Excel is not only a useful tool for making spreadsheets. The truth is that, due to its multiple functions, it can also be used to organize lists of all kinds. The more options we master in Excel, the more practical different tasks will become.
As we always say, training regarding office software is crucial to have value in today’s job market. By being more efficient and practical, we will make companies want us in their offices, occupying tempting positions. For all that, today we will teach you how to create dependent dropdown lists in Excel.
Do not limit yourself only to this software, try to read our guides of the entire Microsoft Office suite. As you practice and memorize its contents, you will advance at amazing rates.
Well, the interfaces of the Office family are quite similar, that is, practice in one will improve your skill in the others. The important thing is that you go at your own pace, consulting the tutorials whenever necessary.
Consider that, in order to perform the steps as you read, you must have Microsoft Excel downloaded and installed from its official page. Although it is a paid program, it will represent a great enhancer for your resume, so we recommend that you purchase it as soon as possible, from the official website of Microsoft Corporation.
Also, it would be good if you already have a minimum knowledge of some basic tools.
What is Excel?
Returning to what we mentioned at the beginning, Excel is a spreadsheet, yes. But, having so many options, it becomes useful for all kinds of tasks. You can use it, for example, to create dual-axis or all kinds of graphs, diagrams that help you organize yourself, or, as in this case, dependent drop-down lists.
The possibilities are as many as your creativity allows. Thus, we insist on experimentation on our own after seeing the contents of the guides.
What are dependent dropdown lists?
It is something quite simple. They are those lists in which you press a certain category, and the options belonging to that category are automatically displayed. They allow making more practical accommodations without seeing a lot of input data.
How to create dependent dropdown lists in Excel?
The first thing you will do is access your Microsoft Excel. Already in the document, you will have to enter the data you intend to list. You can occupy as many columns as you want, and put your items in the cells below the one with the column name, as seen in the following image.
You’ll see that in our example, the categories are Subjects, Places, and Home. Now, you will need to assign a name to the elements of each category. That is, you will select all the elements of Subjects (by moving the cursor), and, in the middle bar where the coordinates of the selected cells are shown, we will delete what it says to write Subjects.
We must repeat the process with all the columns. Later, in two separate cells, we will write, for example “Category” and “Subcategory”. We will click on the cell below the “Category” cell, and we will access the Data tab, at the top of the screen.
There we will select the Data Validation tool, and then again Data Validation, to display a window.
Now, in the Allow part, you will choose the List option. And, in the Source box, you’ll put an equals sign and then drag your cursor across the category cells (in this case Subjects, Places, and Home). You accept the changes.
Finally, you will go back to the data validation menu, but this time, with the cell below the “Subcategory” cell selected. You’ll choose the List option again, but now in Source you’ll type =indirect(), then click between the parentheses, and then press the cell below “Categories”.
You accept the changes, and voila. You have succeeded in creating a dependent dropdown list.
