Reports - Some fields can be updated?

DEW

Hello.

I have created a report, and I noticed that some fields can be updated and others cannot.

For example:

I can update: task descriptions, start date, Health, percent complete, and notes/comments

I cannot update: End date, task owner.

Any idea where I can change this update everything or why it working like this?

Paul Newcome

If the field is populated by a formula (Task Owner), it cannot be changed in the report.

End Date - Do you have dependencies turned on?

Paul Newcome

If you have dependencies turned on, the end date is driven by the start date and duration. Even though it can be manually overridden, it is still initially "automatically" calculated. That's why it pops up with the "fx" on the report. Not necessarily because it is a formula but because it is automatically driven.

Paul Newcome

It could be any number of reasons. If the column/row is locked in the source sheet, if there is a formula in the cell/column, if it is a system generated column, if it is used in the dependency settings, etc.

How are the columns in question set up?

DEW

Hey Paul - Thank you.

I did lock the health column which uses the end date to calculate its status in the smartsheet - not the report.

Are you saying that locking a column that contains a formula will also lock the source of the value too? Seems odd that the report would behave differently.

(sorry for the poorly worded initial question - multi-tasked it)

Paul Newcome

How is the End Date populated in the sheet?

DEW

Thank you!

1) End date - I type it in on the sheet (manual). However, on the report, I see the f (x) on it when I hover over it, but I don't see f (x) on the start date when hovering.

2) Task owner - I see f (x) on the report as it is a formula on the sheet when I hover over it.

So...if a formula on the sheet, you cannot update it on the report(?).

Paul Newcome

If the field is populated by a formula (Task Owner), it cannot be changed in the report.

End Date - Do you have dependencies turned on?

DEW

 f (x) in a report is an indication of a formula correct?

Paul Newcome

If you have dependencies turned on, the end date is driven by the start date and duration. Even though it can be manually overridden, it is still initially "automatically" calculated. That's why it pops up with the "fx" on the report. Not necessarily because it is a formula but because it is automatically driven.

DEW

Got it! Once I switched the report columns back to the non-formula driven values, it was updateable in in the report. A cool feature if you want to have some values updated and others blocked (e.g. I calculate health so they cannot update it on the report - but they can see the value).

Thank you Paul!!!