Checkbox formula causes Contact field to update daily

Susan Peck

Hi all,

This is an odd behavior, but I suspect someone can help me fix it.

I have a task list for multiple projects. Each project has the same set of tasks (pulled from a standard list) but not all projects need all tasks. So, I added a Checkbox column for each row and created a formula. If the box is unchecked, put N/A in the field. Here is the formula (row number changes each time):

=IF($Required23 = 0, "N/A")

The formula is placed in several columns and works well for all columns except the Assigned To column. For some reason, the Assigned To column (Type: Contact List, allowing multiple contacts) updates automatically every day. These changes are identified in the workflow notification email. Here is a screenshot of the notification:

For this one sheet, the notification email says 72 rows are change.! Of those 72 rows, only 8 rows have changes that a person made. The other 64 rows are changes caused by the formula in the Assigned To row.

The same formula is used in all the other columns showing N/A above, which do not exhibit the same behavior. So it seems to be specific to a Contact List column.

I'd like to use this same checkbox and formula on other sheets, but until I figure out what is happening here, I will hold off because others receiving daily notifications of changes will be confused.

Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks much for the help!

Susan

Paul Newcome

Can you provide a screenshot of how the Automation is set up?

Have you tried it on other sheets with just you as the recipient to see if it is maybe isolated to this one workflow?

You can also try deleting the workflow and setting it back up again.

Paul Newcome

Can you provide a screenshot of how the Automation is set up?

Have you tried it on other sheets with just you as the recipient to see if it is maybe isolated to this one workflow?

You can also try deleting the workflow and setting it back up again.

Susan Peck

Hi Paul,

Good questions.

This is the Automation workflow:

I'm the only recipient on this sheet for this workflow.

But, I actually copied this same sheet and modified it for a different department earlier this week. It has the same formula, checkbox, and columns. So far, I have not received an alert showing the same behavior.

It may also be that I receive the notification showing the Assigned To field changing only when another change has been made on the sheet. If no other changes are made, I don't get any notifications, so there must be some combination of things happening.

I'll try removing this workflow and adding it back in. Will post the results.

Thanks for the ideas!

susan

Susan Peck

@Paul Newcome

I'm cautiously optimistic that the solution worked. No email notification that all the N/As in the Assigned To fields were updated.

The other sheet that was copied from the one with the problem did send a notification showing that field had changed:

So, I will delete the workflow from this sheet and add it back in. If I get no notice tomorrow, then the problem is completely solved.

Thank you for the help!

susan

Paul Newcome

Excellent! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Susan Peck

@Paul Newcome - It seems to have worked. Thank you so much!

Paul Newcome

Great. Happy to help! 👍️

Susan Peck

Hi all,

Despite thinking this problem was solved, it is back again. The past two days, I've received email notification for this sheet and the only "change" highlighted is the N/A in the Assigned To column.

Other suggestions? Should I try deleting and creating the workflow again? Is there something in the column properties that might cause this to happen? I'm stumped!

Thanks for the help!

susan

Paul Newcome

At this point I would suggest reaching out to support. It sounds like there may be a bug running around somewhere.

Susan Peck

@Paul Newcome Thanks for the advice. I was wondering if it was that time. Will do.

Paul Newcome

Sorry we couldn't get it fixed for you. Feel free to revisit and let us know what Support says.

Susan Peck

Will do!