In this article, you will learn what a pull-down list is and how to create it in Google Sheets.
In Google Sheets, a drop-down list is a feature that allows you to create a list of items that you can choose from. You can create a drop-down list in Google Sheets by using the Data Validation feature. There are two types of drop-down menus, Drop-down list and Drop-down list (from range) depending on how to create it. We will explain how to create them in the following section. As an advanced tip, there is a list called a dependent drop-down list, whose items change depending on the selection in another drop-down menu.
A drop-down menu in Google Sheets can be beneficial in a number of situations:
As mentioned before, there are two ways to make a pull-down list in Google Sheets. They are different in terms of how to input options, manual input, or cell reference. Thus, you can follow the same steps for the first couple of actions.
To create a drop-down list, follow these steps first:
If you want to enter options in a pull-down list manually, go to “Drop-down List” below and navigate to “Drop-down List (from range)” below if you want to use cell references to create items in the list.
Drop-down List
Drop-down List (from a range)
Advanced options
Show help text for a selected cell: If you check this box, when an invalid input is done in the cell with a drop-down list, a pop-up message window appears with the text entered
If the data is invalid
Show a warning: You will receive an alert when you enter an invalid value in the cell but you can still enter the value.
Reject the input: You can’t input an invalid value in the cell.
Display style (Chip / Arrow / Plain text): This defines the shape and design of a drop-down list in a cell.
Once you have created a drop-down list, a drop-down arrow will appear in the cell. You can click the arrow to display the list of items and select the item you want.
You can edit an existing drop-down menu by following the steps below.
A way to delete all data validation rules is as follows:
A dependent drop-down list in Google Sheets is a drop-down list that is dependent on the selection made in another drop-down list. For example, you might have a list of countries in one drop-down list, and a list of cities in another. When you select a country from the first drop-down list, the options in the second drop-down list will change to show the cities that are located in that country.
To create a dependent drop-down list in Google Sheets, you will need to use a combination of the Data Validation and INDEX-MATCH functions or other lookup formulas. Here is a step-by-step guide: Dependent Drop-down List in Google Sheets: Explained
If you don’t get the solution to your question in this article or you are interested in learning the other advanced tips in Google Sheets, you may find the answers in the following articles.
Check the following articles to use Google Sheets more efficiently.
Named Range in Google Sheets: Explained
How to Find and Replace Words in Google Sheets
How to Enable Excel Shortcuts in Google Sheets
Relative Reference and Absolute Reference in Google Sheets: Explained
Read the articles below to organize your data in Google Sheets.
How to Remove Duplicates in Google Sheets
Pivot Table in Google Sheets: Explained
Go to the following pots to learn how to create a pull-down menu or limit data input in a cell.
Dependent Drop-down List in Google Sheets: Explained
How to Use Data Validation in Google Sheets
Do you want to learn how to use Google Data Studio? Navigate to the article below.
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