How to create a dropdown menu in Excel

Let’s say you have your own company and you want to get an idea of ​​how they want to approach customers. In the example below, we’ve created a list of names and a column to show how customers prefer to approach it.

Behind each name there should be a selection list indicating whether someone prefers to be approached by mail, phone or text message. It’s helpful to put these options somewhere in the Excel document: it doesn’t matter where. In our example, we put the three options in cells E1, E2, and E3.

First you have to select the cells that should have the dropdown menu. In our example, these are cells B2 through B8. Then go to Excel’s menu bar and then Truths and select in Ribbon for option Data validation. You can find this option at Data Tools. Then a window will appear. Choose from below To let in front of List.

Bee Source you can now select different options. In our example, enter the cell range here E1:E3 and bass OK. If all goes well Excel will convert it to a working formula. Isn’t that the case? Add Source then enter the formula as follows: =$E$1:$E$3.

In the dialog, under the tab login message Enter the text to be displayed when you select a cell. So here you can enter something like Choose an option.

If you enter an option other than the options in the list, you will get an error message. This value does not match the data validation constraints defined for this cell. This is a somewhat vague error message, especially if others need to fill out your Excel document. So you can edit the error message.

You can do this in the window too Data validation on the tab Error message. Enter a title for the dialog that appears when an incorrect entry is made, for example Wrong login. Bee error message can you put something like Choose an option from the list.

It is now much clearer whether someone has made an invalid choice.

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