Using placeholder to include today's date on workflow alert

Max329

Hi,

I'm creating a workflow that sends an alert to specific people every Monday at 9am. I want to include today's date in the subject line of that alert. Is it possible to add a placeholder to the subject field to include today's date?

Thanks,

Max329

I have a second request on this. Besides adding today's date, I'd also like to add line breaks (i.e new paragraphs) in the message description. Are both of these possible and if yes, can you please provide instructions?

Andrée Starå

Hi @Max329

I hope you're well and safe!

1. You can add a so-called helper column with the following formula and then make it a column formula, so it's included on each row. Formula: =TODAY()
2. You can add the new line by pressing enter or similar. It should show as it's shown in the text area.

Did that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe, and have a fantastic weekend!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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Max329

Hi @Andrée Starå ,

Thank you for your response. Adding a new line for paragraph breaks worked but I'm still unable to add today's date to the subject line. I'm not familiar with helper columns but I followed your instructions and added a Today's Date column to my smartsheet. I then added =TODAY() for each row of the smartsheet and they are all accurately showing today's date. But when I then add {{Today's Date}} as a placeholder in the subject line of the workflow alert, the email subject shows (470 entries) instead of the date and it includes a message for each row in the alert (meaning there are 470 separate messages).

See attached for the email alert I received from smartsheet as well as the workflow I've setup. Please let me know how I can fix to have Smartsheet only send 1 message including today's date in the subject line.

Best,

Smartsheet Alert.pdf

Smartsheet Workflow.png

Andrée Starå

@Max329

Happy to help!

Can you share some screenshots of the sheet? (Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help.

Also, below is more info on how it works with the Placeholder feature.

https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/2477796-dynamically-add-cell-data-in-the-subject-and-body-of-request-messages

Placeholders will generate separate notifications when using placeholders with Alert or Update Request actions in change-based workflows if six or fewer rows are triggered simultaneously. If seven or more rows are triggered at once, the custom subject and body will be removed.

✅Remember! Did my post(s) help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community 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!

Max329

Hi @Andrée Starå ,

See attached for my smartsheet, I didn't include any data but you can see the various rows including the Today's Date one. I'm trying to send a weekly email out to everyone shared on the sheet with 1 message that includes today's date in the subject line and includes some messaging and a link to a reporting dashboard in the body.

Best,

Screenshot 2023-06-12 at 7.54.06 AM.png

Max329

@Andrée Starå are you able to help me with this?

JessicaD

@Max329 We are running in to the same issue and have the same request. Did you find anything out? Is this feature possible?

JessicaD

Max329

@JessicaD unfortunately no, I didn't receive any other guidance so haven't been able to successfully set this up.