Excel validation of a huge list

py1ro

Board Regular
Joined
Sep 30, 2005
Messages
70
In a Data Entry application I´d like to validate a cell where I choose the name of one of the companie's 1000+ truck drivers. With such a large list, using the standard validation function (Data>validation, etc) is just not practical. Does anyone have a suggestion of how to do this more "elegantly" ?

Rolf in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 

Excel Facts

Using Function Arguments with nested formulas
If writing INDEX in Func. Arguments, type MATCH(. Use the mouse to click inside MATCH in the formula bar. Dialog switches to MATCH.
Hi Rolf,

If you want to validate such a large list, you will most likely need to let your users type in the data and validate using a formula.

Example: you want to validate that input in B3 matches anything in a list called Items.

Data > Validation
From the options, select Custom
The entry bar at the bottom is now Formula.
Insert this:
=COUNTIF(Items,B3)>0

OK to close and you're done. I tested this on a list with just under 4K items.

Denis
 
Upvote 0
Hi Denis and thanks for the suggestion which sounded like what I needed, however it brings up another problem:

The names to be entered come written on hardcopy documents in various forms like "John Doe", "J. Doe", "J Doe" etc. In other words, If the operator doesn´t remember how exactly John Doe is registered in the name-list, it will be a problem.

The ideal solution would be: The operator starts typing a name. With the first letter typed, a window opens with all the names starting with that letter. As typing progresses, the number of options will reduce. At any point the operator can click on the correct name to be entered.

This feature exists in some other software but I don´t think it is available in Excel.

Maybe I´ll just have to face the facts and write a macro to do just that!

Thanks again!
Rolf
 
Upvote 0

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