Contact List Column auto-populating with org emails

Dallas

Hey there - new(ish) to Smartsheet and in a bit of a pickle.

I have a sheet with a Contact List column that I use to request updates from outside partners. However, when the update request is sent the Contact List column field (where they could update their contact email) features a drop-down of emails for all users in the organization.

How can I make it so this is an input only field and not a drop-down?

Thanks in advance for the help!

SRLinhardt

Setting up a column type as a primary contact will be a drop down. It does make it nice to auto-populate the contact when you start to type.

Alternatively, you can just use text/number as the column type and it will be free-form.

Dallas

To clarify - I need the column to be a contact list to send request updates. But I also need to prevent all of the emails being visible in the update request form because it is sent to folks outside the org. The auto populate feature is making update request feature unusable.