Having a drop-down list in your Microsoft Excel spreadsheet can often improve the efficiency of your data entry, while also limiting data entry to a specific set of items or data made available in the drop-down list. Follow the steps below to learn how you can create a drop-down list in Excel and all earlier versions. Community Dashboard Random Article About Us Categories Recent Changes. Write an Article Request a New Article Answer a Request More Ideas Open the Excel document in which you want to create a drop-down list.

Type a list of items you want displayed in your drop-down list. Each item should reside in its own cell, and be displayed in the same column. For example, if you're creating a drop-down menu that contains a list of sports, type "baseball" in cell A1, "basketball" in cell A2, "football" in cell A3, and so on.

Select all of the cells that contain the drop-down items you entered. Type a name for your drop-down items in the "Name" field, then click on "OK. Click directly on the cell in your spreadsheet in which you want the drop-down list to appear.

How to Add a Drop Down Box in Excel 11 Steps (with Pictures)

Click on the "Data" button, and select "Data Validation. Click on the "Settings" tab, then select "List" from the "Allow" drop-down menu.

excel - Change the fill color of a cell based on a selection from a Drop Down List in an adjacent cell - Stack Overflow

Go to the "Source" box, and type an equals sign, followed by the name you chose for your drop-down list. Place a checkmark next to "Ignore blank" if you want to provide users with the option to select none of the items in your drop-down list.

Place a checkmark next to "Show error alert after invalid data is entered. If you want users to have the ability to enter their own data into the drop-down list, then omit the checkmark from this field.

Open the Excel file in which you want a drop-down list created. Enter a list of items you want displayed in your drop-down list. Each item should be entered into its own separate cell in just one column. For example, if you're creating a drop-down menu that contains a list of fruits, type "apple" in cell A1, "banana" in cell A2, "blueberry" in cell A3, and so on.

Select the cell range that contains all the drop-down items you entered. Click within the "Name" box in your Excel toolbar, which is located to the left of the formula bar. Type a name that describes the drop-down items into the "Name" box, then press "Enter.

Navigate to and click on the cell in your Excel document in which you want the drop-down list to display. Click on the "Data" tab in your spreadsheet, and select "Data Validation" from the "Data Tools" group.

The Data Validation dialog 3 bedroom houses for rent in stockton on tees will display on your screen.

Click on the "Settings" tab within the Data Validation dialog box.

Create an Excel Drop Down List with Search Suggestions

Go to the "Source" field, and type an equals sign, followed by the name of your drop-down list. Place a checkmark next to the field how to edit drop down menu in excel cell "In-cell dropdown. Place a checkmark next to the field labeled "Ignore blank" if you want users to have the option of selecting zero items from the drop-down list when they use the spreadsheet.

Place a checkmark next to the field labeled "Show error alert after invalid data is entered.

If it's acceptable for users to enter unique data into the drop-down list, then leave this field blank. I added a new field, but it is not appearing on the drop-down menu. How do I fix this?

Add or remove items from a drop-down list - Excel

Joptionpane input string on cell A1. Select the DATA MENU. In the VALUE field, select LIST, and in the SOURCE field, enter A,B,C.

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 2. How how to edit drop down menu in excel cell I create it to allow the user to add text? Not Helpful 4 Helpful 1.

How can I add a drop down list but not show all of the items in each row? Answer this question Flag as How do I add another item to my current drop down list? How do I protect the column so the user can only select from the drop down menu? How do I add a drop down list with pictures?

I am trying to add a drop down for date but after I put information into settings it keeps giving me an error sign when I try to click into the cell for that column. Where did I go wrong? Already answered Not a question Bad question Other. If this question or a similar one is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Tips After you finish creating your drop-down list, open the drop-down list to make sure all the items you entered display properly.

In some cases, you may need to widen the cell in order to display all your items fully. When typing the list of items for your drop-down list, type them in the order in which you want them to appear in the drop-down menu. For example, type entries in alphabetical order to make it easier for users to find certain items or values. Warnings You will not be able to access the "Data Validation" menu if your worksheet is protected or shared, or linked to a "SharePoint" website.

If any of these cases apply to your spreadsheet, remove the protection, unshare the spreadsheet, or unlink your spreadsheet from the SharePoint website, then try to access Data Validation again. Edit Related wikiHows WH. Sources and Citations http: Microsoft Excel In other languages: Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been readtimes.

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