Can you create a drop down list from values in a column?

aerickson

Im trying to create a drop down list in a form and have choices from a column. The idea is for overtime. The supervisor enters a time frame on the sheet, people are alerted this has been posted and they go in and fill out a form choosing that overtime option from a drop down list. Can this be done?

MCorbin

Not automatically when a record is saved....

If you have Data Uploader, one of the options in DU is to update Dropdowns. You could do something fancy where you export data (via scheduled report) from your sheet to Google Drive, have Data Uploader scheduled to pick up that report and update Dropdowns from it, but...

Everything would have to be scheduled - so it wouldn't update automatically. (Plus, you'd have to have Data Uploader, which is an add-on)

But, if you don't have to send the alert out immediately, you could do it:

Create a report that pulls values from that column. Run the report on a schedule (this part is manual) and save as CSV or XLSX in Google Drive, One Drive or Box. Set up Data Uploader to look in this location and automatically run when it finds a new file.

Then set your alerts to trigger late at night or early in the AM after the report and data uploader have run...

(but really, if you're going to do all that, it might be easier to just manually update the drop-down)

MCorbin

Not automatically when a record is saved....

If you have Data Uploader, one of the options in DU is to update Dropdowns. You could do something fancy where you export data (via scheduled report) from your sheet to Google Drive, have Data Uploader scheduled to pick up that report and update Dropdowns from it, but...

Everything would have to be scheduled - so it wouldn't update automatically. (Plus, you'd have to have Data Uploader, which is an add-on)

But, if you don't have to send the alert out immediately, you could do it:

Create a report that pulls values from that column. Run the report on a schedule (this part is manual) and save as CSV or XLSX in Google Drive, One Drive or Box. Set up Data Uploader to look in this location and automatically run when it finds a new file.

Then set your alerts to trigger late at night or early in the AM after the report and data uploader have run...

(but really, if you're going to do all that, it might be easier to just manually update the drop-down)

aerickson

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/272942#Comment_272942

Mcorbin, this is such a creative solution to the issue. I have however come to another solution that will overall accomplish what I’m trying to do without updating a drop down list. Thank you so much for this as I will probably use it for another project or Smartsheets could just allow dynamic drop downs from sheets.

JeremiahHorstick

www.ddupdate.com does what you are talking about. :D

Meagan Harte

@aerickson - what was your work around if you don’t mind me asking? I’m in the same boat hoping you figured this out!

Dan C.

Yeah, this seems like it would be out of the box functionality, but looks like another premium add on.

Jay Gee

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/322406#Comment_322406

People have been asking for the Smartsheet team to add this for years! It would be such a game changer.