Convert multiple text dates to a date field in a single cell

Jason Cocco · 03/13/19

I have contract information entered into my sheet via Web Form. The users are allowed to enter multiple products in at once but asked to keep information pertaining to them in the same sequential order throughout the form entry. I am looking to see if it’s possible to take multiple text dates entered in a single cell and convert that into a separate date field so I could track if a contract is about to expire. I see where you can do it with one date entered into a cell but not with multiple.

Thanks for any help!!

Mike Wilday · 03/13/19

I don't think that's possible. Date fields in smartsheets only hold one date per field. Have you considered providing multiple fields for them to put dates into? So they can list multiple dates, and not just put all of their dates into a single field?

Paul Newcome · 03/13/19

To expand on Mike's suggestion, You can include a date type field in a form so long as that's how the column in the sheet is formatted. This would allow entry of multiple dates without having to convert from a text field.

To maintain your current setup, parsing in SS can get very tricky very quickly. If there is consistency in how the dates are entered (e.g. ALL dates are in the same format with the same separators being used) it can be done relatively easily. Otherwise you could be talking some serious pain from banging your head against a wall trying to parse out multiple formats.

Convert multiple text dates to a date field in a single cell

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