Adding Column Descriptions to Reports

Andrea Zenner

Yes, please add this. We use reports to limit the number of columns users see when they need to make updates. This would be VERY helpful!

Raziur Rahman

Hey everyone,

Thanks a lot for bringing this up. I also agree to have the modification requested. Column description at user report is actually very important. Is there any updates regarding this?

Aliciakenn

Is there a way you are able to add Column Descriptions onto Reports. I have added a column description in the sheet which the report is ran off of, but this doesn't carry through.

This is very important for us, as these contain instructions.

Thank you,

Alicia.

TinaPod

This is a big issue. I see that the Smartsheet Sheet is the back end for the source data. The front end (Reports) for users should have column descriptions. As the folks using the reports are usually not "super users" of Smartsheet, they really need that column description on the report to understand what the field is capturing. This will help mitigate user input errors.

Reports do not show column descriptions from source Smartsheets. As well, unable to add in column descriptions to Reports. This is frustrating. This is a known issue at Smartsheet for quite some time. Hoping that an update will fix this. As the column description data is available in the Sheet already, please code it so the report can pick it up.

KCam

I build hundreds of reports a year for internal and external team members at Scooters Coffee. Why can't team members see column descriptions (from the original sheet) in their reports?

People need to understand what each column is used for.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

Adam Rasmussen

I would like to see this feature as well. One challenge for Smartsheet is that Reports can be sourced from multiple sheets, so which sheet do you take the column descriptions from to populate the report. Two ways to address this.

1. Have a checkbox for choosing which sourced sheet is used to source column descriptions.
2. Allow reports to have their own independent column descriptions.

Dan Hall

Much needed

Avinash Chandra

Can we get this implemented?

rosegarretson

Can we please get an update on this? Our team is finding the lack of Column Descriptions on reports challenging. Please escalate this. Thank you.

broctawn

I just added all of the payroll dates to the column descriptions and then created reports for our various timesheet approvers. Then I discovered that the dates in the descriptions are not showing in the report. Maybe it would be great to have something that allows the option of showing the descriptions or not.

Zeb Loewenstein

At the grid level, you can add descriptions to columns to provide qualitative context. However, this does not pull forward when these columns are included in reports.

Add the ability to see column description from a report view where they exist in the grid level.

Kyle Chipman

In full agreement; even something as simple as selecting a "dominant" sheet within the Report Builder flow that's used for Column Description reference.

There have been a number of these threads created, consolidating links for in case others want to boost Enhancement Request votes:

ENHANCEMENT REQUSTS

Adding Column Descriptions to Reports

Descriptions for Reports

Include column description in Report

DISCUSSIONS

column description on sheet does not show on report

Can a column description show in a report or is there a way to to this at all please??

Column descriptions for Reports

Kyle Chipman

In full agreement; even something as simple as selecting a "dominant" sheet within the Report Builder flow that's used for Column Description reference.

There have been a number of these threads created. Consolidating links for in case others want to boost Enhancement Request votes:

ENHANCEMENT REQUSTS

Adding Column Descriptions to Reports

Descriptions for Reports

Include column description in Report

DISCUSSIONS

column description on sheet does not show on report

Can a column description show in a report or is there a way to to this at all please??

Column descriptions for Reports

Melinda_eMS

Please add this functionality, it would be a huge benefit to us with our reporting and setting up reports for govt clients.

VinceA

Hello Tech Team,

I'd like to suggest that Reports have the ability to show the same description that we place in our Main Sheets be transferred into Reports that are derived from those sheets for any specific column that is used in our created Reports from the source sheet. Maybe also give the option to display the icon for the description or not display it in our Reports. See below. Thanks