Data Uploader with Contact List

gwson

How do I setup data uploader to update dropdowns in the contact list with NAME and Email. Right now it overrides the column property to the SINGLE DROPDOWN column and inserts email address only.

Genevieve P.

Hi @gwson

After the email addresses have been uploaded to the list, can you then change the column type from being Dropdown to a Contact List type of column? That should then read the email addresses as contacts with names, etc.

gwson

Good tip, but this would only bring email, but would not include the NAME associated with that email for purposes of selecting the contacts via forms.

Genevieve P.

Hi @gwson

Are these email addresses set up as Contacts within Smartsheet? If they are, the associated name should also pop-up with the email address in a drop-down list in a form.

gwson

Yes they are, but they are not populating with names for some reason. I will look into that. Thank you.

How do we make the single drop-down column to switch to contact list automatically, since the point of acquiring the data uploader was to automate things?

Genevieve P.

Data Uploader doesn't currently have the ability to map to the contact column's list in this way; you would need to manually change the column type after the data has been imported/uploaded. Please submit an Enhancement Request when you have a moment!

Darren Mullen

Hi,

As Genevieve said, you need to update the column type back to a "contact list" after you run the data uploader workflow. This works if you do it infrequently, if you're on an automated workflow, that would be cumbersome.

As far as getting the drop down to allow you to see the Name and Email, make sure your source data is in the following format for each cell that contains a contact. Include the"<" ">" at the beginning and end of the email address as shown:

FirstName LastName <email@domain.com>

This format will allow smartsheet to convert the value in the cell directly to a contact once you convert the column type from "drop down" to "contact list"

Also, remember to disable any workflows temporarily that are triggered by that column until after you reset the column type back to "Contact List".