Mandatory or Required fields to complete in a smartsheet

Mark Bonham

I have a need for users when updating or entering data in a cell in a smartsheet that they must complete some mandatory fields.  A webform has this function, however on existing rows it would be ideal to have users who are given updates or entering in a new row to have to complete some mandatory fields before final saving is accepted.

 

Is this functionality available?

 

Thanks,
Mark

Tim Meeks

This can be done with Conditionally formatting.  I would assume there is one field that is populdated such as a project # or task #, etc.  Have a conditional rule that says if Field A is populated and Field B is blank, make field B Red (or some other color.)

You may have to have a rule for each frield, but it will at least alert them. 

 

Here's what I did for a sheet recently. 

 

Jamison

I do exactly what Tim describes above. Takes some time, but works well. Conditional formattting over multiple columns (which i have suggested) would be nice.

Frank Jelenko

Is there a way to limit the conditional formatting to just one row?

 

For example, in a smartsheet that has many tasks, we want the Status filled in just for the overall, top row.

 

The suggestion above would format all rows.

 

Thanks

JohnHinkle

Frank, add an AND criteria that only matches the parent row. You may need to add something to the row, but chances are there is something unique you can use, 

Joe Williams

Ridiculous. 

 

Conditional formatting is not a substiotute for required fields.  Unsuprisingly, users do all sorts of things within sheets.  We're attempting to design systems that are resistant to human error.  So far, smartsheet is a lousy tool for this purpose.  Simply reminding them to fill out a field is little more than a "suggestion".  It is not adequate

 

This is NOT a solution and it's annoying that it's being proposed as if it's somehow adequate.  

Kennedy Stomps

Hi Joe-- I've added your vote for this functionality but it is not currently on our short-term roadmap, so some users have come up with workarounds that have served as solutions for their team. I understand that this might not work for your team at this point!

Kurt Roberts

Hi Kennedy

 

I also feel conditional formatting isn't a solution - we have 100 op team members using SS and the need to have fields mandatory to record estimated/actual time, assigned team members etc. is becoming a must.

 

Do you know when this function might become available or if it is being worked on as we speak?

 

Thanks

Kennedy Stomps

Hi Kurt-- I don't have an update on this at this point as it's not something that's on our public roadmap. There's a chance this will be developed in the future, and I'll add your vote for this to our enhancement request list to help our Developers priotize this feature appropriately, but again, I can't guarantee when or if this will be released.

Peter Bryn

Fully agreed that something as mundane as REQUIRED FIELD should be standard. Please add thsi to the roadmap - I'm just getting started w/SmartSheet, but if something that basic isn't included, I'm skeptical at what other basic things are not included...

cmsherer

Agreed with the above.  High volume project need reliable data in real time.  Smartsheet's goal is to avoid chasing information.  Not having this feature is counterproductive to the sheet goals.

Olam One Finance PMO

The option of mandatory field should be made available in Smartsheet.

Olam One Finance PMO

I have 600 rows of data mapped it to 40 to 50 owners. each owner has multiple rows assigned.

 

While requesting for update request, am sorting and selecting owner wise rows and sending mail notification seperately for each owner. (40 times).

 

If I select all the rows and send, all owners others are able to see/update the information, is there any way to solution or work around for this issue?

 

<email removed by moderator>

 

Regards

Srinivas

<email removed by moderator>

 

Brad Jones

Adding my +1 here, and putting it into the new 'feature request' web form.

 

I'm really tired of people being able to report the absolute minimum amount of information when they complete their UR or update their rows in the sheet.

Alejandro Lamothe1

My friends, a very robust way around this required field is to use a web form instead of the use of the SS, on the web form you can set the requested fields and a lot more.

This works for sure, hope it is usable to you

john.rullo43546

This is definitely basic functionality that should be included in addition with the ability to also make a field required based on values entered from one or more cells. 

For example, we have a Help Ticket sheet and if a person closes the ticket they should have to enter a closed date.  Yes, you can create a date field that is automatically updated however if someone would re-save this ticket after it is closed that date would not reflect the close date.