Trying to generate x-assigned cells to drop-down lists, one for each topic category

[Dark_Jester89]

I have tried to populate drop down but it comes up as blank.

I'm looking for help on how to have a drop down list generate from data that's been assigned with an "X", and skip areas that are blank.

The only thing I could really think of is making drop-down lists for the references assigned to topics, but I don't know how to get the references to a drop down list once assigned to a subtopic.

General skill level with Excel. (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, etc.) Borderline Beginner/Intermediate

Column A are reference (Not A1/A2)
Column B/C need to populate to one dropdown
Column D/E/F/G need to populate to one dropdown

The data in the dropdrown list has to be what is cross referenced as "X"
B2 is assigned to A6= X
C2 is assigned to A6= X
B2 is not assigned to B7= Left Blank
B2 is assigned to B9= X

Drop down list should have A6 row, B9

Thanks in advance!

[FDibbins]

Hi, welcome to the forum

...I'm looking for help on how to have a drop down list generate from data that's been assigned with an "X", and skip areas that are blank.

The only thing I could really think of is making drop-down lists for the references assigned to topics, but I don't know how to get the references to a drop down list once assigned to a subtopic.

Not really sure what you mean by these?

Column B/C need to populate to one dropdown
Column D/E/F/G need to populate to one dropdown

Just create the DD as you would for any other cell.

The data in the dropdrown list has to be what is cross referenced as "X"
B2 is assigned to A6= X
C2 is assigned to A6= X
B2 is not assigned to B7= Left Blank
B2 is assigned to B9= X
Drop down list should have A6 row, B9

Thats not how drop downs work.

there is nothing magical about a drop down (Data Validation). It is exactly the same as if you had typed the entry in manually, the only differences being that a DD can save you some typing, help avoid typos and help restrict entry to only a specified "list". Other than that, there is basically no difference. You would refer to it in formulas etc the exact same way as if you were referencing a manually entered cell

[Dark_Jester89]

Hi Ford,

thanks for responding, I meant in the first part of, each drop down for each topic would be customized based on the x's in the columns. I didn't know if or how to make the Drop down's the best way. Thank you again for responding!

Sincerely,
Dark_Jester89

[FDibbins]

Like I said, DD's dont work that way (IF I understand you correctly).

You want the x to change to what is in col A on that row?

[Dark_Jester89]

Change to-reference..

If x is filled in column, the item to reference in the d.d would be the row a cell.

So yes I believe so

[FDibbins]

No, that would require a formula AND an entry in the same cell, you cannot do that with excel.

The only (2) ways to do this, would be
1. Create a 2nd Identical table, that would use the X as a reference for that cell
2. Use VBA to change the X to the reference.

Why would you want the text from col A repeated in multiple columns though?

[Dark_Jester89]

Thanks for the advice, maybe i'm just really nuking it and looking to far at it. I'm gonna try to do a series of drop down lists and then reference it.

I just posted this up in excel but I think this one is solved for the time being, or..well, that I've found probably the best answer I can at this point.