Drop Down Menu

[Workbook]

In cell A2 I want to put a drop down menu/box. In other words I want to be
able to click on a downward arrow in cell A2 and then have the ability to
select from five different options such as I-Phone, Desktop Computer, Laptop
Computer, Touch Screen Monitor, and Wireless Internet Connection.

If I select any one of these options, (such as Touch Screen Monitor) that
selection will appear in cell A2. I guess, I am wondering, is it possible to
create a drop down menu in a single cell and if so can you tell me how?

 

[Robert Martim, Excel]

Select the target cell; then go to "Data --> Data validation". Insert a
"List" data validation. Type in the list or select the area containing the
list. Click OK and you're ready to go!

 

[T. Valko]

Watch this 5 min video:

How to setup a data validation drop down list:

 

[Shane Devenshire]

Hi,

An additional comment: it's generally best to put the list into a set of
cells and then reference those cells from the Source box. If that list is on
a different sheet, then you need to name the list and then enter the name in
the Source box, for example =myList

What is this generally better? Because it is easy to maintain, just go to
the range and correct spelling errors, insert cells for additional choices,
delete cells to remove choices. If for example, and not the situation you
are talking about, you use the list from more than one cell, you have
multiple drop downs, then you only need to edit one list, which is not
necessarily the case with entries made manually into the Source box.

 

[Workbook]

Hi Robert,

Much thanks for your help it works great. I noticed the drop menu
disappears when I click away from the cell it is located inside of but
reappears when I re-click the cell it is located inside of. Is it possible
to set up the drop down menu so that it never disappears even when I am
clicking in other cells?

Thank you for your input,

Eddie

 

[Workbook]

Hi Biff,

Thank you for the link. I learned something that I also needed to know
regarding how to set up the list in a different workbook. Thank you again,

Ed

 

[Workbook]

Hi Shane,

Thanks for the tip. You make a good point which I realized after applying
the advice I received here. Thank you,

Ed

 

[Chris Bode]

Please follow following steps
1.Click to sheet2 and enter your data in Column A as
A
I-Phone
Desktop Computer
Laptop Computer
Touch Screen Monitor
Wireless Internet Connection
2.Now select all the data you have entered in sheet2 Column A
3.Now name it as Devices by typing ‘Devices’ on the name bar to th
left of formula bar
4.Move to sheet1
5.Select cell A2
6.Click Data>Validation from the toolbar
7.Click Setting tab from the data validation window
8.Select List from Allow drop down list
9.In the source box type following
=Devices
10.Click OK

Now You are done!
Click the button that appears next to cell A2 and check it


Have a nice time……


Chris

 

[Workbook]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for breaking it out step by step.

Ed

 

[T. Valko]

You would have to use a different type of drop down. You could use a Forms
toolbar combo box. The drop arrow is always visible with this type of drop
down however, it woks differently from a data validation drop down list.

A DV drop down automatically sizes to fit a cell. With a combo box, you have
to "draw" it to the size and shape you want it.

Here are some notes I wrote about the differences:

Combo box vs data validation drop down list differences

The main difference between a combo box and a data validation drop down list
is that a combo box does not occupy a cell. A combo box "floats" above the
worksheet. A data validation drop down list does occupy a cell. So, when you
make a selection from a data validation drop down list that selection is
entered as the value of the cell. When you make a selection from a combo box
(there are 2 types of combo boxes) that selected value is not entered into
any cell
automatically. You have to "format" the combo box to enter the selection in
a cell and the cell can be any cell of your choice. The cell that will hold
the selection is called the linked cell. In other words, this cell is linked
to this combo box.

Now comes the fun part!

As I said, there are 2 types of combo boxes, a Forms Toolbar combo box and a
Control Toolbox combo box. Each of these handles the linked cell a different
way. A Forms combo box will return the index number of the selection to the
linked cell. A Control combo box will return the actual selection to the
linked cell. For example:

Tom
Bill
Sue
Lisa

Let's say you select Sue from the combo box. If it's a Forms cb, then the
linked cell will return the index number 3 because Sue is the 3rd item in
the cb. A Control cb will return the actual selection Sue to the linked
cell.

So, if you need a formula that uses the selection from the cb you have to
reference the linked cell. If it's a Control cb then the reference is pretty
straightforward. If it's a Forms cb then you have to "translate" the
selection index number to the actual selection. In other words, you have to
somehow make 3 = Sue.

The easiest way to do this is to use an INDEX function. You would index the
source of the cb and use the linked cell to tell INDEX which value you want.

Suppose the list of names above is in the range A1:A4 and has the defined
name of Names. The source of the cb would be Names. Let's assume the linked
cell is B1. To do your lookup:

=VLOOKUP(A2,sheet2!A1:E22,COLUMNS(A:B),0)

If it's Control cb:

=VLOOKUP(B1,sheet2!A1:E22,COLUMNS(A:B),0)

If it's Forms cb:

=VLOOKUP(INDEX(Names,B1),sheet2!A1:E22,COLUMNS(A:B),0)

Here's another "neat" thing about combo boxes. Since they "float" above the
worksheet you can "hide" stuff under them. This is the perfect location for
the lnked cell.

 

[Workbook]

Wow this is great! I never knew about combo boxes. Something I am going to
have to consider trying out. Thank you very much!

 

[T. Valko]

You're welcome. Thanks for the feedback!