Make a dropdown list
Give a column a dropdown of fixed choices, pick from it, and stop anything else from being typed.
Do this lesson on your computer.
It runs beside a practice Google Sheets in your browser, and every step is checked as you go. Free, with no sign-up.
On your computer, go tolearnford.com/go/NA3B
In this lesson
- Select the cells first, then Data, then Data validation.
- Choices can be typed into the rule (
Not started,In progress,Done) or come from a range of cells (Lists!B2:B4). - Both tools reject other entries by default.
The steps
9 steps: 2 explanations, 5 Do this, 2 questions, then Your turn.
Cheat sheet
- Select the cells first, then Data, then Data validation: the rule applies to the selection.
- Choices can be typed into the rule (
Not started,In progress,Done) or come from a range of cells (Lists!B2:B4). A range is easier to change later. - Both tools reject other entries by default: Excel's Error Alert style is Stop, and a new Google Sheets dropdown has Reject the input chosen under Advanced options. Choose a warning instead to let other entries in, marked as invalid.
- Typing a value that is in the list still works, so fast typists aren't slowed down.
- To add or rename a choice, edit the rule, not the cells.