Select a Value in Dropdown Cell Using IF Formula

Mark Miloslavic

I want the LabWare User Status cell value to be Pending if the checkbox in the Request LabWare Account cell is Checked. I've tried IF ([Request LabWare Account]@row = "Checked", "Pending") and a few other formula variations inside the LabWare User Status cell but it looks like formula's cannot be used to select or apply a value in a dropdown cell. Am I wrong? Please help. 😓

Paul Newcome

Make sure the column name is an exact match. Retype the formula from the beginning, and instead of typing the column name out, click on the cell itself.

Paul Newcome

Try this...

=IF([Request LabWare Account]@row = 1, "Pending")

Mark Miloslavic

I tried that one already, but I get #UNPARSEABLE. I appreciate your response Paul! 😃

Paul Newcome

Make sure the column name is an exact match. Retype the formula from the beginning, and instead of typing the column name out, click on the cell itself.

Mark Miloslavic

Yup, that's what it was, it works! I had originally typed in the row name instead of selecting it. Selecting the row when creating the formula works!

Thank you Paul!

Paul Newcome

It may be then that there is an extra space in the column name. Smartsheet will store extra spaces but not display them.

Mark Miloslavic

Unfortunately, once the formula is applied and it is doing what it's supposed to, the cell is no longer a dropdown, instead the cell becomes a regular text cell.

It seems Smartsheet doesn't have a formula that interacts with restricted dropdown values. This is frustrating.

Paul Newcome

I'm not sure I follow. Are you expecting users to update this cell?

Mark Miloslavic

Yes, I will be required to update this cell. As a systems administrator, this sheet will allow me to keep track of all user accounts from various software applications.

The supervisor of the new employee will check off what user accounts a new employee will need. When they check the box, the dropdown should switch from None to Pending. Then once I create the user account, I will update the status from Pending to Active and the supervisor and new employee will be automatically notified that the new employee's user account has been created.

Andrée Starå

Hi @Mark Miloslavic

Unfortunately, it's not possible to have a formula in a cell and at the same time be able to change the value manually. It would work if it's the last step, and you'll overwrite the formula.

Otherwise, I would recommend creating a so-called helper column that you use to change the value to Active.

Make sense?

Would that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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Paul Newcome

You should be able to just start typing out pending and the option will pop up.