Helpdesk Baruch College

Just how to Create a Dependent Drop-Down List in Microsoft Excel

Does using a drop-down checklist in Microsoft Excel make data entry simpler for you or your associates? If you claimed yes and intend to go an action better, you can create a dependent drop-down checklist just as conveniently.

With a reliant drop-down listing, you select the product that you want in the initial listing, which determines the things that display as options in the second one. As an example, you might select an item, like a shirt, and then pick a dimension, a food product, like ice cream, and afterwards choose a flavor, or a cd, and afterwards select a track.

Getting Started

Undoubtedly, you’ll require your initial drop-down checklist established and all set to go before you can develop the dependent list. We have a complete tutorial with every one of the information you require to develop a drop-down list in Excel for a refresher course, so make certain to check that out.

Given that establishing the second list adheres to the exact same basic process, we’ll start there. Then, we’ll proceed to the reliance arrangement.

Including and Naming Dependent Drop-Down List Items

For this tutorial, we’ll utilize divisions in our company for the very first drop-down list, and afterwards employees in each department for the 2nd checklist.

Our departments consist of Marketing, Finance, and also Human Resources (HR), and also each has three staff members. These workers are that we need to include and name.

Detail the products for the dependent checklist, and afterwards select the cells. This places the cells in a team to ensure that you can name the group. With the cells chosen, go up to the Name Box on the left side of the Formula Bar as well as get in a name for the cell group.

The names for each and every group should match the checklist products in your first dropdown.

Using our example, we’ll call our groups with the divisions in our initial listing: Marketing, Finance, and also HR.

You can include the products for your dependent list on the exact same sheet where the checklist will certainly live or on a different one. For the purposes of this how-to, you’ll observe that we have every little thing on the very same sheet.

Developing the Dependent Drop-Down List

When every one of your listing items are in a sheet as well as named, it’s time to produce the 2nd drop-down list. You’ll utilize the Data Validation attribute in Excel, just like when producing your very first list.

Select the cell where you want the list. Then, most likely to the Data tab and click “Data Validation” in the Data Tools section of the bow.

Pick the Settings tab in the pop-up window. Under Allow, choose “List,” and to the right, examine the box for In-Cell Dropdown. Optionally, you can examine the box to Ignore Blank cells if you like.

In the Source box, go into the formula below. Make certain to change the cell reference in parentheses with the cell including your very first drop-down checklist.

If you would certainly such as to include an Input Message or Error Alert, choose those tabs in the pop-up window as well as enter the information. When you finish, click “OK” to include the drop-down list to the cell.

Now, provide your checklist a test. When you choose an item in the initial drop-down list, you should see the things relating to your selection as options in the second list.

For quicker information entry for yourself or your partners, try a dependent drop-down checklist in Excel!

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