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📚 New Onboarding Resource: The Smartsheet Essentials Glossary
Hi everyone - I’m Madison, a Product Marketer here at Smartsheet. I’m focused on onboarding and helping new users feel confident using the product from day one.
We just released something I’m really excited about: the Essentials Glossary. It’s a simple guide that breaks down the core Smartsheet terms and capabilities new users need to know to get started. It’s meant to make those early steps a little less overwhelming.
I know most of you don’t need this for yourselves - you’re already pros. But if you ever onboard new colleagues, this is a great resource to share. Would love to hear what you think, and if there are any other resources you'd find helpful when onboarding others.
You can check it out here.
Madison M
Re: Count Duplicates Only if the Field is NOT Blank
Try this
=IF(AND(COUNTIF(TFPhoneNo:TFPhoneNo, TFPhoneNo@row) > 1, NOT(ISBLANK(TFPhoneNo@row))), 1)
Re: Welcome to the online Smartsheet Community!
Hi @Ruby Gonzalez!
Thanks so much for letting me know, and sorry for the delay with your badge. You can now find the Fully Charged badge on your profile! 😄
Rebeca S.
Re: Function for "current user" to use in formula?
Excellent!
Upvoted! ⬆️
✅ Remember! Did my comment(s) help/answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community and me by marking 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! I appreciate it, thanks!
Andrée Starå
Re: Best way to preserve indexed historical data through versioning?
I just improved my initial idea. Here's what I'm thinking now.
- Adding a "Version" column to my helper sheet (see screenshot #2 above)
- Adding a "Version" column to my tracking sheet
, which will use a complex =IF formula that assigns a version based on the date - Using an automation to record the appropriate journey version for each new item (screenshot below)*
- Adding an additional criterion to my =INDEX(COLLECT) formula so that it matches the current version
*The automation will have to be manually updated whenever a journey evolves, but this doesn't introduce any manual updating where it didn't already exist; an =IF formula would also have to be updated manually, and it would be significantly more complex.
Zach_
Re: Column Type Reverts to Dropdown List
This issue in Smartsheet—where a column keeps reverting from a Check Box type back to a Dropdown list, especially when it's formula-driven—can be caused by a few subtle factors. Here are some possibilities to investigate:
1. Formula Behavior and Column Type Conflicts
If the column contains a formula that references a checkbox column in another sheet, Smartsheet expects the data type to match. If the formula returns anything other than true/false, Smartsheet may automatically change the column type to accommodate the returned value (e.g., text or dropdown).
- Check the formula output: Ensure it only returns
trueorfalse. Even a stray space or text string like"TRUE"(in quotes) can cause issues. - Compare with working columns: Look at the formulas in the other columns that are behaving correctly. Are they structured differently?
2. External Data Sources or Integrations
Even if you don’t see any Data Shuttle or automation rules, consider:
- Connected Sheets or Reports: Is this sheet being updated by a report or another sheet via cell linking or cross-sheet formulas?
- Third-party integrations: Tools like Zapier, Power Automate, or API scripts might be modifying the column type silently.
3. Sheet or Column Template Behavior
If the sheet was created from a template or is part of a Control Center blueprint, it might be inheriting settings that override manual changes.
- Check if the sheet is part of a portfolio or program managed by Control Center.
- Look for update requests or template syncs that might be resetting the column type.
Suggested Troubleshooting Steps
- Temporarily remove the formula from the column and manually set it to Check Box. See if it stays.
- Reapply the formula after confirming the column type sticks.
- Duplicate the sheet and test changes there to isolate the issue.
- Check sheet activity log (if available) to see what’s triggering the change.
I hope this helps!
David011
Re: Help Creating a Complex Report
HI @Hudson_Miller , I did!
I've actually just created a filter, available on all projects, that shows milestones at the top, regardless of date, with all other tasks still available underneath. This is probably the simplest solution for this team at the moment.
MWongInBeauty
