I want a form to auto populate based on the selection from a drop down in the first column

Ahhhh okay so this is so complicated, but I will try my best to explain it. I am trying to help the new company I work for with their forms and there are several people in the office who either a) do not even know how to turn a computer on or b) Say, "Excel WHAT?" They literally type up everything in a Word document and print it and write everything in. So, I am trying to create an estimate form and I want each of the services that we provide to be in a drop down list in the first column of a table and then depending on which service is chosen, I want the rest of the cells to auto populate various information and data based strictly on that service we provide. The reason for this is because the person who will be doing most of this data entry is the one person who does not even know how to turn on a computer. THEN once I can get my spreadsheet to do that for me, I want to edit the total lines to automatically calculate themselves based on our pricing structure for each service. I have attached an example. I hope I am making sense. It seems so simple, but I cannot seem to figure it out. I have tried everything. Please help me! ExcelForumExample.xlsm

I looked at it, and don't think there is really anyway by looking at the forms you provided to tell exactly what you want.
If your initial drop down list has 6 options, sounds like you'd just need to fairly simple "IF" formulas for each of the 6 variables. The form looks like it's setup right for you do do what you want, just need to figure out the variables.

It is set up in the FORM sheet because I put it there to display what I wantt o auto-populate once the selection is made in the dropdown column on the left. For example: The entire form will be blank. I will select the drop-down menu button and choose either pack, move, unpack, etc. etc. If I were to choose Pack, I want the rest of the merged colums in the middle (before line total column) to auto populate based on whichever selection I chose. So, if I chose "Pack," the areas in the middle would show, "# of Packers, # of Hours, Rate, etc."

If I had chosen "Materials" from the drop down menu, then the information that would pop up in the colums to follow would be the list of materials, materials used, and so on." I tried to use the IF function and it was not doing anything close to what I wanted it to. I just keep getting an error message or N/A. I do not know if it is because the cells are all different sizes or what. In a dream world I would type a formula to say, "If B16=Pack, then c16-f16= sheet2 b14,b15,c14,c15,d14,d15,e14,e15,f14,f15,g14,g15." but then it needs to also say "if b16=unpack, then c16-f16=" and so on and so on.

How about sending the form with your messed up formulas? I'm still trying to figure out how each form is supposed to interact with each other. Will the end user be typing in data on each tab, or just some parts? You may want to focus on one thing at a time like "Materials." I'd also recommend adding a totals column on the "Description (AUTO-POP UP)", and "Drop Down Menus" worksheets just to see the math is working correctly. You can always hide that column if you don't want it shown later. I'd also like to see you get the drop down list working. Is it going to be separate drop down lists, or is it going to be on one worksheet and the other worksheets just copy whatever that drop down value is.

The reason for the merged columns is because I have the top set up the way it is with the"bill to" and job information, customer information, and etc. I am doing multiple forms for this company and every form is identical in the top portion so that their forms are uniform and look professional. I am going to try your solution. Stand by.

Originally Posted by kspeese

How about sending the form with your messed up formulas? I'm still trying to figure out how each form is supposed to interact with each other. Will the end user be typing in data on each tab, or just some parts? You may want to focus on one thing at a time like "Materials." I'd also recommend adding a totals column on the "Description (AUTO-POP UP)", and "Drop Down Menus" worksheets just to see the math is working correctly. You can always hide that column if you don't want it shown later. I'd also like to see you get the drop down list working. Is it going to be separate drop down lists, or is it going to be on one worksheet and the other worksheets just copy whatever that drop down value is.

I will put a total column and all that stuff. I was just trying to get the form to do the auto populate part first, but depending on which choice they make, the formula will be much difference (as you can probably tell). I have to get them these forms sometime this morning, so I am just going to do what I can. I am so busy trying to do it the best it can be done and they are rushing me so fine I will just half a$$ it then, haha. Thank you for everything.