Excel 2000 Drop down list object question

Anthony · April 3rd, 2002, 1:47 pm

I've come across some sort of object in Excel that appears as a dropdown list box when you click in the cell, but not otherwise. Does anyone know where you set it up, it isn't in the object toolbox and doesn't seem to have any properties attached to it.

When you click in the cell, a drop down arrow appears with a pre-defined list attached to it.

I can provide an xls if need be.

thanks in advance

PinballWizard · April 3rd, 2002, 2:26 pm

Hi Anthony,

What you are referring to is the Data | Validation menu option.

It allows you to control what a cell will accept, and even bring-up an error message if an invalid value is entered.

To set-up the drop-down list feature:

1. create a list of value somewhere on a worksheet
2. select the range of cells you wish to apply this feature to
3. open Data | Validation
4. Under 'validation criteria', select 'List'
5. Under 'Source', select the range containing the list of step (1)

That's it.

B.

Anthony · April 3rd, 2002, 2:29 pm

Perfect, thanks.

drona · April 4th, 2002, 1:27 am

But have you noticed that the data range has to be in the same sheet as the "List Box".
Is this really true ?

PinballWizard · April 4th, 2002, 1:37 am

That's right.

If you type in a reference to a range in another sheet, you get an error message confirming this.

B.

drona · April 9th, 2002, 6:59 pm

In fact it is possible to link to a list in another sheet as long as it is a named range.