Unable to import a CSV column as Text/Numeric as automates to Drop Down List

I want to create new sheets from CSV or excel data to create a new Smartsheet chart with a project layout and then create a gantt chart.

I can achieve all that but the column for Duration insists on creating a "Drop Down List" type which I have to manualy convert to "Text/Number" before turning on the GANTT chart. This is happening because the data contains repeating values which Smartsheet clearly sees as ideal for drop dawn list.

My duration data tends to contain similar values as below: 

If i make sure the data contains a wider spread of value withoutmuch repeatition there is no problem importing but this does not reflect the real world where taskes are alocated 4 hours, 8 hours etc.

I have attepted export a correct smartsheet to excel and then back to a new sheet and the same issue occures. Also making sure the duration excel column is numeric does not help.

I am looking for the simplist import method to automate the task or make it refreash in real time. I could provide data in other formats ( eg SQL Table)

Chris Brown

Servat UK