Checklist from Lookup

[Lynn_vK]

I have a table that with a lookup column that is configured as a bulleted list. Is there anyway to convert the bulleted list to a checklist?

[Federico_Stefanato]

Hi @Lynn_vK,
As usual, having a sample would be extremely helpful to see if we correctly understand your use case.

Assuming I did, the answer is positive, with some buts:

1. You have to rely on non-official formulas that may be discontinued or changed without notice
2. A trigger is needed (either manual or an automation) to physically fill in the checklist value (in this case, the Convert button).

Have a look at this example:

I tried to provide all the steps in a self-explaining way, but please do let me know if these are enough clear.
And moreover, if I correctly got your point.

Please note:
Most of the job has been already pointed out and greatly explained by @Paul_Danyliuk in this post (among the others):

Mega trick: Formatted tooltips for your table items (with JSON)

Here’s a pretty neat way to render tooltips. Unlike this solution it doesn’t require extra rows, and unlike @Filmos’ hyperlink hack it doesn’t rely on broken hyperlinks and is much richer. The idea: prepare a JSON object (text) with all the fields that you want to display in a tooltip render it with ParseJson(). [image] The first value in the JSON will be treated as a display value and will appear as cell text, while everything else will appear when you hover it with your mouse in a popup: …

Therefore, main credits must go to him.

[Pch]

Wow ! That’s nice, to say the least !

[Jean_Pierre_Traets]

Dear @Federico_Stefanato,

As far as I understand it’s only a visual checkbox and you can not use it to actually check off.

Not sure if my idea is right and I didn’t have the time (yet) to check out, if the these values are copied to a new table, with each of them a new row, we can add a column with a check box to “false”, so the use can update to “true” if that becomes the case.

As you several times mentioned, it’s always important to receive more info on the expected outcome with a supporting doc

[Federico_Stefanato]

@Jean_Pierre_Traets

@Jean_Pierre_Traets

As far as I understand it’s only a visual checkbox and you can not use it to actually check off.

hmm… not really

Have you tried to click on “Convert” button?

[Federico_Stefanato]

@Jean_Pierre_Traets

Not sure if my idea is right and I didn’t have the time (yet) to check out, if the these values are copied to a new table, with each of them a new row, we can add a column with a check box to “false”, so the use can update to “true” if that becomes the case.

As per this one, the same @Paul_Danyliuk (always him ), provided a great solution. Not exactly the same, but very similar:

Pro hack: Convert checklist to separate rows

I was playing around with the idea of being able to enter meeting notes in a Big Cell mode, and then quickly convert those into separate rows in a Tasks table. Here’s what I managed to do: [ezgif.com-optimize (72)] This is a hacky solution that relies on deep object modification (props to @Filmos). I added the logic to include sub-lists etc when copying each task. reducing nesting level by one. I haven’t implemented the way to preserve character-level formatting (bold, color etc) because that…

[Lynn_vK]

Thank you all. I will copy and paste your solutions to my Doc and attempt to reproduce the results. My objective is to convert subtasks from a lookup column into a checklist.

[Federico_Stefanato]

Hi @Lynn_vK,
just to better understand: is it a one-off operation?

Meaning that you have to import/convert existing bullet subtasks into checklists once and then you always use the checklist.

Otherwise I don’t get the normal life cycle of it.
Is it possible for you to share your doc?

[Paul_Danyliuk]

@Federico_Stefanato wait, no need for any JSON manipulation.

I prefer to do it with a template value. See here how I create a checkbox line for each item. Of course I still have to copy it into a non-formula cell so that the checkbox is editable:

[Lynn_vK]

I have reoccurring tasks depending on a status of steps. Step 1 has subtasks X,Y,Z, Step 2 has subtasks A, B,C, etc. When I start to move through the steps, I want to be able to check through the subtasks as they are completed.

[Paul_Danyliuk]

On a second note, this whole requirement looks strange.

If you want to have a checklist, why not simply store a checklist to copy? Why set up checklist items in a separate table at all?

Or, if extra logic is required, then you don’t need a checklist checklist — you need to implement this differently. E.g., recently I had a requirement to build a task tracker where projects would move through the same stages, each stage should “generate” the same tasks, and some tasks would have checklists. I had a separate “Checklist item templates” table that described the checklists that had to be copied each time a task was created, then had a table of “Checklist items” to store actual items per task (copies of a template).

[Lynn_vK]

Thank you Paul. You’ve provided other options to consider.

[Federico_Stefanato]

Hi @Paul_Danyliuk,

@Paul_Danyliuk

no need for any JSON manipulation.

You’re right.
I added the additional possibility (starting from the bullet list)

[Paul_Danyliuk]

Yeah, my instinct is that you should move a step back and try to get the list in non-bulletlist form, but in its original form. Only if for some reason that’s impossible should you resort to object manipulation etc.

[Lynn_vK]

Cool solutions! I will look at both options. They are much easier than fooling around we JSON. Thank you.

[Jean_Pierre_Traets]

@Federico_Stefanato

hmm… not really

Have you tried to click on “Convert” button?

Your right @Federico_Stefanato