Sheet Analyser - What would you like to see?

Question

Hi,

I'm creating a sheet analysis dashboard with the API that will provide a detailed breakdown of any issues on a Smartsheet sheet, so that admins can improve their sheets and head off any potential issues.

Some of the things I've already added warnings/information for are:

* High row, column and cell counts
* Broken formulae
* Excessive or potentially insecure shares
* Excessive or broken cross-sheet references
* Excessive or broken cell links
* Data quality (missing required fields, invalid email addresses, invalid dates, etc)

What other sorts of information you'd like to be able to see about your sheets that I've not mentioned here?

Also, if anyone would like to help me test the tool, please get in touch! I can provide free analysis of your most important sheet! :)

Thanks in advance,

James

darkmatter · Answer

Good luck!

James Harris · Answer

Thanks very much for this, Matt.

I'll definitely include analysis of the Sheet Summary for broken formulae, invalid dates, email addresses, etc.

Re: last access dates… I've got the last modified date (i.e. a general last edit date). However, getting a reliable last access date for specific users can only (I think) be done if you have access to the Event Reporting tool, which is a paid app and most people using the tool wouldn't have it.

I could, in theory, get the last action date for specific users (i.e. the last time they edited a cell), but that would be by trawling through the cell histories. It's possible but you have to call them one by one, and if you've got a million cells, that's going to be tricky :)

I'll have a think to see if there's another way.

Regarding project management sheets, this is a good call. I'll add it to my list!

Cheers!

James

darkmatter · Answer

Nice idea @James Harris

Some to add:

* broken formulae in sheet summary.
* inconsistent fields within sheet summary (ie for those sheets which should show the same summaries)
* user engagement (last access date

And more specifically to project management - hygiene scoring indicators:

* % Tasks with Due Dates
* % Tasks Assigned
* Plan Updated in last 7 days
* RAID log updated in last 14 days
* Overdue tasks %
* Baseline set (Yes/No)

These would help provide a view on data integrity, schedule / risk realism.

Matt