How to Add a Drop Down Box in Excel
Open the spreadsheet in which you want to add the drop-down box(es)., Create a list of the items to appear in the drop-down list., Click the cell you want to place the drop-down box in. , Click the "Data" tab of the Microsoft Excel 2007 ribbon...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Open the spreadsheet in which you want to add the drop-down box(es).
Type the data in the order it will be displayed in the list.
The entries should be typed in a single column or row and should not contain any blank cells.
To create the list of the desired items on a separate worksheet, click the tab of the worksheet in which to enter the data.
Type and then highlight the data to appear in the list.
Right-click the highlighted range of cells and click "Name a Range" from the list that appears.
Type the name for the range in the "Name" box and click "OK." You can then protect or hide the worksheet to prevent other users from making changes to the list. ,,, The "Data Validation" dialog box appears. ,, Select the list of items you want to have in your drop-down box.
If you created a range name, in the "Source" box, type an equal sign and then type the name of the range. , Make certain the "In-cell dropdown" check box is selected. , Make certain that the "Show input message when cell is selected" check box is selected and then type the "Title:" and "Input message:" that will appear in the message box. , Make certain that the "Show error alert after invalid data is entered" check box is selected.
To display a warning or information but not prevent invalid data from being entered, select either "Warning" or "Information" from the "Style" drop-down list box.
To display a message and prevent invalid data from being entered, select "Stop" from the "Style" drop-down list box.
Type the "Title:" and "Error message:" that you want to appear. , -
Step 2: Create a list of the items to appear in the drop-down list.
-
Step 3: Click the cell you want to place the drop-down box in.
-
Step 4: Click the "Data" tab of the Microsoft Excel 2007 ribbon.
-
Step 5: Click the "Data Validation" button from the "Data Tools" group.
-
Step 6: Click the "Settings" tab and then click "List" from the "Allow" drop-down list box.
-
Step 7: Click the toggle button at the end of the "Source" box.
-
Step 8: Select or clear the "Ignore blank" check box
-
Step 9: depending on whether you allow the cell containing the drop-down box to be left blank.
-
Step 10: Click the "Input Message" tab to display a message box when the cell of the drop-down box is clicked.
-
Step 11: Click the "Error Alert" tab to display an error message if invalid data is entered into the drop-down box cell.
-
Step 12: Click "OK" to save the validation criteria and create the drop-down box.
Detailed Guide
Type the data in the order it will be displayed in the list.
The entries should be typed in a single column or row and should not contain any blank cells.
To create the list of the desired items on a separate worksheet, click the tab of the worksheet in which to enter the data.
Type and then highlight the data to appear in the list.
Right-click the highlighted range of cells and click "Name a Range" from the list that appears.
Type the name for the range in the "Name" box and click "OK." You can then protect or hide the worksheet to prevent other users from making changes to the list. ,,, The "Data Validation" dialog box appears. ,, Select the list of items you want to have in your drop-down box.
If you created a range name, in the "Source" box, type an equal sign and then type the name of the range. , Make certain the "In-cell dropdown" check box is selected. , Make certain that the "Show input message when cell is selected" check box is selected and then type the "Title:" and "Input message:" that will appear in the message box. , Make certain that the "Show error alert after invalid data is entered" check box is selected.
To display a warning or information but not prevent invalid data from being entered, select either "Warning" or "Information" from the "Style" drop-down list box.
To display a message and prevent invalid data from being entered, select "Stop" from the "Style" drop-down list box.
Type the "Title:" and "Error message:" that you want to appear. ,
About the Author
Cheryl Mitchell
Committed to making hobbies accessible and understandable for everyone.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: