Linking Drop Down Lists

[cassiekillen]

Here is my next problem!
I have two drop down lists in two different columns.
One is the part number and one is the actual part description.
How do I link the two so that when I click on the part the part number will actually fill in or when I click on the part number the corresponding part will fill in??
Make sense?
Thanks!

 

[Smitty]

Here's a way to return each using VLOOKUP or INDEX/MATCH.

Book1
	A	B	C	D
1	Part #	Part Description
2	1234	Fetzer Valvue
3	5368	Ball Bearings
4	8910	3-1 Oil
5	3421	Gauze Pads
6
7	Part #	Part Description
8	5368	Ball Bearings
9
10	Part #	Part Description
11	5368	Ball Bearings
Sheet1

But note that to have the relevant item fill in in a dual-purpose role (i.e. Data Validation list or return the value of the corresponding item selection)will require VBA.

HTH,

 

[cassiekillen]

i am afraid i am very confused!

 

[Smitty]

In my example, A1:B5 is a list of Part # and their corresponding Descriptions. Each would be the basis for its respective Data Validation list.

A8 houses a data validation list of Part #'s and B8 holds a VLOOKUP that returns the relevant Part Description.

Conversely, B11 has a DV list of Part Descriptions and A11 uses INDEX/MATCH to return the corresponding Part #.

If you wanted to select a Part # in A8 and have B8 return the Part Description OR select the Part Description in B8 and have the Part # returned in A8 you would need to use VBA. Without VBA you can't have the cells do two different things.

Does that make more sense?

 

[cassiekillen]

Yes, this is starting to make a little more sense.
What is VBA?

 

[Smitty]

Yes, this is starting to make a little more sense.
What is VBA?

VBA = Visual Basic for Applications. It's the underlying programming language packaged with most Office programs.

It's what you worked with in this post.