Change column details

Column types ensure incoming data is valid and meaningful, while descriptions give users the context they need to use that data correctly.

Sheet Owners or Admins can prevent others from adding free text to column cells or form fields.

Change a column's type

Sheets have a rich assortment of column types. To change a column's type, you need to access the column properties by:  

You can't change the column type of a primary column or project settings column.

1. Either double-click the column header or hover over the column header, select the Column Menu  , and then select Edit Column Properties...
2. Select a different type from the Column Type menu in the column properties panel.
3. Select Ok.

Include a column description

You can provide important information about a column to display as a tooltip. For example, use a column description to document what type of data you expect the column to have.

1. Right-click a column header. 
2. Select Add Column Description...

3. In the Column Description field that appears, describe the column. 

   The description can be up to 250 characters.

4. Select OK.  

    

View the column description

You can't view column descriptions in reports and dashboards. Column descriptions appear in sheets only.

To view the column description, hover over the information icon  

Brandfolder Image

Edit the column description

1. Right-click the column header or select the the Column Menu 
   Brandfolder Image

   
   .
2. Select Edit Column Description...
3. In the Column Description form, enter a new description. 
4. Select OK.

That's it! You now know how to change a column type and update its description.