list and autocomplete help for a newbie please?

[ocoste]

Hi All,
Any help with the following is appreciated.
I'm using excel for purposes of an IT asset audit. I want to set it up so that when entering make/model of a computer i.e. Dell, the entries of 'destop' and 'workstation' are entered in adjacent columns automatically. Also, is it possible to have validation data lists on a different workbook from the actve sheet and have these linked in some way. Hope this makes sense and someone can help.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[Smitty]

Welcome to the Board!

For the first question, how is Excel supposed to know whether it should be "desktop" or "workstation"?

You might want to check out Aladin Akyurek's post on Dependent Lists.

For the second you can have a dedicated "list" sheet. Just create a list and name it (Insert-->Name-->Define), then you can use Data-->Validation-->Allow-->List-->Source-->=YourListName.

Hope that helps,

Smitty

 

[ocoste]

Smitty

Thanks for your reply. I get the point you made and I guess I have not explained my query correctly. The sheet has column headings:
Make Product Cat. Generic Cat. Version

So, a Dell Optiplex is a desktop but ALSO a workstation in the generic category. It may not be possible but I was trying to reduce data entry by keyboard and 'link' dell to desktop to workstation etc. I hope this makes sense?

Thanks

 

[ADAMC]

Is Dell the only word wish you which to link....

Do you mean an IF statement: (Although Smitty probably has a better way)

Something like if A1 is Dell then B1 shows desktop and C1 shows workstation.....?

=IF(A1="Dell","Desktop","") put where desktop should go
=IF(A1="Dell","Workstation","") put where workstation would go?