# How to "clear an entire column" (compound action trickery) **URL:** \ **Category:** Ask for Help\ **Tags:** actions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555 "2020-11-17T13:59:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ThinhDinh](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/thinhdinh/32/49_2.png) [@ThinhDinh](https://community.glideapps.com/u/ThinhDinh)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/21 "2023-12-08T23:35:15Z")
If the column is user-specific, then no. ---
**Author:** ![biha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/biha/32/84110_2.png) [@biha](https://community.glideapps.com/u/biha)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2023, 4:13am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/22 "2023-12-12T04:13:49Z")
šŸ„“ ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2023, 4:22am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/23 "2023-12-12T04:22:33Z")
@biha - you should be able to use the ā€œparentIDā€ method for this. Have you tried it? > [@Reset Multiple Rows At Once](https://community.glideapps.com/t/reset-multiple-rows-at-once/22211): > > There have been several requests for people to find a way to clear a value in multiple rows. I was thinking about that and came up with a quick example of a way to handle that. Instead of trying to clear a value in an entire column, I realized we could just change one value on a parent column, load it as a single value in our sheet and then compare that parent value to a column that we set or unset for each row. Itā€™s not about clearing an entire column, itā€™s about making a value in each row nā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![biha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/biha/32/84110_2.png) [@biha](https://community.glideapps.com/u/biha)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 6:40am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/24 "2023-12-14T06:40:37Z")
Tried but cannot fits. @Jeff_Hager 's is like when ParentId is equal current ID is true. Basically is true or false. If false can clear the current Id. I got it. Mine scenario need more than 2 answers. Minimum 3 answers. so need another one more column in between. I really stuck at this point ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 7:03am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/25 "2023-12-14T07:03:37Z")
You can have multiple states using multiple ParentIDā€™s, but it starts getting complicated. Can you show me a screen shot of your data? ---
**Author:** ![biha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/biha/32/84110_2.png) [@biha](https://community.glideapps.com/u/biha)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 7:16am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/26 "2023-12-14T07:16:34Z")
![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/glideapps/original/3X/e/9/e954c41276be0ccfedc3c9ab8fdbe7573f0e6085.jpeg) Report List is the main table. Pre-Operational is the list of questions. The answer will be stored in Pre-operational column in Report List table. At the end, the answer able to edit. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 7:33am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/27 "2023-12-14T07:33:45Z")
Okay, so which part are you stuck with? ---
**Author:** ![biha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/biha/32/84110_2.png) [@biha](https://community.glideapps.com/u/biha)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 7:38am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/28 "2023-12-14T07:38:28Z")
My if then column for Answer is if SV Unique Id is equal Selected Unique ID, then show Answer column. Answer column is User Specific column. after joining all rows for the answers. Then, how to clear all answer column. because my answer form user will be from Choice component. Might be true false not applicable or might be choices answer ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 7:41am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/29 "2023-12-14T07:41:05Z")
To clear it, you would clear the value of the Unique ID in the first row. ---
**Author:** ![biha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/biha/32/84110_2.png) [@biha](https://community.glideapps.com/u/biha)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 7:48am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/30 "2023-12-14T07:48:30Z")
No but the value in the column Answer (user specific column itself) still there. because when choice to write to is the Answer (user specific column). Its fine when you can click for each question before answer. Then you can set column to clear . But thats not very efficient for a form ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 8:09am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/31 "2023-12-14T08:09:33Z")
Okay, I see what you mean. Unfortunately, I donā€™t think there is anyway around this other than to make answering each question a two step process. ---
**Author:** ![biha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/biha/32/84110_2.png) [@biha](https://community.glideapps.com/u/biha)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 8:10am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/32 "2023-12-14T08:10:41Z")
šŸ˜Ÿ ---
**Author:** ![Uzo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/uzo/32/22639_2.png) [@Uzo](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Uzo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 8:16am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/33 "2023-12-14T08:16:43Z")
hmmmā€¦ šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![biha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/biha/32/84110_2.png) [@biha](https://community.glideapps.com/u/biha)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 8:18am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/34 "2023-12-14T08:18:11Z")
No Uzo, i have to pay youuuuuu. noooo ---
**Author:** ![Uzo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/uzo/32/22639_2.png) [@Uzo](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Uzo)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 8:21am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/35 "2023-12-14T08:21:54Z")
Okā€¦ I let you learn the hard way šŸ¤Ŗ Maybe some expert here will have 2 hours of free time to walk you through thisā€¦ Iā€™m not going to do itā€¦ plus, they are going to ban me again for showing my techniques. LOL ---
**Author:** ![biha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/biha/32/84110_2.png) [@biha](https://community.glideapps.com/u/biha)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 8:22am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/36 "2023-12-14T08:22:34Z")
šŸ˜© šŸ˜© šŸ˜© ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 9:17am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/37 "2023-12-14T09:17:52Z")
@biha - there is one option. Normally I wouldnā€™t recommend this, because itā€™s horrible and ugly, and I _really_ donā€™t like it. But, given that you have a finite number of rows in your PreOp table, I guess itā€™s okay in your case. And most importantly, it should work. - In your User Profiles table, create a series of Single Value-\>Whole row columns. You will need one for each row in your PreOp table, and each should target a separate row. ā€“ 0 from start ā€“ 1 from start ā€“ 2 from start ā€“ etc - Then when you want to reset the form, create a Custom Action with a series of Set Column Values actions. One for each of the Single Value columns, to clear the value in each row. Give that a try. ---
**Author:** ![biha](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/biha/32/84110_2.png) [@biha](https://community.glideapps.com/u/biha)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 9:18am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/38 "2023-12-14T09:18:26Z")
@Darren_Murphy !!! I think i made it. Wait iā€™m not trying yet your option. But let me show you my work. Since i have like 3 options. So i have to have 3 additional columns for Selected ID. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/glideapps/original/3X/9/a/9a30fd95bf8186720cb2361fdbffc099f02b44c2.png) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/glideapps/original/3X/1/0/10c1e3269135aa0dc8ba8c46a22a0b09b262e517.png) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/glideapps/original/3X/f/f/ff54c60b244c5d7d69f66bed64677a0cc0e222ae.jpeg) ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/glideapps/original/3X/3/5/351c43f0ed8cd4d2ea7c95324247253fc75c35ea.png) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Murphy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/community.glideapps.com/darren_murphy/32/47326_2.png) [@Darren\_Murphy](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Darren_Murphy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 9:19am UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555/39 "2023-12-14T09:19:24Z")
oh? What did you do? [Previous page](https://community.glideapps.com/t/how-to-clear-an-entire-column-compound-action-trickery/18555.md?page=1)