Can a form field require a specific number of digits to be entered

Paul G.

Is there a way (similar to Excel data validation) to require seven digits to be entered into a forms field?

Each individual completing the form has a unique ID number which is seven digits long. Currently the first three or four number of the ID number are zeros. Each time an activity is completed the individual completes the form which requires their ID number. Individuals can enter an activity as little as one time a month up to several times all depending on the number of activities they complete. The ID number is in a calculation to provide a the total number of individuals who have completed an activity during the month, not the total number of activities completed during the month.

An issue is occurring where individuals do not always enter the correct number of digits and leave a 0 off which then is counted as a different ID number when using =COUNT(DISTINCT(COLLECT())

Thank you in advance for your response.

Paul Newcome

@Paul G. Happy to help. 👍️

There should bean option somewhere within each comment to mark it as the "Accepted Answer".

Paul Newcome

Would you be able to load all of the ID numbers into a dropdown type column?

Paul G.

Thank you Paul for your suggestion. Loading all of the ID numbers into a dropdown column would be one possibility. What I am trying to accomplish is to remove any manual manipulation of columns. This specific form is used to collect information from volunteers for an organization. The data from the form is used for a dashboard.

Paul Newcome

Ah. Ok. So new numbers would be added to the dropdown options fairly regularly then it sounds like. Do you have access to Data Shuttle?

Paul G.

Thank you Paul. My apologies for my delay in responding as things have been busy. We do not have Data Shuttle.

After much research I learned the Smartsheet formula will not work when there are leading zeros followed by numbers as the leading zeros are treated as text and the formula will not work with text and numbers at the same time.

My workaround is I reset the Smartsheet form, which collects the information from the volunteer and their volunteer number, to only accept/import into Smartsheet the number and not the leading zeros. The formula now works and there is an accurate count.

Is there a way to "close" this question? I have gone through the Welcome to the Smartsheet Online Community! but was only able to find information on deleting a question.

Thank you again for your suggestions.

Paul G.

Paul Newcome

@Paul G. Happy to help. 👍️

There should bean option somewhere within each comment to mark it as the "Accepted Answer".