Checklist Field

Manage a list of action items related to a work process or project

Jon Darbyshire avatar
Written by Jon Darbyshire
Updated over a week ago

Start Here: Learn how to Add, modify, duplicate and delete fields in SmartSuite


Checklist fields allow you to create, assign, and set a due date for action items associated with a record such as a project, milestone, sales opportunity, or client interaction.

Never lose sight of those key follow-ups and to-dos again!

The Checklist field is an essential tool for getting work gets done in SmartSuite. Here, users can create and track their own to-do's, but additional features really level up this field's usefulness:

  • @Mention members to trigger notifications and bring awareness to checklist items.

  • Assign a member to a checklist item, effectively creating a formal task for them to complete. Assigned items show in the member's My Work queue.

  • Set a Due Date for each item. SmartSuite will track how long until the item is due, or how long past due it's remained open.


Customizing the field

Solution Managers can select a color for each Checklist field. The color is displayed:

  • In the Checklist progress bar at the top of the field in the record

  • For each βœ… checkmark when you crush an action item!

  • In the field preview of Grid, Card, and Kanban Views showing the progress bar (Checklist Items closed vs. open)

Options

The only additional option in the Checklist field is whether to allow users to create new checklist items. This option is selected by default because in most uses it makes sense for users to be able to add new checklist items.

An example of when you'd want to prevent users from creating new checklist items is when you're using a Checklist field to adhere to a defined and static process where default items are created for each new record. Check out the example below.

Solution Managers can also choose to allow/disallow members from modifying or deleting default checklist values. They can also mark the checklist field as required. If selected, members will be required to add at least one checklist item before the record can be saved.


Checklists & Notifications

Notifications are integrated into checklist field behavior:

  • When a member gets assigned to a checklist item, they will receive an email and an in-app notification stating they have been assigned an item.

  • Members or teams that are @mentioned receive an in-app notification if they have been mentioned in a checklist item.

Just turn to your friendly notification center to view mentions or assignments:

Disable Checklist Notifications

To disable checklist assignment notifications, go into the field settings and check "Disable assignment notifications" under the Assignment Settings section.


Create default checklists

Create default checklist items that represent the standard process steps. You can create default checklist items from the field settings under the "Default" tab.

Note: These values will only apply to records created after you set the default values.

Note: Solution Managers can choose to allow or not to allow members to modify or delete default checklist items.


Checklists in SmartDocs

Every Checklist item has a SmartDoc field trapped inside it. Yes, the richest text formatting available in our favorite field - the SmartDoc - can be used in checklists: @mention, emojis, use code blocks, link records, insert images, and add divider lines & attachments.

To get started, just click Shift+Enter and then type /.


Checklist Previews in Grid View

Use shortcuts in Grid View to track checklist item progress and quickly check off those to-dos! Simply hover over the cell and a single click will expand the checklist.

Did this answer your question?