Forum Discussion
Convert to Checkboxes
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.
Thanks, m_tarler.
on a) unfortunately, this sheet is in continuous use in this scenario, but I have used the earlier version in the history interface in the past. Thanks for the top on formatting.
on b) that's an option, but I have found an alternative:
I've turned on data validation for the column and using an allow list with a source of:
yes, no
This seems to prevent the checkbox option from popping up now.
Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions
