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Date and Timestamp Action in an Automation Workflow

Kleerfyre
Kleerfyre ✭✭✭✭✭✭

There needs to be an option when setting up a workflow that when the triggers that we have set up happens, that we can have the workflow record not only a date of when it trigger, but also the time at which it triggered. The time at which things have happened inside of Smartsheet is captured everywhere already (Logs, Cell History, Created System Column), so it should be an easy thing to just add the timestamp to the record a date option in the actions for the workflows. That way, we won't have to use an overly complicated workaround create helper sheets and columns to accomplish this.

Jonathan Sanders, CSM

"Change is always scary because it is unknown, but facing the unknown is what makes us stronger."

42
42 votes

On Radar · Last Updated

Thank you for sharing this idea. While we don't yet have specific plans to add these timestamps, we agree that it is a good idea and are evaluating how to improve Automated Workflows. We will take this into consideration. Please keep commenting and upvoting this or other ideas - your feedback helps shape our roadmap!

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Comments

  • Pam Ahles
    Pam Ahles ✭✭✭

    Ability to utilize the creation date column within workflows which includes the time to add a level of granularity down to the minute if needed.

  • Kleerfyre
    Kleerfyre ✭✭✭✭✭✭

    @Adrian @ Chess I so agree with you! We need this feature asap.

    Jonathan Sanders, CSM

    "Change is always scary because it is unknown, but facing the unknown is what makes us stronger."

  • JennS_
    JennS_ ✭✭✭
    edited 07/26/23

    This is a feature I could use right now. Does anyone know if there is a time stamp for when a form is STARTED & COMPLETED? Currently it looks like it just adds a time stamp when the entire row is added to the sheet or the form is submitted.

  • Jean H.
    Jean H. ✭✭
    edited 07/26/23

    @JennS_ , when I called the representative at Smartsheet said that the time stamp currently available is only for when a ROW is created or modified. Apparently adding to the community and upvoting is how changes may be incorporated in the future. It seems like a simple (easy for me to say) request and it would be oh so helpful.

  • Andrée Starå
    Andrée Starå ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited 07/26/23

    Hi @Jean H. @JennS_

    I hope you're well and safe!

    Here's a possible workaround or workarounds

    Please have a look at my post below with a method I developed.

    More info: 

    Would that work/help?

    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!

    SMARTSHEET EXPERT CONSULTANT & PARTNER

    Andrée Starå | Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

    W: www.workbold.com | E:andree@workbold.com | P: +46 (0) - 72 - 510 99 35

    Feel free to contact me for help with Smartsheet, integrations, general workflow advice, or anything else.

  • Jean H.
    Jean H. ✭✭
    edited 07/26/23

    Andrée, thank you. I had seen your other posts. I'd prefer if this was a simple function within Smartsheet without involving additional software.

  • jl.furstenberg
    jl.furstenberg ✭✭✭✭

    It would be incredibly helpful if there could be some sort of timestamp option. Thinking about the created or modified column types (add time) or an automation option. There are instances where we need to know the time something was approved in an update or approval workflow.

  • Erin Hauser
    Erin Hauser ✭✭✭

    I have looked through a lot of the date/time threads and I'm looking for the same thing: I'd like to use the modified timestamp to calculate duration. (Thanks @Paul Newcome for the summary of date/time calculations, have you had any luck on the time portion of timestamps rather than a time input?)

    I have 2 checkboxes: 1 Check In and 1 Check Out. When the person checks in, it timestamps the modified date/time and then copies the row to another sheet. When the person checks out, it updates the timestamp and then copies the row to the other sheet but now both checkboxes are checked. So I have a start and an end time.

    I have tried using RIGHT, LEFT, etc. and it tells me the position it is in the timestamp, but it won't give me the actual value. It gives the same result if it has VALUE, or INT, and it still just gives the position.

    To get the 12:12 results, I have this formula:

    =VALUE(RIGHT(FIND(":", [Check In/Out Timestamp]@row, 1), 2)) + ":" + VALUE(LEFT(FIND(":", [Check In/Out Timestamp]@row, 1), 2))

    The other formula in there is giving me #Invalid Value

    I feel like we are close to finding a work around. And yes, while it would be nice if this was something that gets incorporated soon, a lot of us need work arounds today. 😊

    Brain Trust Unite! 🤓

  • Paul Newcome
    Paul Newcome ✭✭✭✭✭✭

    @Erin Hauser To strip the timestamp out of a date/timestamp cell, you would use

    =RIGHT([Column Name]@row, LEN([Column Name]@row) - FIND(" ", [Column Name]@row))

  • Erin Hauser
    Erin Hauser ✭✭✭

    @Paul Newcome thank you!!! I did find a calculation on pg 5 of the other post that helped. But now I ran into something else, which I knew could be an issue...and it is.

    Using the modified timestamp, when I put the formula in, it automatically updates the row, thus changing the modified date/timestamp. Ugh!

    So now I'm thinking I need the formula on the main sheet to INDEX/COLLECT the timestamp, but it only brings in the date and not the time. So I'm back at square 1.

    The whole problem I'm trying to solve is that I need drivers to be able to check in and out of locations by using a checkbox and then calculate their time spent at site and driving to the next site. They have a list of locations (rows assigned to them).

    The easy way would be if they typed in the time they arrive/depart. But we like to be fancy and try to automate as much as possible. And I don't like to admit defeat, so any ideas are welcomed!

  • Paul Newcome
    Paul Newcome ✭✭✭✭✭✭

    Try your INDEX/COLLECT but "add" two quotes to the end to turn it into a text string (and put it in a text/number column).

    =INDEX(COLLECT(.........), 1) + ""

    plus quote quote

  • Record the time an event occurred without needing to manually look at cell history. Need to be able to calculate the delta between when action A and Action B were so would like the option in automation to not just record a date but also the time.