In-Cell Dropdown Box

[UnderGroundHog]

How can I create "In-Cell Dropdown Box" in Excel 2000? The purpose is to facilitate data entry into a single column of cells by limiting entry values to a list. Using
a combo box control doesn't seem to be practical as we would want a dropdown list for each cell in the column.

[LegareColeman]

Select the cell and then select Validation from the Data menu. In the Allow list box select "List." In the "Source" text box select a range of cells that contain the allowable values.

[Andrew Cronnolly]

Data Validation would seem to be what is appropriate.

Enter your list of values in a range somewhere, Goto to the input cell and the Data|Validaion. A dialog should open in which you can enter the criteria. In the Allow dropdown list select list, then in source enter the range of your list of valid entries.

Input to that cell should then be restricted to the contents of your list. You can add extra features by experimentation, Input Prompt etc.

Hope that is of use

[cri]

As small addition to the above, if you want/need to have the list definition range on another worksheet, the only solution is use a named range.

[BAN]

Is there a way with Data Validation to have a description of the allowable entries show up? For example, say I only want to allow 1,2, or 3 to be entered into a cell and that these stand for level of education of High School, Undergraduate, or Graduate. The drop down list will only display the 1,2,3 but not the description. If I don't want users to have to remember what the codes stand for, is there any way to get a description to show next to the code and only have the code post into the cell?

[Andrew Cronnolly]

There sure is. When you have the validation criteria in place , select the adjacent tab on the dialog box headed Input Message.
There you can enter a title (e.g. Select Code) and in the Input Message box instructions like

1 = High School
2 = Graduate etc.

Then only the numbers you want to allow will be accepted.


Andrew C

[architect]

I have created a series of drop downs but I want the option of a blank, is this possible?

[Andrew Cronnolly]

If you are using a list for the validation criteria, you can just leave one of the cells in the list blank and that should take care of it.

Andrew C

[GeneO]

On the Settings tab for the Data Validation box is a check option to "Ignore blank" which allows blank entries in the cell.