sales in column C, Annual Revenue in column D before proceeding/saving/moving to the next row. Hopefully this makes sense.

Answers

  • Alison
    Alison Employee

    The only way to do this would likely be with Forms (meaning, you can require all fields to be filled in before submission on a Form), but there isn't the feature of Logic in Forms, so answering column A would not be able to force you to answer column B. However, feel free to put in a Product Enhancement Request under "Additional Resources" on the bottom right-hand side of the Community page.


    Forms:

    https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/522221-collect-information-form

  • With Forms, can you then edit said for entry? For example, if Client A's sales # was entered erroneously?

  • Also - I believe this could be done in an Excel macro....could this be adapted into Smartsheet? Sorry if it's a silly question - very new to Smartsheet. Thank you!

  • Andrée Starå
    Andrée Starå ✭✭✭✭✭✭

    Hi Jessica,

    @Jessica King

    A possible workaround could be to use an automated update request to send out if the user didn’t fill in all fields, and it could be combined to show help texts or colors what to fill in, what is left or similar.

    Would that work/help?

    I hope that helps!

    Be safe and have a fantastic weekend!

    Best,

    Andrée Starå

    Workflow Consultant / CEO @WORK BOLD

    ✅Did my post help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please help the Community bymarking it as the accepted answer/helpful. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!

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Hi there,<\/p>

I think this should work:<\/p>

=IF(COUNTIF(Referencia:Referencia, Referencia@row) > 1, 1)<\/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":322,"name":"Formulas and Functions","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/formulas-and-functions","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":107888,"type":"question","name":"Filter distinct values only into new column","excerpt":"Hello! I have a column that consists of rows with values, some that differ and some that repeat [(Cells Linked from TE Tracker)], I want the next column over \"Distinct\" to only give me the unique values of [(Cells Linked from TE Tracker)] From what I've seen, there is no direct function that can do this, but has anyone…","snippet":"Hello! I have a column that consists of rows with values, some that differ and some that repeat [(Cells Linked from TE Tracker)], I want the next column over \"Distinct\" to only…","categoryID":322,"dateInserted":"2023-07-20T22:29:01+00:00","dateUpdated":null,"dateLastComment":"2023-07-22T20:06:16+00:00","insertUserID":163466,"insertUser":{"userID":163466,"name":"sawuzie","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/sawuzie","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/defaultavatar\/nWRMFRX6I99I6.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-07-22T20:06:45+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭✭"},"updateUserID":null,"lastUserID":163466,"lastUser":{"userID":163466,"name":"sawuzie","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/sawuzie","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/defaultavatar\/nWRMFRX6I99I6.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-07-22T20:06:45+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭✭"},"pinned":false,"pinLocation":null,"closed":false,"sink":false,"countComments":3,"countViews":29,"score":null,"hot":3379950317,"url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/107888\/filter-distinct-values-only-into-new-column","canonicalUrl":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/107888\/filter-distinct-values-only-into-new-column","format":"Rich","lastPost":{"discussionID":107888,"commentID":386542,"name":"Re: Filter distinct values only into new column","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/comment\/386542#Comment_386542","dateInserted":"2023-07-22T20:06:16+00:00","insertUserID":163466,"insertUser":{"userID":163466,"name":"sawuzie","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/sawuzie","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/defaultavatar\/nWRMFRX6I99I6.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-07-22T20:06:45+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":"Formulas and Functions","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/formulas-and-functions"}],"groupID":null,"statusID":3,"attributes":{"question":{"status":"accepted","dateAccepted":"2023-07-22T05:31:23+00:00","dateAnswered":"2023-07-21T02:06:24+00:00","acceptedAnswers":[{"commentID":386312,"body":"

Hi @sawuzie<\/a> <\/p>


<\/p>

There's no direct way to do this. However, you can add a checkbox helper column to identify duplicates. You can use the formula =IF(COUNTIF([Cells Linked from TE Tracker]:[Cells Linked from TE Tracker], [Cells Linked from TE Tracker]@row) > 1, 1, 0). This will add a check in the duplicates column for all values which appear more than once. You can then add the Distinct column with the formula =IF([Duplicate]@row=0, [Cells Linked from TE Tracker]@row). The Distinct column will only have the distinct values listed.<\/p>"}]}},"status":{"statusID":3,"name":"Accepted","state":"closed","recordType":"discussion","recordSubType":"question"},"bookmarked":false,"unread":false,"category":{"categoryID":322,"name":"Formulas and Functions","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/formulas-and-functions","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":107904,"type":"question","name":"How do I calculate different due dates on actions depending on the type of action?","excerpt":"I have created a sheet in which different type of issues are identified and assigned to owners. I have established three \"observation types\" that I would like to assign different due date. For example, a safety issues would need a due date of 2 working days from the date identified, and an Opportunity to Improve action…","snippet":"I have created a sheet in which different type of issues are identified and assigned to owners. I have established three \"observation types\" that I would like to assign different…","categoryID":322,"dateInserted":"2023-07-21T13:36:24+00:00","dateUpdated":null,"dateLastComment":"2023-07-21T17:24:41+00:00","insertUserID":163745,"insertUser":{"userID":163745,"name":"dminor764","title":"CI Manager","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/dminor764","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/defaultavatar\/nWRMFRX6I99I6.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-07-21T18:24:13+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭"},"updateUserID":null,"lastUserID":161714,"lastUser":{"userID":161714,"name":"Carson Penticuff","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Carson%20Penticuff","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/userpics\/B0Q390EZX8XK\/nBGT0U1689CN6.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-07-22T15:13:42+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"✭✭✭✭✭"},"pinned":false,"pinLocation":null,"closed":false,"sink":false,"countComments":3,"countViews":25,"score":null,"hot":3379908665,"url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/107904\/how-do-i-calculate-different-due-dates-on-actions-depending-on-the-type-of-action","canonicalUrl":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/107904\/how-do-i-calculate-different-due-dates-on-actions-depending-on-the-type-of-action","format":"Rich","lastPost":{"discussionID":107904,"commentID":386475,"name":"Re: How do I calculate different due dates on actions depending on the type of action?","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/discussion\/comment\/386475#Comment_386475","dateInserted":"2023-07-21T17:24:41+00:00","insertUserID":161714,"insertUser":{"userID":161714,"name":"Carson Penticuff","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/profile\/Carson%20Penticuff","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6031209\/uploads\/userpics\/B0Q390EZX8XK\/nBGT0U1689CN6.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-07-22T15:13:42+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":"Formulas and Functions","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/formulas-and-functions"}],"groupID":null,"statusID":3,"attributes":{"question":{"status":"accepted","dateAccepted":"2023-07-21T17:19:13+00:00","dateAnswered":"2023-07-21T13:48:32+00:00","acceptedAnswers":[{"commentID":386404,"body":"

This is going to be the general idea. You will want to replace the name of the column that you use for the date of the observation. I also didn't know the name of the third observation type or the time period.<\/p>

=IF([Observation Type]@row = \"Safety\", WORKDAY([Observation Date]@row, 2), IF([Observation Type]@row = \"Opportunity to Improve\", WORKDAY([Observation Date]@row, 14), IF([Observation Type]@row = \"Other Type\", WORKDAY([Observation Date]@row, 365), \"//www.santa-greenland.com/community/discussion/comment/\")))<\/p>"}]}},"status":{"statusID":3,"name":"Accepted","state":"closed","recordType":"discussion","recordSubType":"question"},"bookmarked":false,"unread":false,"category":{"categoryID":322,"name":"Formulas and Functions","url":"https:\/\/community.smartsheet.com\/categories\/formulas-and-functions","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=322&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":10000,"limit":3},"title":"Trending in Formulas and Functions ","subtitle":null,"description":null,"noCheckboxes":true,"containerOptions":[],"discussionOptions":[]}">

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