Can I show a populated form field with no ability to edit?

maltaee · 10/06/22

Hello,

I'm populating 2 fields for this form and while I can hide them however I need the users to see the consultant name, at least.

I put a notice but I would rather see an alternative way that shows the fields but are just locked.

Thanks,

Andrée Starå · 10/06/22

Hi @maltaee

I hope you're well and safe!

You could add multiple so-called helper columns and show those instead, and then it can't break.

Make sense?

Would that work/help?

I hope that helps!

Be safe, and have a fantastic week!

Best,

Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

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maltaee · 10/06/22

Thanks Andrée.

Add the helper columns in main Form sheet or in the Form?

Passing the lock columns from the Form sheet to Form will solve my issue.

Andrée Starå · 10/06/22

@maltaee

You'd add it to the sheet and then to the form, but are you using the URL-query feature to pre-populate the form?

maltaee · 10/06/22

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/346272#Comment_346272

Yes, my form URL is a string query in order to populate the 2 fields however I'm hoping they don't change them as I'm using the exact 2 fields for another formula.

I think Smartsheet will need to give us the option to lock the field in Form.

bburrets · 01/15/23

Hi @maltaee , I too am interested in a feature like this. I don't believe there currently is a way to do this.

The alternative 'solution' is to leverage a "Request update" that is sent to a user via an automation. You can accomplish this somewhat by locking the columns. Locked columns appear as un-editable fields in update forms.

maltaee · 01/16/23

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/357194#Comment_357194

Thanks. The survey form is big so adding more columns to the same sheet will result in a big and long scroll sheet. So far, no one is changing the populated results but it makes sense to have a feature in the form that does not hide the field but keeps visible with no edit ability / locked fields.

emiliowright · 07/20/24

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/comment/357205#Comment_357205

I know that this is an old post, but I have come across the same issue with a form. However, we have two sheets. Sheet A is used to house some columns that we combine to form a string query for a form from Sheet B. Here is a solution that I came up with to prevent any changes being done to the fields we are bringing over.

In the target sheet (Sheet B) create a "helper column", that will have dummy values, lets call it Dummy_1. From Sheet A we create the string query form URL and prefill this Dummy_1 column with the values we need to display to the user. We really don't care that they can edit it, because this just goes into a "dummy" column. The real values are still sent to the form using the string query but are kept as hidden fields in the form, which still work to prefill the form.

So in your example, you can have a dummy_Consultant column which you rename on the form, that holds the value from Consultant, just so that you can show to the form submitter. In your string query prefill Consultant with its value and dummy_Consultant with the same value. The Consultant column stays hidden.

Can I show a populated form field with no ability to edit?

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