Advanced Drop Down Menus

Hello!

I received a spreadsheet from my boss that I am supposed to edit and update, but I can't figure out how to create the types of menus that are already in the spreadsheet.

In the sheet, I have a large table of data where each cell has a drop down menu, but you can ALSO type or paste text into the cell (without destroying the drop-down menu). Additionally, in the column header you can click a drop down which allows you to filter by several criteria (alphabetically, cell color, text, or by the specific data allowed via the cell drop-down).

Can you tell me what these are called and/or how to create them?

THANK YOU.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

This sounds like Data Validation to me. To check what DV is set to the cell, select the cell > Data > Data Validation.

The drop-downs in the headers are simply filters.

That is what I initially thought as well, but I'm not sure. Here is a link to a screenshot of what comes up when I click on the column header "Coursename".

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Iq...3bDRn-bS4YAZM1


Thoughts?

Yes, that is a filter.

Those are created by highlighting all of your data > Data > Filter

OH, I see. Thank you!

Another question: I can't find the table which is generating the drop-down menu options (. Is it possible to hide it? Or generate drop-down menus without referencing a table for the list options?

Thank you so much for your help!

If you are referring to the check boxes that are shown in your screenshot from post #3, that is showing a unique list of the values in that column.

Does that answer your question?

Not quite. So from my understanding, the only way to create a drop down list is to click on the cell > data > data validation > change "allow" to List, and then you select a source. This source is separate from the actual data, and is just a list of unique values you want in a particular drop down menu.

I was wondering if there is a way to create a drop down menu that doesn't require this separate table?

If we are still talking about the screenshot from post #3, those "drop-downs" are from filters, not Data Validation.

I was wondering if there is a way to create a drop down menu that doesn't require this separate table

Yes, you can create a Data Validation drop down list without referring to any cells.

I can't give you an exact answer without knowing what exactly it is that you are looking to do but for proof of concept, you can click on a cell > Data > Data Validation > Allow: List > Type "A,B,C" without the quotes > OK

Now, only A, B, or C can be put into that cell (and you didn't refer to any other cells).

Sorry for the confusion: yes, I was referring to Data Validation.

I selected a cell with a drop down menu and went into Data Validation. In "Source", it doesn't list a group of values. See below screen shot.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1JY...GBAiHuhEyDNOkO

Okay, I think i understand everything going on in the sheet now. Thank you so much for the help!

And thank you for the Forums tip!

You're welcome. Happy to help.

If that takes care of your original question, please select Thread Tools from the menu link above and mark this thread as SOLVED.