Custom Text for Symbols

TeeM

I am sure I have seen a Smartsheet trainer change the names of symbols but from what I can research, this remains a request unresolved for a number of users.

This should be a simple thing without needing to apply formulas etc.

Can anyone help?

Andrée Starå

Hi,

Can you describe your process and what you want to do in more detail and maybe share a few screenshots? That would make it easier to help. 

Have a fantastic weekend!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant @ Get Done Consulting

TeeM

Hello Andree,

We simply want to use some o the standard symbols e.g. tick (Yes), cross (No) and change the word 'Yes' to 'On time' and the 'No' to 'Late'

 

Trust that clarifies.

Regards

Andrée Starå

Thanks!

If I understand your need correctly, then the below formula should work.

Try this.

Put the formula in the Symbols Column and reference the Status column.

=IF(Status@row = "On Time"; "Yes"; IF(Status@row = "Late"; "No"))    

The same version but with the below changes for your and others convenience.    

=IF(Status@row = "On Time", "Yes", IF(Status@row = "Late", "No"))

Depending on your country you’ll need to exchange the comma to a period and the semi-colon to a comma.

Did it work?

Have a fantastic weekend!

Best,

Andrée

TeeM

We just have a single column with the symbol. Are you saying we need 2 columns to do this?

Andrée Starå

Yes, as far as I know, it's not possible to change what the symbols are named, and if you have a formula in the symbol cell and then write something in it, the formula will be replaced and deleted.

Hope that helps!

Best,

Andrée

TeeM

Thanks once again Andree

Andrée Starå

I'm always happy to help!

Best,

Andrée

Anton Ventslav

I've worked this around by simply using emoji set and adding own list into the Dropdown (Single Select) column, works and looks great!

No restrictions to emojis used and can put your own text descriptor to the right of the emoji placed (if desired) - I just use symbols and have KEY to symbols at top of the sheet.

Can be as creative as you wish with own symbols in the awesome Smartsheet.

Andrée Starå

@Anton Ventslav

Excellent tip! (I also use this method now when a client solution requires it)

Thanks for sharing!

egrime

Anton,

How did you insert the emoji set and where did you find it? Basically I need 6 RYG balls with colors for the dropdown.

Emily

Andrée Starå

Hi @egrime

You can other symbols by using UNICHAR, CHAR or Emojis.

More info:

https://help.smartsheet.com/function/unichar

https://help.smartsheet.com/function/char

https://getemoji.com/

Great resource that Paul Newcome put together

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=82f8fe0936a54758a3afa4b584acde07

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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Tina Rustvold

Thank you all--this is exactly what I am looking for but I am not having any success seeing my emojis yet.

BACKGROUND - Trying to create an Change Cell Value automation that will ultimately flag a line item.

I created a text helper column for the automation, then a symbol column with the following formula:

=IF([LP Helper]@row = "High", "High", IF([LP Helper]@row = "Low", "Low", IF([LP Helper]@row, 0, "")))

However, when I added my emojis and their descriptive text, then plugged that text into this formula, it did not return the emojis. Do I need to paste the actual emoji into the IF statement? Or does this cool 'build your own symbol' trick not work in the formulas? Thanks so much!

Andrée Starå

Hi @Tina Rustvold

I hope you're well and safe!

It should work.

Can you maybe share some screenshots and the formula you're working with? (Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help. (share too, andree@workbold.com)

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic day!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

✅Did my post(s) help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community by marking it Insightful/Vote Up or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!

Julie Becker

Maybe this would be helpful or maybe not, but here is what i did

I used the links below to make my own drop-down symbols (I replace the emoji code name in the formulas if used in place of Harvey balls). I tested them in formulas (some work, some do not) and now use in our sheets.

Here are a few images to show you them in action. Not sure if this is what you're after, though...

https://emojipedia.org/symbols

https://emojipedia.org/objects

https://emojiterra.com/

Matt Rasmussen

Dropdown column with emojis is the better solution for me because workflows can change the column values while they don't currently work with symbol columns. No hidden "helper" columns needed!

EDIT: I was going to use a change cell value workflow to default my Priority column to a green circle for medium priority 🟢 for tasks and issues since that's 90% of them. This way I could save time by not setting it to medium for nearly everything and only take time to set the Priority to high or low as needed. Thanks to @Anton Ventslav for the tip and others for references. 👏🤙

UPDATE: Unfortunately, the workflow won't add emojis from the dropdown list values. It works with text and numbers, but when emojis are used, the workflow runs without updating the column. Bummer! 😲