Conditional Logic in Smartforms (AKA Cascading Dropdowns)

Richard Rymill SBP

We all love a Freebie? 

OUR API development team get lots of requests for automation which is the basis of our Smarter Mini Control Center 12 Apps, but one request we have been unable to fulfill so far (unless we use Appsheet with Smartsheet) is the need for Conditional logic or Cascading Dropdowns when completing forms in Smartsheet or in the grid format. 

Good news for Chrome and Firefox users, we have created a solution to this by using a Free to download and use Extension. We are working on other Browsers like IE and Safari but not there yet and will announce it when we can. 

Go here to download the Extension you would use - scroll to the bottom of th page 

What Pain are we resolving? 

In many apps like Excel, Google Sheets or Access, Forms can be produced whereby; Form Completers choose from the initial dropdown list, then the choices for the second question change accordingly, when that question is answered the next choice is similarly filtered and so on. Then the resultant data is entered into a smartsheet for further actions to commence. 

How have we resolved this pain? 

By running our downloadable extension and then using a naming convention for the Dropdown List columns, users will be able to experience conditional logic between the columns.

see full explanation here 

Why is this solution Free?    

Because we know it is not a complete solution as it only works on machines using Chrome or Firefox so users of other browsers cannot benefit yet. So... it is free for those that can benefit. 

In the meantime we continue our research to provide this solution for everyone in an even Smarter way if we can. 

Hope that helps some community members? 

Richardr@Smarterbusinessprocesses.com if you need any help? 

Cindy Van den Bremt

Great you are also looking for solutions - however this creates some title fields not to be intuitive anymore for users.

I get the naming convention, but not sure how to 'run the downloadable extension'. 

I'm working in Chrome, but what if my form users aren't?

So mainly waiting for the smartsheet developers to add this feature on their to do list.

 

Kyra Dragone

Do people entering data into the form need the extension? Or just the person creating the form?

Andrée Starå

Hi,

@Cindy Van den Bremt

@Kyra Dragone

This will be possible in Smartsheet soon.

We will soon introduce two major enhancements to Smartsheet forms that we’d like you to know about in advance:

1. A more immersive builder UI to help get the most out of your forms, faster
2. Conditional logic to ensure each respondent is asked the most relevant questions

All of your existing forms will continue to work and be fully editable in the new builder.

Learn more about the update here.

Would that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

✅Did my post help or answer your question or solve your problem? Please help the Community by marking it as the accepted answer/helpful. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!

Paul Grim

Woo-hoo! Can't wait!

Andrée Starå

Woho! It's live now! 😀



Paul Grim

Nuts -- this isn't the enhancement some of us were hoping for. This update delivers the ability to reveal certain form fields based on previous form field selections. That's a fine enhancement in and of itself, but many of us were hoping for cascading drop-downs, where the options displayed in one form field are filtered by the selection made in another form field(s).

I just submitted an enhancement request, so hopefully the Smartsheet team will be able to deliver!

Andrée Starå

@Paul Grim

Apologies, I was so excited so I didn't notice the Cascading Dropdown part.

Enhancement request 👍️

Krista Curnutt

When adding fields to conditional logic I keep getting this error message:

"Sorry there was a problem saving this logic. Logic statement is too large. Try reducing conditions for the affected fields".

No matter how many fields I reduce the logic by, I keep getting the error. Ideas?

Andrée Starå

Hi @Krista Curnutt,

I haven't seen that error message. I don't know the limit. How many fields have you included?

Also, if you haven’t already, I would recommend that you reach out to the Smartsheet Support Team.

Let me know how it goes!

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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

Todd Black

@Krista Curnutt ,

I have the exact problem with the conditional logic. Did you ever find a solution? ....or is it truly just more of a limitation?

Todd Black

Jared Davis

I am also having this problem. I cannot create more than 8 conditions.

The first question on my form has 12 radio buttons, and I want each selection to yield different questiosn relating to that topic. I get 8 arguments in and it gives me the same error... Please tell me this can be solved...

Richard Rymill SBP

I would rather suspect that there will be a list of limitations available through the support network to make this clearer for all of us?

As Smartsheet accredited Partners we can submit a request and provide feedback if it doesnt appear here first.

Richard Rymill

Smarter Business processes .com

Annette Hall

All,

Has anyone figured out a work around to building out cascading drop downs? I could really use this functionality. Seems like a basic functionality here...

thanks

Andrée Starå

Hi @Annette Hall

How many options can there be?

It might be possible to create something with so-called helper columns.

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic weekend!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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

Rob Eberstein

I have experienced similar issues with a client today. We have contacted the support team, and they have provided a link to the following article: https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/2481928-conditional-logic-faqs-and-best-practices

I suspect you have too many fields in the conditional logic.