Conditional Formatting for Dashboard Metric Widgets

GMichal

When using dashboard metric widgets, it would be helpful to be able to have conditional formatting features to compare performance to a KPI or otherwise enhance the metric display. Even if the data source document already has the conditional formatting existing, it will not transfer along with the data to the dashboard widget which could be an easy solution.

Paul Newcome

I do this all the time. Just use the format painter on the data formatting within the metrics widget. This will pull through the formatting of the cell being referenced by that widget to include conditional formatting rules within the source sheet.

GMichal

Paul, thank you so much. When I couldn't figure out how to do conditional formatting on a widget, I contacted Smartsheet support who told me that this feature was not available and I should submit the suggestion for future implementation. It works perfectly!

Paul Newcome

Support was probably thinking about applying conditional formatting to the widget itself which is not possible.

Chamudi Withanawasam

This works only if the metric is linked to a cell. I'm using sheet summary data to generate the metric. Any suggestions?

Paul Newcome

@Chamudi Withanawasam I very rarely use sheet summary fields for this type of thing. I usually use a separate sheet so that I can keep all of my dashboard metrics together (more helpful when more than one source sheet but also helpful if only a single source sheet because you can lock it down and tuck it away where people are less likely to "accidentally" mess with it).

swilly

@Paul Newcome - Would you mind expanding on how to locate the paintbrush, and how this is working?

I was sent here by support as well, since my reports and dashboards do not update the colour as dates approach (3 days away - purple, 1 day away green, etc.)

Would what you are talking about help my reports and dashboards load the correct conditional formatting from source sheets?

I seem to have to click each source sheet each day to have the conditional formatting actually refresh in the reports and dashboards - otherwise they show whatever each row colors the sheet had last time it was opened.

Thank you!!!

swilly

NEED CONIDITONAL FORMATTING ON REPORTS!!!!

Having to open each source sheet to have the conditional formatting reload is not efficient.

Paul Newcome

@swilly It doesn't sound like you have a conditional formatting issue but more of a data refresh issue.

I typically add a date type column (hidden after setting up) and a Record a Date automation set to run daily at 12:00am recording the date in the new hidden column. This will force refresh the TODAY function and should solve your problem.

NickStaffordPM

Any update on this if it will be included on the product roadmap for Smartsheet? This would be so helpful for our organization.

PleaseHelpJay

@Paul Newcome Can you clarify whether you mean the addition of the automation on a sheet or somehow in a report? Right now, I'm restricted from generating the Metric widget based off of a Report.

In addition, the paintbrush is a good solution but it's a very manual process where each line item has to be modified individually. Furthermore, I'm currently in a situation where I have to progress the data manually on a weekly/monthly basis which would only increase the amount of time that's dedicated to reformatting the information.

Paul Newcome

@PleaseHelpJay The automation is at the sheet level. If you have multiple sheets, you would need to apply that to every sheet individually.