Auto Complete from a drop down please help

[JamieT]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) I have a list of part numbers (over 1000 at the moment) in column A of sheet 1, Columns B,C,D and E all have relevant information about the part number, size, weight etc.

On a separate sheet I have created a sort of 'order form' using a Vlookup function. I have also created a drop down screen as the input on my 'order form'. However I have two problems, one: the drop down screen is not being accepted as the ONLY form of input on the order form, which I need, and secondly, the drop down screen has, as mentioned over 1000 part numbers, which takes an age to get to the last one.

Therefore I would like some sort of 'auto complete' so that I can type the beginning of the part number and the options get fewer and fewer the more I type, (like predictive text on a phone). Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am on a Mac using Excel 2008. One last thing, please be advised that I am not incredibly techno savvy, please be gentle!!

 

[CyberTaz]

I don't know what you mean by "drop down screen", but the most common way to
do this is using Data> Validation & specifying List. Although it still
permits typing an entry it does not allow an entry that isn't in the list.
It cannot be made context sensitive but you can move through it more quickly
[once the list is open] using the Page Down key or go to the last item using
Command+End.

 

[JamieT]

Hi Bob,

Many thanks for your reply. Can you please advise the procedure for Data> Validation with a Specifying list, this sounds like what I want. Does it have a scroll bar, as the 'drop down list' I have does not, only an arrow at the bottom.

Many thanks again.

Jamie