Home > Excel Topics > Validation Data Validation Topics on Contextures Use the Excel data validation feature to create drop down lists on a worksheet. Or, use data validation rules to control what can be entered into worksheet cells.

Data Validation Drop Downs These tutorials show how to use Excel data validation drop down lists, to make data entry easier, and to prevent invalid entries. Create -- Easy steps to make drop down list wth Excel data validation. Show list of valid entries, reduce data entry errors. Videos, written notes, free workbook. Details on the Drop Down Lists - Data Validation page.

Multiple Selection -- How to select multiple items from Excel Data Validation drop down list, all in one cell. Short videos, written steps, free Excel workbook to download. Details on the Data Validation Drop Down Select Multiple Items page.

Tips and Fixes -- How to fix Excel data validation problems. Drop down not working, blank selected, not showing all data. Videos, written steps, data validation troubleshooting. Details on the Data Validation Tips and Troubleshooting page.

Hide Used Items -- In Excel data validation drop down list hide previously selected items, to avoid duplicate entries. Video shows steps. Sample Excel file. Details on the Drop Down List-Hide Used Items page.

Listbox -- Select multiple items from Excel pop-up list. All selected items are entered in active cell. Clear steps, Excel workbook to download. Details on the Select One or More Items from Pop Up List page.

Combo Box -- Video steps, written steps, free workbooks show how to make Excel entry easier with Data Validation Combo Box. Get autocomplete, bigger fonts, longer lists. Details on the Data Validation Combo Box Resources page.

Combo Box -- How to set up Excel Worksheet combo box and change the settings. Show a list of items and link the combo box to a worksheet cell. Details on the Combo Boxes for Easier Data Entry page.

Combo Box -- Excel data validation using programming and a combo box, to allow autocomplete and font formatting. Details on the Drop Down Items in Combo Box page.

Combo Box -- Excel data validation using programming and a combo box and named ranges, to allow autocomplete and font formatting. Details on the Data Validation Combo box using Named Ranges page.

Combo Box -- Instead of Excel drop down list with tiny print, make data entry easier with a combo box. Autocomplete, font formatting. Activated when cell is clicked. Details on the Data Validation Combo box Click page.

Other Workbook -- How to make an Excel drop down list from list stored in different workbook. Watch the video, and get step by step written instructions. Details on the Drop Down List from Another Workbook page.

Add New Items -- How to create an Excel Data Validation drop down list that allows users to add new items. New items appear in drop down list, and list is sorted alphabetically. Details on the Add New Items Sorted Drop Down List page.

Filtered -- Create Excel drop down lists that only show the visible items from a filtered list. Technique uses formulas only, no macros. Details on the Excel Drop Down from Filtered List page.

Sort Latest -- How to make Excel drop down list with latest used items at top, others below, A-Z. Excel 365 functions SORTBY, MAXIFS. Formulas only, no macros. Details on the Drop Down List - Latest Used Items at Top page.

Macros -- How to allow new items added to Excel data validation drop down lists. New items automatically added to drop down list, list sorted alphabetically. Details on the Excel Drop Down Lists - Add New Items page.

Time -- Use Excel data validation to create drop down lists of hours and minutes for time entry. Total Time 2 cannot be greater than Total Time 1. Details on the Data Validation Drop Downs for Hours Minutes page.

List Types -- See 3 types of Excel drop down lists for data entry. Data validation, Form Control combo box, ActiveX combo box. Video shows each type, benefits, limitations. Details on the Excel Drop Down List Types for Data Entry page.

Headings -- Add single-letter headings in Excel drop down, so it's easy to find items in long list. Details on the Add Letter Headings in Drop Down List page.

Macro -- Choose product name and code from drop down list. Macro automatically changes cell to product code only. Video and written steps. Details on the Excel Drop Down Change Product Name to Code page.

Troubleshoot -- Use this macro to create Excel data validation documentation. Get a list of all data validation on Excel worksheet. Details on the Data Validation Drop Down Troubleshooting page.

Popup Tool -- Excel data validation popup tool replaces drop down list. Select one item or multiple items, all selections added to active cell. Details on the Data Validation Multi-Select Popup Tool page.

Popup Guide -- User guide for Excel data validation popup tool replaces drop down list. Select one item or multiple items, all selections added to active cell. Details on the Data Validation Select Popup Tool User Guide page.

Popup FAQ -- FAQs for Excel data validation popup tool replaces drop down list. Select one item or multiple items, all selections added to active cell. Details on the Data Validation Select Popup Tool FAQs page.

Budget Limit-- Use simple data validation rules to limit budget amounts that can be entered in Excel budget plan. Video, written steps, free Excel workbook. Details on the Limit Budget Entry Amounts with Data Validation page.

Macros -- How to allow some users to add new items to Excel Data Validation drop down lists. Get the free workbook with sample macro. Details on the Drop Downs - Allow Add New Items page.

Dependent Drop Downs These tutorials show how to use dependent drop down lists, where the list items depend on what is selected in another cell. Setup Method -- How to choose best setup method for Excel dependent drop down lists, which show items based on another cell. Set up simple or flexible dependent lists. Details on the How to Choose Best Excel Dependent Drop Down Setup page.

Setup -- Easy steps for Excel dependent drop down list. Conditional data validation based on other cell, Region/City. Videos, written steps, Excel file. Details on the Easy Steps Excel Dependent Drop Down List Data Val page.

Index Tables -- Create flexible dependent drop down lists, based on tables, and 3 named ranges. Details on the How to Make Excel Dependent Drop Down Lists With T page.

Tables -- Limit choices in a data validation drop down list, based on selection in another cell. Use tables and INDIRECT, with named ranges for setup. Details on the Excel Data Validation Dependent Lists With Tables page.

Sorted List -- Limit choices in a data validation drop down list, based on selection in another cell. Example based on sorted list of regions and customers. Details on the Excel Dependent Drop Down Lists from Sorted Table page.

Advanced -- How to set up advanced dependent drop-down lists in Excel. Show a short list or full list. Prevent invalid selections,. Fix OFFSET list problems. Details on the Advanced Excel Dependent Drop Down Lists-Data Vali page.

INDEX -- Limit choices in a data validation drop down list, based on selection in another cell. Use INDEX function and named ranges for setup. Details on the Excel Data Validation -- Dependent Lists With INDE page.

Dynamic -- Video shows simple steps to make dependent drop down list in Excel 365. Drop down 1: pick region. Drop down 2: shows employees from that region. Details on the How to Make Dependent Drop Down Excel 365 with Vid page.

Dynamic -- Limit choices in Excel drop down lists, based on choice in other drop downs. Select region, then sales rep, then customer for region and rep. Free Excel workbook. Details on the Dependent Drop Down in Excel Table page.

Data Validation Rules These tutorials show how to set data validation rules, to specify what values can be entered into a cell. Criteria -- Use Excel data validation to give users a list of choices; restrict entries to a whole number, decimal, list, date, time or specific length. Details on the Excel Data Validation Criteria Examples page.

Dates -- How to use Excel data validation to prevent invalid dates from being entered. Examples, video, Excel file. Details on the Use Excel Data Validation for Entering Dates page.

Duplicates -- How to create your own Excel data validation rules. Custom rules prevent duplicates, limit totals, block weekend dates, and more examples. Free workbook. Details on the Excel Data Validation Examples Custom Criteria page.

Messages -- How to create data validation custom messages to help users enter data correctly. Special error messages to help people fix invalid entries without frustration. Details on the Custom Excel Data Validation Messages page.

Messages -- For Excel data validation, show messages to the user by in a text box, at the top of the worksheet. Details on the How to Show Data Validation Messages in Textbox page.

Get Monthly Excel Tips! Don't miss my monthly Excel newsletter! You'll get quick tips, article links, and a bit of fun. Add your email, and click Sign Up. Next, when you get my reply, please click the Confirm button. I add this step to protect you from spam!

Excel Topics Data Validation | Pivot Tables | Formulas | Data | Macros | Format | Charts | Filters | Structure