Prevent deletion of rows if it contains locked cells?

joshreis

We are trying Smartsheets for a project and are running into a major issue.

 

The sheet contains checkboxes of things to do, along with dates, and who did the particular task. It is crucial that the 'Task' and 'Date' columns be protected. Unfortunately, we're finidng that if you are an editor, even though these two columns are locked, you are still able to delete an entire row.

 

Quite frankly this seems pretty dumb. Surely there is a way to prevent this? Like a message saying 'Sorry, because this row contains a locked cell, it cannot be deleted'

 

Setting the users as viewers will not work because they need to be able to mark that a task has been completed, and if they have any remarks.

 

 

Atus Bartal

Thanks for the question, I (and others) regard it as a crucial issue: https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/rows-being-removed

There should be a protection from just simply deleting a row (what you suggest is fine). Or at least a kind of monitoring function - you can do this with a single cell (cell history), why not with the whole sheet? It's really a question of data security...

Travis

Thanks for the feedback joshreis! As Atus has stated this is a request we have heard before and I will add your vote for this enhancement request. 

Brad Jones

Major +1 for this feature.  

 

I have locked columns that work perfectly, and it is paramount that we be able to control the data for the users.  I just tested this and found that any editor can go in and add/subtract any unlocked rows to their hearts content and I have no way of stopping them from deleting this data.  And, if they delete a row, that means that all the conversaions and cell history disappear.  Ouch.  

 

For the mean time, I will have to implement a daily backup and diff of old vs new just to make sure this doesn't bite us.  

Brad Jones

Hey, while we're on the subject of user control, I think we need to consider a new user type.

 

I want to be able to share sheets with people and allow them to edit information within certain rows, columns, or cells.  I don't want them to do anything else to the row/column/cell, such as change the formatting, etc.  We use SS to create forms and sheets as a way to gather and track data within our company.  We want the end users to be able to add to the system, but don't want them altering the structure or format of the system.

 

Would it be possible to get another level of user?  One that has only the most basic edit rights (ie add or delete infomation from cells) but no advanced rights such as changing the format of the cells/columns?  Basically, allow them to open the sheet, but remove all of the dropdown menus for that user type.

 

Please let us know when this is in the works.

 

Thanks.

Travis

Brad, we are looking into ways to share specific parts of sheets and I will submit your feedback to the team looking into this. 

Brad Jones

Any update on this data protection feature?  I'm about to deploy next week, and don't want the extra work of manually checking each sheet for user accidents.

Travis

Hi Brad, I do not have any update on this request. The best place to see what we are working on will be our product roadmap: https://www.smartsheet.com/product-roadmap

Brad Jones

Just tought of something else regarding this topic.  Long story, but I am tracking data in SS and simultaneously in Excel.  In order for me to compare the two more easily, it is important that two things are true:

1. No one has deleted any rows from the sheet (see conversation above)

2. The rows are in the same order (not mentioned above, but almost the same problem)

If my users mouse slips and they move rows around, BLAM, there goes my work as creator, and there goes my time acting as sheet babysitter.

 

Please look at preventing rows being moved around as well, while digging into the deletion problem.

Atus Bartal

Go on, Brad, you're not alone! 

Brad Jones

 This fix was not in the last update.  I will keep beating the drum until we have something.  It really is scary trying to track three multi-year-long projects and just hope that nothing goes wrong and no one makes a mistake with their mouse clicks.

Brad Jones

Nor was it in this update 

 

Guys, this is a big problem.  We're all thrilled to see the new stuff, but my anxiety is not alleviated by new stuff.  We need to know that the data is secure.

Brad Jones

See related posts.  This is a big problem that still needs to be solved.

 

August 2015

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/avoid-shared-person-delete-my-row

 

June 2015

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/rows-being-removed

 

March 2016

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/prevent-deletion-rows-if-it-contains-locked-cells

 

May 2016

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/allowing-team-members-update-smartsheet

 

Related - August 2015

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/find-deleated-items#comment-9452

 

Rajesh Srinivasan

Is a fix already part of the roadmap. I am on a trial and evaluating use of smartsheet for my department and this is clearly an eyesore in an otherwise usable platform.

Brad Jones

Potential solution:
Just like an editor has some options greyed out on the row dropdown menu, why not just grey out the option for "delete row" as well?  This would be a minimally invasive change to the platform with a seemingly easy integration.  We could keep the delete row for admins and owners, just not for editors.  This would at least stop the bleeding while SS looks for more effective user control processes.

 

So, please, stop the bleeding.  

 

Any users see a problem with revoking the Editors right to delete rows? (even if there are not locked columns)

Just Jean

You've got my vote for that feature! And it is needed now.