Best practices for adding instructions to a sheet?

Hello! What works well for adding "How To" instructions for a sheet?

Rather than create a separate document for a User Manual, I'd like to embed the instructions right into the sheet.

I see two main options:

Using the comment functionality in a row.
Adding a text column.

In a perfect world, I'd create as much documentation, forms, etc, within SmartSheet. Just wondering on what you have found that works best.

Thanks!

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Comments and Conversations

Comments

Andrée Starå

Hi Mark,

My recommendation would be to use a combination of what's needed to explain the How To instruction clearly.

A combination of the new column description feature and sheet comments work great, and they are easy to keep updated and to add attachments and links if needed.

Depending on the complexity of the solution I sometimes use row comments to explain something specific for that task or group of tasks.

In some scenarios, I also include the instruction directly on the sheet. (removed after a while if ok)

It depends on the solution, the client and the need of both.

What do you think?

I hope this helps you!

Have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant @ Get Done Consulting

Mark Lappegaard

I like that. Thanks, Andrée. I didn't think of column descriptions! Lot of options. Just have to try out the best usablity solution.

Andrée Starå

Great!

Happy to help!

Happy Holidays!

Best,

Andrée

Christopher Brown

If the information you're filling the sheet out can be form fed, you can also create a webform to feed the data into the sheet. The discretionary copy in the form is infinite (mostly), and I have had great success in using guide text for each form topic which helps get better results to work from.

James Keuning

I would LOVE to have a pop-up object that a user can dismiss, and which can be deployed by a user clicking a help icon on the page.

When I set up sheets I send out instructions to users. Usually a really important message is: "A start date is required," or, "Enter a Resolution Date to designate a task complete." Or, "If the row is red, that means that you are missing a required field."

Uncle Salmon

It would be very helpful to be able to mouse over a blank cell and have a instruction box pop up explaining what needs to be entered in the blank cell by the person its assigned to, moving the mouse away from the cell and the pop up box should disappear. Does anyone have use for this, or know of any way to do this?

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