How do I make a drop down list in a combo box - Im a beginne

Emma · Mar 6th, 2002, 04:29 AM

Having pretty much only the basics in excel - can anyone tell me - in laymans terms how I create a drop down menu in a combo box - I have got as far as placing the combo box into my excel sheet but the help on my computer is not helping! What do I do next - I have about 4 things I would like in the drop down list. - This is probably very simple but I havent got a clue!!

Dave Hawley · Mar 6th, 2002, 04:50 AM

Hi Emma

I assume the Combo is from the Forms toolbar? If so right click on it "Format Control" then on the Control tab set the "Input range" to a range of cells where you can type your entries that you want to appear, say A1:A4 Now set the "Cell Link" to the cell you would like the chosen entry to appear, say D1 Now just click OK.

Having said all this though you maybe wiser to use a list from a Validated cell, eg Data>Validation and choose "list" then just type in your 4 entries seperated by a comma.

If you get stuck you can email me the file and I'll set it up for you.

MattB · Mar 6th, 2002, 05:23 AM

This also answers my question of earlier - thanks very much.
However the data that appears in the cell link cell is either 1,2,3 or 4 - why?
The Data>Vailidation - list tip will come in extremely useful for my needs.

Dave Hawley · Mar 6th, 2002, 05:45 AM

Hi Matt

The value corresponds to the index number of the chosen item. So iof you select the first item in the ComboBox it would put a one in the "cell link". The reason it does this is so the user has far more flexibilty to manipulate the result, eg Lookup, Match etc

Andy Gee · Mar 6th, 2002, 06:31 AM

Have you considered using a validation list instead of a drop down?

Select a cell to house the drop down.

Click [menu] - data - validation,
validation criteria - list

Enter values separated by commas OR
a reference to a range - A1:A10

Hey presto! a dropdown in a cell without having to reference the index number

I don't know if this helps you but it has really helped me so I thought I'd share it

Quote:

On 2002-03-06 04:23, MattB wrote:
This also answers my question of earlier - thanks very much.
However the data that appears in the cell link cell is either 1,2,3 or 4 - why?
The Data>Vailidation - list tip will come in extremely useful for my needs.

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Mar 6th, 2002, 04:29 AM	#1
Emma New Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1	Having pretty much only the basics in excel - can anyone tell me - in laymans terms how I create a drop down menu in a combo box - I have got as far as placing the combo box into my excel sheet but the help on my computer is not helping! What do I do next - I have about 4 things I would like in the drop down list. - This is probably very simple but I havent got a clue!!

Mar 6th, 2002, 04:50 AM	#2
Dave Hawley Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,582	Hi Emma I assume the Combo is from the Forms toolbar? If so right click on it "Format Control" then on the Control tab set the "Input range" to a range of cells where you can type your entries that you want to appear, say A1:A4 Now set the "Cell Link" to the cell you would like the chosen entry to appear, say D1 Now just click OK. Having said all this though you maybe wiser to use a list from a Validated cell, eg Data>Validation and choose "list" then just type in your 4 entries seperated by a comma. If you get stuck you can email me the file and I'll set it up for you.

Mar 6th, 2002, 05:23 AM	#3
MattB Board Regular Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 62	This also answers my question of earlier - thanks very much. However the data that appears in the cell link cell is either 1,2,3 or 4 - why? The Data>Vailidation - list tip will come in extremely useful for my needs.

Mar 6th, 2002, 05:45 AM	#4
Dave Hawley Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,582	Hi Matt The value corresponds to the index number of the chosen item. So iof you select the first item in the ComboBox it would put a one in the "cell link". The reason it does this is so the user has far more flexibilty to manipulate the result, eg Lookup, Match etc