- Select the cells that you want to contain the lists.
- On the ribbon, click DATA > Data Validation.
- In the dialog, set Allow to List.
- Click in Source, type the text or numbers (separated by commas, for a comma-delimited list) that you want in your drop-down list, and click OK.
How do I create a drop down menu in Excel?
How to Make a Drop Down in Excel 2010
- Create the list for the dropdown
- Select the items, enter a name, then press Enter.
- Click the cell where the dropdown should be.
- Choose the Data tab.
- Click Data Validation.
- Choose the List option
- Type an “=” sign, then the Name from step 2.
- Click the OK button.
How do you select drop down in Excel?
Table Magic
- On the second sheet, select a list item.
- On the Insert tab, in the Tables group, click Table.
- Excel automatically selects the data for you. ...
- If you select the list, Excel reveals the structured reference.
- Use this structured reference to create a dynamic drop-down list. ...
- On the second sheet, simply add a new item to the end of the list. ...
How do I create a yes no dropdown in Excel?
- To set up the drop down list, I select the cells where I want the drop down lists to appear – in this example, I want to apply it to ...
- In the Data tab select Data Validation, and in the Settings menu, select List
- I can add yes and no options, straight into the Source section. ...
- I tick the boxes for Ignore blank and In-cell drop down. ...
How to create a drop down in Excel?
- Select the cells that you want to contain the lists.
- On the ribbon, click DATA > Data Validation.
- In the dialog, set Allow to List.
- Click in Source, type the text or numbers (separated by commas, for a comma-delimited list) that you want in your drop-down list, and click OK.
How do you get to the drop down menu?
0:001:32How to add a drop-down list in Microsoft Excel - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd choose data then data validation. In the data validation pop-up menu that appears i'll selectMoreAnd choose data then data validation. In the data validation pop-up menu that appears i'll select the drop down menu.
What is drop-down list in Excel?
An Excel drop down list[1] is a data validation function that allows users to select an option from a list of choices. It can be particularly useful in performing financial modeling and analysis by incorporating scenarios and making a spreadsheet more dynamic.
What is the use of drop-down list?
A drop-down list (abbreviated drop-down, or DDL; also known as a drop-down menu, drop menu, pull-down list, picklist) is a graphical control element, similar to a list box, that allows the user to choose one value from a list. When a drop-down list is inactive, it displays a single value.
What option is used to add a drop down menu on a cell?
Select the cell in the worksheet where you want the drop-down list. Go to the Data tab on the Ribbon, then click Data Validation. On the Settings tab, in the Allow box, click List. If it's OK for people to leave the cell empty, check the Ignore blank box.
How to Create a Drop-Down List in Excel?
Click on the data menu and choose the data validation menu as shown below.
Recommended Articles
This has been a guide to Drop Down List in Excel. Here we discuss creating a Drop Down List in Excel and practical examples and a downloadable excel template. You can also go through our other suggested articles –
Community Q&A
How can I add a drop down list, but not show all of the items in each row?
Tips
After you finish creating your drop-down list, open the drop-down list to make sure all the items you entered display properly. In some cases, you may need to widen the cell in order to display all your items fully.
Warnings
You will not be able to access the "Data Validation" menu if your worksheet is protected or shared. In this case, make sure to remove the protection or unshare the document, and then try to access the Data Validation menu again.
About This Article
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Create a drop-down list using existing data
If you want to create and insert a drop-down list using data already entered in the spreadsheet, follow the steps below.
Create a drop-down list by defining the list of values
If you want to create and insert a drop-down list, and define the list of values to display, follow the steps below.
Working with your drop-down list
After you create your drop-down list, make sure it works the way you want. For example, you might want to check to see if Change the column width and row height to show all your entries.
Download our examples
You can download an example workbook with multiple data validation examples like the one in this article. You can follow along, or create your own data validation scenarios. Download Excel data validation examples.
Need more help?
You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community or get support in the Answers community.
How to add drop down menu in Excel?
Here’s the quickest way to set up a drop down menu in Excel: In your Excel workbook, select the cells that you want to apply the drop down menu to. Click on the Data Validation menu (in the Data tab in the Excel Ribbon), or use the shortcut Alt-A-V-V. In the “Allow:” dropdown menu, select “List”. In the “Source:” box, enter in your values separated ...
What does "drop down menu" mean in Excel?
It means you can simply refer to a column within an Excel table, and the menu will automatically update based on the items in that list. If you anticipate adding extra items to your drop down menu over time, then this method is the best long-term solution as it’s the “cleanest” way to refer to your list of menu items.
What if you want to update your menu items later?
What if you want to update your menu items later? If one of the departments in your company has a name change, then you would have to select all of the cells that use the drop down menu, and manually update the details .
Which is better: drop down list or drop down menu?
Drop down list method #1 is the quickest way, but not very good for long-term Excel files. Method #2 is a little more stable and allows you to consistently edit the drop down menu items without breaking anything. Method #3 requires you to create an Excel Table, but is perfect for creating a foolproof drop down Excel menu ...
What is the benefit of using tables in Excel?
That name can be referred to throughout your work. And a huge benefit of tables is that they will automatically expand when extra data is added to them.
How to use list in Excel?
Select the cells that you want to use the list, and go to the Data Validation option (in the Data tab). In the Settings screen, select List from the “Allow:” box. In the “Source:” box, select the range of cells that contain your list.
Can you allow blank values in Excel?
Depending on your requirements, you can allow blank values, and you can choose to hide the in-cell dropdown menu. (optional) Use the options in the Input Message tab if you want a message to appear when the cell is selected.
What is drop down list in Excel?
Dropdown list in excel are the options available in each cell for a user to chose as an input or any parameter , it is a very unique way to take a value from the user when we want to limit the responses so that there are fewer chances for a garbage value to be present in our data, it is like we are predefining the values a user can input, there are three ways to make a drop-down list in excel.
How to create a range in Excel?
The steps to create named ranges are listed as follows: Step 1: Click “name manager” in the Formulas tab of Excel. Step 2: Select the “new” option in the “name manager” window. Step 3: The “new name” window opens. Type “drop_down_list” in the “name” box and apply the formula in “refers to” box, as shown in the image.
How to create a drop down list in Excel?
To create a drop-down list in Excel, execute the following steps. 1. On the second sheet, type the items you want to appear in the drop-down list. Note: if you don't want users to access the items on Sheet2, you can hide Sheet2. To achieve this, right click on the sheet tab of Sheet2 and click on Hide.
How to add a drop down list to the end of a list?
You can also use a formula that updates your drop-down list automatically when you add an item to the end of the list. 1. On the first sheet, select cell B1. 2. On the Data tab, in the Data Tools group, click Data Validation. The 'Data Validation' dialog box appears. 3.
How to create dependent drop down list?
For example, if the user selects Pizza from a first drop-down list. 2. A second drop-down list contains the Pizza items. 3. But if the user selects Chinese from the first drop-down list, the second drop-down list contains the Chinese dishes.
How to allow other entries in Excel?
Allow Other Entries. You can also create a drop-down list in Excel that allows other entries. 1. First, if you type a value that is not in the list, Excel shows an error alert. To allow other entries, execute the following steps. 2. On the Data tab, in the Data Tools group, click Data Validation.
How to edit drop down boxes in Excel?
all cells which have a drop-down box is applied, and you wanted to edit. From Excel Ribbon, click Data tab > Data Validation.
Why are drop down lists useful?
Excel drop-down lists are very useful to view a large amount of data in a small area. They also allow you to add limitations for users to make any additional changes other than recommended. There might be some situations where you, being a source, wanted to update the contents of drop-down lists.
Can you create a drop down list in Excel without a name?
However, it is also possible to create a drop-down list without providing the name to the range.
Can you edit a drop down list based on a table range?
The answer is yes! However, there is no conventional way to edit the drop-down list based on a Table Range. The reason behind it is, when we use Table as a source/range to a drop-down list, the range gets fixed under Name Manager. You can’t edit the range there.
