Number indicating List Position

[Nimrod]

I would like to find one simple function that will do the following.

When you select an Item from a drop down list that a function output a number indicating the selected items position in the list.
For example let's say you have a drop down list with BC,Alt,CC,Ont in it. And the user selects "CC" that the function would give a result of "3"

So if you had a drop down in A1 the function would be Function(A1)=3

I already have methods to do this that involve functions involving lookup tables ... arrays etc! So what I'm looking for is a simple built-in function to replace the complex method ... Thanks.

[Mark W.]

If by "drop down list" you mean Combo Box... the index of the selected item is returned to the designated Cell_link. Right-click on the Combo Box and choose Format control... from the popup menu.

[ This Message was edited by: Mark W. on 2002-05-09 12:01 ]

[Aladin Akyurek]

On 2002-05-09 11:55, Nimrod wrote:
I would like to find one simple function that will do the following.

When you select an Item from a drop down list that a function output a number indicating the selected items position in the list.
For example let's say you have a drop down list with BC,Alt,CC,Ont in it. And the user selects "CC" that the function would give a result of "3"

So if you had a drop down in A1 the function would be Function(A1)=3

I already have methods to do this that involve functions involving lookup tables ... arrays etc! So what I'm looking for is a simple built-in function to replace the complex method ... Thanks.

It depends on whether you have this list in some range. Suppose that that is the case and it is named List.

=MATCH(A1,List,0)

will give you the pos of the selection in A1 where the dropdown list has been anchored.

Aladin

[Nimrod]

Thanks guys.
Yep the info you gave me has done it for me.
My dropdowns are usually thru validation and come from a named list so the match solution works very well for me.