Column Character Limit

Susan Vieira

I am looking for a way around the 50 charcter limit in the column headers. I have a sheet that sends out update requests monthly to various team members and the headers are questions they are required to answer. I am having a difficult time paring down my questions to 50 characters. Any ideas on how to get around this? I saw somehwere someone mentioned to add it to a row, but how could I include that cell in my update request when it is not in the row being updated? It would not be in every row and the request is row specific to a contact cell.

Thanks!

Andrée Starå

@Susan Vieira

Can you share the sheet so I can add an example of what I mean?

(Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help. (share too, andree@workbold.com)

Susan Vieira

@Andrée Starå Shared. There is no sensitive info on it, thanks!

Melissa Boehl

Can you provide a screenshot of your sheet so we can get a better idea of what you are trying to accomplish?

Andrée Starå

Hi @Susan Vieira

You can add so-called helper columns where you add the question to the same row and lock those columns so it would show like below.

Column Name

Question Cell (locked)

Answer Cell

Another option could be to use a form instead.

Would any of those options work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe and have a fantastic weekend!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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Susan Vieira

Hi @Andrée Starå , a form would not work as I do not want to keep adding rows to my sheet. I still cannot picture how a helper column would help me as I have mutliple questions each person must update every month on the same sheet via an update request.

@Melissa Boehl Here is a screenshot of my page if it helps. So what I highlighted in yellow wold be where my too long questions would live. Each person in the Site leads column would have to fill out their updates monthly. There are identical columns further in the sheet for each month of the year. I have a workflow to send them reminders to update every month.

Thanks very much for all your insight!

Susan

Andrée Starå

@Susan Vieira

The helper columns would only show the questions because they can't fit in the column names.

Main Column

Helper Column (with the question on each row, so it's included in the update request)

Answer Column.

Make sense?

Susan Vieira

@Andrée Starå But each update has about 3-4 different questions. So I would need multiple helper columns to ensure user sees each question? Or do you propose I include all questions in the helper cell?

Andrée Starå

@Susan Vieira

Can you share the sheet so I can add an example of what I mean?

(Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help. (share too, andree@workbold.com)

Susan Vieira

@Andrée Starå Shared. There is no sensitive info on it, thanks!

flashock

@Susan Vieira is it solved? i looking for the same solution.😊

Susan Vieira

Yes it was solved and it works great. I have this trick multiple times.

Michelle Valdes

Is there a screenshot of the final solution with the helper columns to see the final output?

Ian Lazerwitz

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/343315#Comment_343315

@Susan Vieira if you could share the final solution I think it would be helpful to many

Susan Vieira

Hello, so basically this is what it would look like. Column "1" is the helper column with my question I need answered. I have an automation to automatically populate that cell when a new row is created. The answer goes into the column next to it and I typically hide column 1 when looking at my sheets as I do not need to see the question.

I basically have this "duo" of columns repeated 10 times for my 10 questions. With a "Question 2" and it's answer column, "Question 3" and its answer column etc etc.

For update requests, I make sure I choose the question column and answer column and that way they see the question and are able to answer. I did rename column "1" to say "Question 1" so it is clear in the update request.

I hope this helps.

Andrée Starå

Hi @Susan Vieira & everyone else,

I hope you're well and safe!

When I answered this originally, Column Formulas had yet to be released, so instead of using automation, you could use column formulas to have all rows filled with the exact text now.

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 support the Community by marking it Insightful/Vote Up, Awesome, or/and as the accepted answer. It will make it easier for others to find a solution or help to answer!

Tommyq

@Andrée Starå Can you provide an example formula?