Forum Discussion
Convert to Checkboxes
In the Excel Web app, there seems to be a new feature. When you are entering data in a column in a table, and are entering values y or n, you get a prompt asking you whether you would like to convert the cells to checkboxes.
I would like to switch this feature off as users have clicked on it and messed up the spreadsheet.
Does anyone know of any way to switch this off?
Thanks,
Jesse
13 Replies
It does feel like this is something I would like to be able to turn off. I suggest you to send feedback about it to MSFT.
I'm using version 16.0.18619.42308
I'm opening the spreadsheet from SharePoint if that makes any difference.
Here's an example:If I click on the box, I get:
Hope that helps
Not sure what's happening... none of my replies have appeared
I'm not sure what's happening to my replies. They're not showing on here. It says they have been submitted for review and then never appear.
The version I'm using is 16.0.18619.42308
It's launching from within SharePoint if that makes any difference.Apparently, it only happens within a structured table after you enter a few y or n. See screenshot below. Don't think it can be switched off.
I tried exactly that, both with j/n (as my Ux is in Dutch) and with y/n, neither triggered the pop-up.
interesting, I can't reproduce either. I have tried multiple online accounts, created structured tables in existing and new workbooks. I have tried builds:
16.0.18618.42309
16.0.18619.42308
that all said, what I wanted to test was if you could turn protection on to block/stop this
I get it all the time. My build is 16.0.18619.42308.
Let's see what then OP has to say about it.
Hello, Yes, that's what I found too.
Not sure what happened to my previous reply but that's exactly what happens.
It's a real pain as it's unwanted behaviour and it's too tempting for the users to resist.
I've found a work around for now which is to turn on data validation for the column and give the options "y" and "n" in a list. It stops the dialogue from popping up.
Any chance you could share a screenshot of that prompt please? I cannot reproduce this.
Yes, sure.
It has to be in a table:Here's what happens if I click on Yes:
I don't know how to undo this if someone has saved it with the checkboxes in place, aside from deleting the whole column and its associated data.
I would rather switch it off than have to fix it post conversion when a user accidentally clicks on it.I don't know if it can be blocked but I have 2 thoughts:
a) it isn't a great 'undo' but you could do an 'undo' by reverting to an earlier saved version using the history interface. You can also 'undo' the checkboxes by selecting the range (column) and choose 'clear formatting' (on the home tab) BUT that will result in TRUE/FALSE entries so then you need to convert those TRUE/FALSE back to "y"/"n" and could use a helper column and then Copy - Paste Values only to get back
b) "if you can't beat them, join them" - not sure why it breaks your sheet to have checkboxes but maybe update any logic to accept either "y" or TRUE and either "n" or FALSE. OR you can create a new column that has checkboxes and then make a formula in the current column =IF(checkbox,"y","n") and then HIDE that column. Then all your logic looking at that column stays the same but the user now uses checkboxes.
