How to Keep Column Descriptions in Smartsheet PDF Export

Use SSFeatures PDF exporter to preserve column descriptions and header notes in your PDF exports.
  • Keep column descriptions and header notes intact when exporting reports to PDF so your instructions and context travel with the data.
  • Export grouped and summarized reports with column descriptions preserved alongside totals and group headers, ready for printing, emailing, or archiving.
  • Work confidently with fewer errors and more control.

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Use Cases
Client Reporting - Export grouped and summarized reports to PDF with totals and headers intact, making it easy to send professional reports to clients.
Team Collaboration - Share accurate PDF versions of Smartsheet reports with teammates for meetings, email updates, or record-keeping without losing structure.
Printing Reports - Create printer-friendly PDFs of grouped or summarized reports that match your Smartsheet layout for quick handouts or documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Smartsheet’s exporter removes grouped rows and summaries, while SSFeatures’ PDF exporter preserves all grouped and summarized data, keeping your report complete and accurate.
Yes. You can adjust paper size, margins, orientation, scaling, logos, sheet name, row numbers, timestamps, page numbers, and header notes to match your needs.
Yes. SSFeatures generates the PDF entirely within your browser and never sends data to external servers. Your PDF opens in a new tab for safe and private downloading.
SSFeatures has a 30-day free trial, so that you can try out all of the features of SSFeatures. You don't need a credit card. Just download the extension and start using SSFeatures, then your free trial will start automatically.
No, you do not need to provide credit card information or create an account. Simply download SSFeatures, start using Smartsheet, and then the free trial will begin.
Yes, SSFeatures is very safe. Here's why:

1. Your data stays private. SSFeatures runs inside your browser. It never sends your Smartsheet data to any outside server. Your info never leaves your computer.

2. Your settings are stored only in your browser. This means better privacy. If you uninstall the extension, you'll need to set it up again, but that's a fair trade to keep your info safe.

3. No API key needed. SSFeatures works with the page you're on, nothing more.

4. We're a Smartsheet Tech Partner. That means we work closely with Smartsheet to make sure our tools are safe and helpful.

5. You can check our code. SSFeatures is available on Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. All browser extensions must pass strict checks, and you can inspect our code yourself.

Learn more on our Security Page.
Thousands of Smartsheet users across many industries use SSFeatures every day.
What is SSFeatures?
  • SSFeatures is a browser extension that makes Smartsheet way easier to use
  • It adds dozens of time-saving features directly into Smartsheet
  • It will save you hours of work every week

Are you tired of wasting hours in Smartsheet doing the same tedious steps? SSFeatures makes Smartsheet faster, smarter, and easier to use. It's a simple browser extension, packed with powerful tools that save you hours every week. Trusted by thousands of Smartsheet users with hundreds of five star reviews across Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. Save hours every week in Smartsheet! Try SSFeatures free today!
Hear what users say
"We wouldn't love Smartsheet nearly as much without SSFeature's PDF Generator!! Our business depends on printed Smartsheet reports. SSFeatures has allowed us to successfully continue scaling on Smartsheets without printing workarounds. Our team members that rely on our reports are way happier ever since we started using the PDF Generator. It's great to see there are 3rd parties willing to fill critical gaps in Smartsheet."
Ari Diamond
President of Railing Excellence
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"SSFeatures has been a game-changer for our Smartsheet workflows! It’s super easy to use and adds powerful functionality that makes automation and reporting so much more efficient. The developer is incredibly responsive and provides top-notch customer support, making sure everything runs smoothly. It has saved us a ton of time and eliminated a lot of manual work. If you’re looking to get more out of Smartsheet, I highly recommend giving SSFeatures a try!"
Michelle Choate
Senior Manager of Operations at Impact Housing
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"Finally found a solution to handle some of the features I have been waiting on for a long time... So grateful to SSFeatures for the Auto-Sort function that has dramatically improved our experience with DataShuttle > Update Dropdowns feature so they are always alphabetized. Column finding/hiding is awesome! Keep up the great work - saving me hours!!!"
Joe Morrell
Independent Consultant at Morrell Consulting
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"I love that someone added features that Smartsheet seems to be unable or unwilling to add."
Ryan Ballew
Program Manager at Verizon
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"PHENOMINAL app! A no brainer purchase for any Smartsheet super-user. Auto-sorting a sheet, printing or exporting a grouped/summarized report, SEARCHING FOR COLUMNS BY NAME! All in one packaged app that's controlled within Smartsheet. Amazing. Highly, highly, highly recommend."
Kayla Sweeney
Smartsheet Solutions Consultant at Better Work Week
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"All the SS Features are great but for us the PDF Generator was a huge game changer, a large percentage of our work depends on printed reports and the support of PDF generation for smartsheet reports while keeping the grouping & summaries was a must have."
Leiby Hershkowitz
CEO of Superb Developers Inc
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Related Resources
Export Smartsheet to PDF Download and export Smartsheet sheets and reports to PDF for easy sharing and printing.
Smartsheet PDF Export: Fix Missing Grouping Fix Smartsheet PDF export missing grouping with SSFeatures. The native Smartsheet PDF exporter can drop grouped rows, header rows, and summary cells when exporting reports. SSFeatures preserves grouped and summarized reports exactly as shown, and adds full PDF customization for page size, margins, scaling, logos, page numbers, and timestamps. Export, print, or email reports without losing totals or structure — download SSFeatures to keep your report PDFs accurate.
Smartsheet PDF Export Fix Missing Colors Smartsheet's built-in PDF exporter often strips row and cell colors and can break grouped or summarized reports. SSFeatures preserves colors and formatting when exporting sheets and reports to PDF, so color-coded reports, headers, and summary rows remain intact. Export, print, or email PDFs with accurate colors and all customization options like page size, margins, scaling, page numbers, and timestamps.
Smartsheet PDF Export Fix Missing Summaries Fix missing summaries when exporting Smartsheet reports to PDF with SSFeatures. Our PDF exporter preserves grouped rows, header totals, and summary cells so prints, emails, and downloads match your original report. Customize paper size, margins, orientation, scaling, logos, page numbers, and timestamps while keeping groups and sums intact. Stop losing key totals in exported PDFs and share reports that look right.