Sheet "Description", similar to Column Description

SJ Sellers

Hi Smartsheet community!

I love the Column Description feature, and we use it to provide guidance to sheet users on how each column is meant to be used. It is invaluable to us!

It would be REALLY helpful to have the same feature for the Sheet itself. Because before you even ask yourself what the column is used for, it would be helpful to understand what the purpose of the Sheet is. I would love to see a little icon by the Sheet Name/Favorite Star that users could click on to provide instructions.

I have already submitted a Product Enhancement for this feature (and I hope those of you reading who think this idea is a good one will do the same!).

In the meantime - has anyone done anything clever that we might be able to use? I thought of using a Sheet Comment, but it seems so unintuitive. My users don't seem to use the Sheet Comment icon on the right toolbar that exposes the Sheet level comments very much - when they want to comment I generally see them using the comment button for each row.

What creative approaches have you used to provide "Help" to your users?

Jake Gustafson

I agree @SJ Sellers that this would be a great feature. Another option could be to add a text field in the Sheet Summary and add a description. Not super intuitive for end users to open that pane up, but could be a place for you to store that detail. Hope to see this enhancement in the near future.

mholmes

I agree. I just started using Smartsheet and was looking for this feature.

Lynnette

Good morning! Has anyone seen another way to add a sheet or report description? I know in Dynamic View we have the ability, but would love to have it at the Smartsheet level.

Andrée Starå

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/480871#Comment_480871

Hi,

I hope you're well and safe!

You could add it to the Sheet Comments or the Sheet Summary.

Would that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe, and have a fantastic day!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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Lynnette

@Andrée Starå Thank you for the suggestion, but I don't think that covers the request.

On a sheet, I don't see a general area to add a comment for the whole sheet that is visible before opening or right at opening. Perhaps I don't know where that is. I am not looking for a comment on a row that may not be seen.

The summary is not helpful to end users or before getting in the sheet prior.

Would would be beneficial is in the view of items in a workspace if there was a column similar to the Owner or Last Update column that could hold the description of the sheet or reports purpose.

Thank you!

Andrée Starå

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/480875#Comment_480875

Happy to help!

Unfortunately, there isn't a specific area, so my workaround was the ones mentioned, or adding it to a particular column/cell.

Also, Please submit an Enhancement Request when you have a moment

✅ Remember! Did my comment(s) help/answer your question or solve your problem? Please support the Community and me 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! I appreciate it, thanks!