Show Drop Down Arrow

[travelersway]

I have a data entry sheet used for various forms by numerous people. I have drop down windows with standard info.

How would I make the drop down window show the drop down arrow all the time and not just when you click on that cell?

[Faz]

It sounds like the cell you're talking about has a validation, where it can only take certain values from a list, which you must have put in. To get the arrow to show all the time, you can use a combo-box, it's the same thing only it returns a number in a cell reference, rather than changing the actual text in the cell.

What you have - Cell with validation, returns text "very small" in that cell
Combo box - Cell reference could be A1, returns number in A1, eg 4.

1 red
2 orange
3 yellow
4 green

This is 2 columns, the 2nd is the list of values that cell could take.
The cell reference linked in with the combo-box returns a numbered value, depending on which value you choose in the drop down box, ie selecting yellow returns the number 3 in the cell reference.

If you ever need this value later in the spreadsheet you could simply use the VLOOKUP function on the 2 columns above
=VLOOKUP(Cell reference,Table array,2)

An example might be
=CONCATENATE("You wish to buy a ",A1," car.")
Where A1 is the VLOOKUP function, looking up the colour
If the combo box is on red, the formula returns
You wish to buy a red car.

[travelersway]

Thank you FAZ, but all I want to do is have the arrow show that it is a drop down window and not simply a data entry cell. When I click on the cell the arrow appears to choose my data. I want that arrow there to show others that the data is there for them to choose. The validation is already set for the information.

[Dave Peterson]

You could add a shape from the drawing toolbar--but I just shade the cell with a
nice color.

travelersway wrote:
>
> Thank you FAZ, but all I want to do is have the arrow show that it is a
> drop down window and not simply a data entry cell. When I click on the
> cell the arrow appears to choose my data. I want that arrow there to
> show others that the data is there for them to choose. The validation
> is already set for the information.
>
> --
> travelersway
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> travelersway's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17623
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=476747

--

Dave Peterson

[travelersway]

Thank you Dave Peterson, but I'd like to show the drop down window with the arrow so it is obvious what it is, a list to make a selection.

[Dave Peterson]

Then you'll have to drop the Data|Validation technique.

Maybe you could replace it with a combobox from the control toolbox toolbar or a
dropdown from the Forms toolbar???

travelersway wrote:
>
> Thank you Dave Peterson, but I'd like to show the drop down window with
> the arrow so it is obvious what it is, a list to make a selection.
>
> --
> travelersway
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> travelersway's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17623
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=476747

--

Dave Peterson

[George Nicholson]

You could add a narrow column to the right of your data validation and copy
an appropriate "down pointing" VCR-type arrow symbol from Character map
(Start>Programs>Accessories>SystemTools>CharacterMap).
..
When the data valadation cell is selected the "real" arrow will appear
rather than your added symbol.

There are drawbacks to this approach, but it clearly indicates where
dropdowns reside. It can work rather nicely if you have a vertical list of
inputs rather than horizontal.

HTH,
--
George Nicholson

Remove 'Junk' from return address.


"travelersway" <[email protected]>
wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Thank you Dave Peterson, but I'd like to show the drop down window with
> the arrow so it is obvious what it is, a list to make a selection.
>
>
> --
> travelersway
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> travelersway's Profile:
> http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17623
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=476747
>

[travelersway]

Thank you all, but is there no way to set up a cell with a drop down list to keep the appearance it has when you click on it?

[paul]

yes faz and dave petersen told you how,a combo box from the forms or control
toolbar.I prefer the forms version .It will be very easy to change as you
must already have your list of data to choose from,all you need to do is
choose a place for your cell link and then I use a choose or an index to
return the value chosen

--
paul
remove nospam for email addy!



"travelersway" wrote:

>
> Thank you all, but is there no way to set up a cell with a drop down
> list to keep the appearance it has when you click on it?
>
>
> --
> travelersway
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> travelersway's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17623
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=476747
>
>

[paul]

and using a combox will also solve your other problem in that a commbo box
always starts at the top
--
paul
remove nospam for email addy!



"travelersway" wrote:

>
> I have a data entry sheet used for various forms by numerous people. I
> have drop down windows with standard info.
>
> How would I make the drop down window show the drop down arrow all the
> time and not just when you click on that cell?
>
>
> --
> travelersway
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> travelersway's Profile: http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=17623
> View this thread: http://www.excelforum.com/showthread...hreadid=476747
>
>