Is it possible to escape special characters in dynamically added cell data in request messages?

Ryan Ahearn - QUEAAC

I would like to build a link to a Smartsheet form from another sheet's workflow, including default values as described here: https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/2478871-url-query-string-form-default-values

Those default values should be set from a cell using {{ }} as described here: https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/2477796-dynamically-add-cell-data-in-the-subject-and-body-of-request-messages

My problem is that the cell data includes spaces, which aren't allowed in URLs. Is there a way to automatically replace special characters in the cell data? The templating engine for jekyll for instance would solve this with something like {{ColumnName | uri_escape}}

Andrée Starå

Hi Ryan,

Wouldn’t it work with the SUBSTITUTE function?

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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Andrée Starå

Hi Ryan,

Wouldn’t it work with the SUBSTITUTE function?

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!

Ryan Ahearn - QUEAAC

Thanks Andrée.

Can that function be used in the {{ }} syntax? Or would I have to create a new column in the source sheet just to have an escaped copy of my real data?

Andrée Starå

@Ryan Ahearn - QUEAAC

Happy to help!

You can't use the SUBSTITUTE function in the Workflow. You'll have to have that added in another so-called helper column and use that for the Workflow.

Make sense?