Chapter 1: Drop-down lists (Data Validation)
Exercise 2: Take the choices from another table
Task
Use the department list in column F (F2:F5) as the choices and create a drop-down in B2:B6.
Moves 0 (target 1)5 difference(s) from the model
File
Font
Alignment
Number
Styles
Cells
A1Press and release Alt to show KeyTips (Windows). Ctrl + 1 opens Format Cells, Ctrl + Z undoes.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Name | Department | Departments | ||||
| 2 | Smith | Admin | |||||
| 3 | Johnson | Sales | |||||
| 4 | Williams | Finance | |||||
| 5 | Brown | HR | |||||
| 6 | Jones | ||||||
| 7 | |||||||
| 8 |
Use the department list in column F (F2:F5) as the choices and create a drop-down in B2:B6.
This drill is for computer screens. On a phone you can review the steps.
- Select B2:B6
- Data → "Data Validation" (Alt → A → V → V)
- Set Allow to "List", enter =$F$2:$F$5 in Source and click OK
Key takeaway
Changing the list changes the choices. Use this method when there are many choices or more will be added later.
See How to create a drop-down list in Excel for details.