More options for RAG Status

sravya.gupta127326

Hi,

We have a requirement for additional Status options than Red, Amber, Green - I also need Blue to mark complete and Grey for not applicable. Currently, I have to choose either Blue or Grey - just wondered if this came up as a requirement for anyone else and what did you do? I still want to see the circles - so, adding as a separate drop down wouldn't work unless there is no other option.

I have already added it as product enhancement request.

Thanks!

Paul Newcome

Oh. Ok. Sorry about that. In that case I would suggest sticking with the users manually entering "N/A".

SoS | Dan Palenchar

There is indeed no option to allow for Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Gray but it would be nice.

The most common workarounds I use is to select the RYGB symbols and use conditional formatting to make the cell highlight grey.

You can also add text to say "N/A."

Andrée Starå

Hi @sravya.gupta127326

To add to Dan’s excellent advice.

Another options could be to use Emojis, CHAR or UNICHAR.

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(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!

sravya.gupta127326

Hi Dan - Thank you. My RAG status and the dates drive the status so I cannot use them other way round. I have asked users to add N/A manually which will make the cell grey but not ideal.

Hi @Andrée Starå - Emojis and Unichars! Can you please point me to how?

Thanks!

Andrée Starå

@sravya.gupta127326

Happy to help!

More info:

https://help.smartsheet.com/function/unichar

https://help.smartsheet.com/function/char

https://getemoji.com/

Great resource that Paul Newcome put together

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=82f8fe0936a54758a3afa4b584acde07

✅Remember! 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!

Paul Newcome

I just wish I could remember which UNICHAR the black harvey ball is. I remember not to long ago pointing it out to someone else here in the Community and then we could use conditional formatting to change the font color (which changes the ball color). This actually opens up a lot of additional options since you could have light green vs dark green, etc.

Paul Newcome

Try taking a look at UNICHAR(57880) or UNICHAR(57566).

sravya.gupta127326

Thanks @Andrée Starå and @Paul Newcome. Lots of potential - but, how will it work with the dropdown list? Do I need a separate column to select and a different column that is formula based to show the values? I have around 12 RAG status columns per sheet in a programme.

Paul Newcome

You would incorporate it into whatever formula you are already using to automate your RYG column.

=IF(Stage@row = "Complete", "Blue", IF(Stage@row = "In Progress", "Green", IF(Stage@row = "Delayed", "Yellow", IF(Stage@row = "At Risk", "Red", IF(Stage@row = "Not Applicable", UNICHAR(57880))))))

Then you would set up your Conditional Formatting so that if the Stage column is "Not Applicable" then change the font of the Status Column to Gray.

sravya.gupta127326

Ah - but, I have it the other way round for overall status (RAG Status + dates dictate the status of the column) as I found users see it simpler to update RAG status than actual status. For other interim status checks, RAG status is standalone and not dependent on the formula.

Paul Newcome

Oh. Ok. Sorry about that. In that case I would suggest sticking with the users manually entering "N/A".

sravya.gupta127326

Thank you Paul - but, so many other places where I can use the unichar!

Paul Newcome

At least you were able to get some use out of it. Happy to help. 👍️