Make fields required in update request workflows

manjalteng · 01/05/23

When creating an automation workflow from scratch, where we request an update, is there any way we can make the fields that they have to fill out required? What we noticed when we did this was that multiple people were not completing all the information we needed them to, so when we would see what was updated in the Smartsheet and what was not, we would have to go back and follow up with them directly since something was missed. I know that you can make forms in Smartsheet and make what you want required, so I think this would be helpful when adding automation.

del314 · 01/16/23

I totally agree this feature is very much needed;

The alternative would be to connect forms and automation. That way we trigger a form to be sent upon a condition being fulfilled.

I have created an automation whereby the condition triggering the next step is the last field being filled (thinking I was smart and people would fill it all the way down) except so many people don't realize they have to scroll down when filling in an update and therefore the next step doesn't get triggered.

DanielleM · 02/02/23

100% agree that this is needed. We are in the process of building out a massive workflow process that involves moving rows between 15 different sheets, many of those sheets having different owners and different requirements. Unless we create workflows with some pretty complex conditions and additional workflows within each sheet, users can send rows to other sheets without filling out their "required" fields.

I had not thought of connecting forms and automation - and I got very excited as I read that - but I'm not sure that would work in our situation. We need the same rows to be updated as they move from sheet to sheet, so since form entries add rows to their sheet, I don't think that'd work for us.

Katy H · 02/03/23

This would be a huge improvement!

Ann.bastin_410 · 02/21/23

Has this been submitted as an enhancement?

Michael Hatchell · 07/13/23

I would like to suggest the option to make certain fields required to be updated before completing an update request to a sheet. Currently, you can make certain fields visible but they are able to submit the update request without making any changes, which is counter to what is needing to happen.

peeryd · 07/13/23

It would nice to be able to set a field to be required in fields made in automation workflows. It would make it easier to ensure that the information needed is all getting filled out. Thank you

Colin B · 07/21/23

It would be wonderful if update requests shared the same great features that forms do.

In particular, setting fields to mandatory and applying conditional logic are the two main features myself and others I work with would like to see.

We have submitted enhancement requests for these features but are hoping others in the community will see this and increase visibility.

Shirley Romero · 07/27/23

This is much needed. Please review and prioritize

Sarabeth Smith · 07/31/23

Agreed!

Kari G · 08/08/23

Totally agree, Medical Industry here and we need to be able to set "required" to the fields that are requested for updates from the doctors. I have a 2 section form, Nurse fills out the top of it (which has required fields), and the doctor is suppose to fill out the bottom section. The automation kicks it to the Doctor's once the nurse is done. However I can't make the Doctor's field's required, because it would mean the nurse would have to fill it out. The problem we run into is the Doctors are not filling everything out that is needed. Out of 700 entries I reviewed, over 250 were still pending for updates of some sort because I can't make their fields "required" on the form, so data ends up missing. It is so much work to have to follow up directly for each entry. This feature is greatly needed!!!

MikePorter81 · 09/06/23

Does anyone have any feed back from Smartsheet on the required fields for workflows? or the owner created forms triggered from a work flow?

jl.furstenberg · 09/06/23

PLEASE!!!

H Brian · 10/18/23

The other piece that is missing from Update Requests is the _context_ we are able to give in an initial form with help text. If users were able to see Column Descriptions or other help text for filling out the field, that would also increase the likelihood that they will complete the update request correctly the first time. Just submitting characters in the field does not mean the request will be completed!

Virginia Rivas · 05/22/24

Make a field or fields mandatory in update request workflows. Similar to when creating a form.

Andrée Starå · 05/22/24

https://community.smartsheet.com/discussion/122304/update-request-mandatory-fields

Hi,

I hope you're well and safe!

What I sometimes do in my client solutions is that I add conditions to a a Update Request workflow and as long as not all of the required fields have been fulfiled I trigger another Update Request.

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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Make fields required in update request workflows

On Wishlist · Last Updated 09/06/23

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