Insert or delete a drop-down list
To make data entry easier in Excel, or to limit entries to certain items that you define, you can create a drop-down list of valid entries that is compiled from cells elsewhere in the workbook. When you create a drop-down list for a cell, it displays an arrow in that cell. To enter information in that cell, click the arrow, and then click the entry that you want.
To create a drop-down list from a range of cells, use the Data Validation command in the Data Tools group on the Data tab.
1. To create a list of valid entries for the drop-down list, type the entries in a single column or row without blank cells. For example:
2. NOTE: You may want to sort the data in the order that you want it to appear in the drop-down list.
3. If you want to use another worksheet, type the list on that worksheet, and then define a name for the list.
4. Select the cell where you want the drop-down list.
5. On the Data tab, in the Data Tools group, click Data Validation.
6. In the Data Validation dialog box, click the Settings tab.
7. In the Allow box, click List.
8. To specify the location of the list of valid entries, do one of the following:
• If the list is in the current worksheet, enter a reference to your list in the Source box.
• If the list is on a different worksheet, enter the name that you defined for your list in the Source box.
In both cases, make sure that the reference or name is preceded with an equal sign (=). For example, enter=ValidDepts.
9. Make sure that the In-cell dropdown check box is selected.
10. To specify whether the cell can be left blank, select or clear the Ignore blank check box.
11. Optionally, display an input message when the cell is clicked.
12. Specify how you want Microsoft Office Excel to respond when invalid data is entered.
NOTES
• To delete a drop down list, select the cell with the list. Click the Data tab, and then in the Data Group, click Data Validation. In the Data Validation dialog box, click the Settings tab, and then click Clear All. Learn more about removing data validation.
• The width of the drop-down list is determined by the width of the cell that has the data validation. You may need to adjust the width of that cell to prevent truncating the width of valid entries that are wider than the width of the drop-down list.
• The maximum number of entries that you can have in a drop-down list is 32,767.
• If the validation list is on another worksheet and you want to prevent users from seeing it or making changes, consider hiding and protecting that worksheet.
Insert a sort box:
To make data organizing easier in Excel, you can simply add a sort box to the top row of labels. Here are the steps:
Table before sort add:
1. Highlight all of the data that you want to include in the sort. Normally, this will be all the data displayed to keep the integrity of the rows and columns.
2. Choose Filter/Advanced Filter on the Data tab.
3. The list range should automatically populate for you based on your highlight. Click “filter the list in-place” and then click OK.
4. Then click on the big box that says “Filter”.
5. All columns should receive a drop down box to very quickly be able to sort from. The drop down boxes also contain information for more advanced sorts and filters that you can manipulate.
