Quickly Selecting Items in a Drop Down List

**Squint** · 03-13-2014, 12:35 PM

I'm not even sure if this is possible. I've tried several things but have had no luch. I have a spreadsheet with several long drop down lists in it. I was hoping to find a way that if I start to typ the names that it will automaticall bring me to the section of the drop down list that matches the letters I am typing. For example one of my lists is employee names so if I start typing in the cell Sue then it will show the name(s) that start with Sue. This may not be possible in Excel but if anyone knows of a way I would much appreciate any assistance.

Thanks in advance

**Pete_UK** · 03-13-2014, 02:46 PM

What you describe is called AutoComplete, but the normal data validation drop-down does not have that facility. However, as Debra Dalgleish describes here:

http://www.contextures.com/xlDataVal10.html

you can use a combo box instead and then you would be able to do what you ask for.

Hope this helps.

Pete

**Squint** · 03-14-2014, 01:25 PM

I have been playing with this for awhile now but her instructions are confusing me. I may be that I am using Office 2007 and she seems to be referring to an earlier version before the ribon was used. She instructs me to create drop down lists with data validation, which is how I have created all of my drop down lists. Each is a named range. She then talks about creating a combo box with code (from what I understand a combo box is a different way of doing a drop down menu so I am not sure is she is saying to use a combo box instead of a drop down list in data validation. If so it is confusing because she instructs me to create drop down lists using data validation). In her little video she says there is a little combo box hidden in the corner with code. I have tried to do this but it is not working. She says once the code is added it will apply to all drop down lists in the entire worksheet so I am obviously doing something wrong. If I am supposed to replace all my drop down menus with combo boxes I am not sure how my formulas will be affected because sever of them are dependent upon the selection of the drop down list. I am not sure if you are able to help but I am attaching my actual workbook. I have just changed the specific names in the drop down lists. If you are able to look at it and tell me what I should be doing it would be much appreciated!

I realized I uploaded the wrong file previously. I have removed that file and uploaded the correct one.