I'm new to SS. This is my first project. I have an audit process I am building for a customer. There are 5 separate forms needed for the audit process. I originally had all 5 forms feeding the same sheet but with over 100+ columns for each audit, I went crazy scrolling left to right looking for the information I needed and couldn't imagine the customer doing it.
Q1: So, I now have each form pointed to it's own sheet (5 forms-5 sheets). But I have some data that really needs to stay in sync across forms and should not have to be input more then once. For instance, the lead auditor creates a unique name for each audit and the data is put in a drop down list for his auditees to pick. That drop down list needs to be the first item in of the forms and that name is what links the other 4 forms together as one audit event. I don't want the audit lead to have to go into 5 separate sheets and the add the new audit name to all 5 forms for every new audit. How do I populate (copy) that drop down (column data) that appears in form1 and make sure it shows up automatically again in forms 2-5?
Q2: Also, a general architectural question. What are the rules around when multiple forms should feed the same sheet vs. when they should feed different sheets?
Q3: The customer had a request that all of his users interact with forms and not sheets so that request has been driving some automation that is a bit sticky. What are the rules around user interaction. It seems that users can interact with forms, sheets and reports. What are the pros/cons of each. I have a situation where section 1 and 3 of a form get filled out, then a person that is selected gets the form sent back to him/her to fill out section 2 and 3. Then the audit approver goes in and fills out section 3 for the 3rd time. Should this be done on a sheet or report instead? Section 3 of the form is a 'state' question. It goes, from 'open' to 'started' to 'complete' to 'close'.
Q4: Bottom line, should all 5 of these forms feed one sheet and then build reports to shield folks from having to navigate the 100+ column sheet that will have 1000's of rows before too long?
-Thanks, Dana