Workflows

Smartsheet Plaintext Editor Preview Branding

When Smartsheet workflow messages use the plaintext editor, the email preview panel displays a generic, unbranded message block with no visual header. For teams sending customer-facing or executive notifications, this preview gives no indication of how the final message will appear and offers no branding context.

Without Grid Tools

The daily workaround

Blank preview header looks unfinished
The plaintext editor preview shows message body text with no logo or sender identity, making it hard to gauge how professional the email will look.
No visual brand signal in preview
Teams building notification workflows for external recipients cannot confirm branding from inside the Smartsheet workflow editor.
Preview does not match send appearance
The disconnect between the sparse preview and the actual formatted email creates uncertainty when reviewing workflows before activation.
Manual workaround requires leaving Smartsheet
To check branding, users send a test notification and check their inbox rather than verifying inside the editor.
Screenshot: Smartsheet workflow plaintext editor preview with blank header area
Smartsheet workflow plaintext editor preview with blank header area
Screenshot: Plaintext message preview showing only body text with no visual identity
Plaintext message preview showing only body text with no visual identity
Screenshot: Workflow editor preview providing no branding context for an external notification
Workflow editor preview providing no branding context for an external notification

With Grid Tools

How Grid Tools handles it

Logo added to plaintext preview
Grid Tools injects a branding header — including a logo — into the plaintext editor preview pane so it better reflects the send experience.
Grid Tools default or custom logo
The preview can display the Grid Tools default logo or a configured custom logo depending on your setup.
Preview-only, no email impact
The branding addition is purely a visual enhancement to the in-editor preview — it does not modify the actual message sent to recipients.
Active in the workflow editor
The branding appears automatically when you open the plaintext editor preview inside Smartsheet's automation workflow builder.
Screenshot: Smartsheet workflow plaintext editor preview with Grid Tools branding header applied
Smartsheet workflow plaintext editor preview with Grid Tools branding header applied
Screenshot: Grid Tools logo displayed in the message preview header area
Grid Tools logo displayed in the message preview header area
Screenshot: Workflow editor preview pane with branded header alongside plaintext body
Workflow editor preview pane with branded header alongside plaintext body

Frequently asked questions

Does this feature change the actual email sent to recipients?

No. The branding header is applied only to the in-editor preview inside Smartsheet. The emails sent to recipients are not modified.

Which editor does this apply to — rich text or plaintext?

This feature applies specifically to the plaintext editor preview. The rich text editor in Smartsheet workflows has its own preview behavior.

Can I use my own logo instead of the Grid Tools default?

Custom logo support depends on your Grid Tools configuration. Check the extension settings for logo customization options.

Does this work in all Smartsheet automation workflow types?

The branding enhancement applies to notification-type automations that use the plaintext message editor. Other workflow types are not affected.

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