Default values in Columns

moraki

Hello all.

We have a Sheet and sometimes users forget to add important fields. We want to add default values to these fields in order to not be empty. The types of columns that need to have default values are: Text/Number, Contact List, Dropdown List. We have tried a way to add default values with workflows on Dropdown list columns, but it doesn't seem to work..

Would love any ideas on how to make this work, any workarounds etc.

Thank you.

Mike TV

@moraki

Need more info. Are these default values always the exact same thing? If so, you can just create a formula like ="text" and it would put "text" in that cell (without quotes). You can either make it a column formula (which makes it uneditable by the person entering data into the rows) or you can make sure the bottom 2 rows on your sheet have the same formula in it. SmartSheet will automatically enter a formula into a cell if the 2 rows above the new row both have the exact same formula. Then it'll act like a column formula but will still be editable. Just realize that if it's edited the next entry on the sheet won't use the formula any more.

Another option is to create a form people use to add new rows to a sheet. All fields on a form can have a default value set up in the form creation. You can either allow them to be edited and changed off of their default value or restrict them from being edited. You can even add them to the form, set a default value, and hide them so the person submitting the form cannot see it but it'll be added to their row when they submit the form.