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Building Solutions for Business 
Dynamic Content for Data 
Validation Lists
Data Validation Lists Overview 
• Data validation provides a way to ensure the 
contents of the cell are restricted to specific 
choices in a list 
• Data entry by list is faster and more accurate than 
typing a response in a cell 
• It is an intuitive and familiar input method 
• Will increase usability of data entry forms
The Challenge 
Building a drop down list based on fixed or named 
ranges is not flexible, and can be complex for users 
to manage. 
Data validation list can be difficult to manage 
when: 
• The source location of the list changes 
• New entries are added to the list
The Solution 
• This deck will step through building a data 
validation list the traditional way 
• It will then use a newer more flexible, self-managing 
method 
• This method is very useful if you are distributing 
solutions to end users with less Excel experience
Building a Simple List 
• This example will walk through building a 
dropdown validation list based on a range of cells 
• Using cell ranges allows for the content of the list 
to be more easily managed
• Enter list 
values in a 
range of cells. 
• Click on the 
data validation 
button in the 
data ribbon 
• Select List 
from the Allow 
box
• Select the 
range of cells 
the list will 
display 
• The list and 
data are now 
connected 
• Changes to the 
source data 
will be shown 
in the list
Use Named Ranges 
• Using named ranged references for a list is a best 
practice strategy 
• From the previous example, let’s define the list of 
fruits with a name called “lstFruits” 
• The data validation will now reference the name 
rather than a static range of cells
• Define a name 
for the range 
of cells using 
the name box 
to the left of 
the formula 
bar 
• Use the name 
range in the 
list definition
What if the contents of list 
changes? 
• This list will need to be maintained and sorted 
• When adding items to a named range, you must 
take care that the item is picked up by the range 
• This level of maintenance can be time consuming 
and beyond the skills of some users 
• The answer is to create self maintaining lists
Dynamic List Ranges To the 
Rescue 
• Let Excel automatically determine the number of 
rows in the list and just display those 
• Items can be added or removed as required 
without impacting the ease of maintenance
Create the first 
item of list data 
starting at row 1 
Note the old 
static definition 
of the list 
Change the 
definition of the 
lstFruits name 
to the following
What the Formula Does 
=sheet3!$A$1:INDEX(sheet3!$A:$A,COUNTA(sheet3!$A:$A)) 
• This formula makes everything work 
• CountA – will count all of the non-blank rows in 
the column 
• Index – will determine the bottom of the list
You’re Done 
• You can now add and change items in the list 
without altering name definitions or tweaking 
named ranged
Building Solutions for Business 
For more ideas and tips visit 
our blog at 
http://www.excelgenius.ca
Ad

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Dynamic Data Validation Lists

  • 1. Building Solutions for Business Dynamic Content for Data Validation Lists
  • 2. Data Validation Lists Overview • Data validation provides a way to ensure the contents of the cell are restricted to specific choices in a list • Data entry by list is faster and more accurate than typing a response in a cell • It is an intuitive and familiar input method • Will increase usability of data entry forms
  • 3. The Challenge Building a drop down list based on fixed or named ranges is not flexible, and can be complex for users to manage. Data validation list can be difficult to manage when: • The source location of the list changes • New entries are added to the list
  • 4. The Solution • This deck will step through building a data validation list the traditional way • It will then use a newer more flexible, self-managing method • This method is very useful if you are distributing solutions to end users with less Excel experience
  • 5. Building a Simple List • This example will walk through building a dropdown validation list based on a range of cells • Using cell ranges allows for the content of the list to be more easily managed
  • 6. • Enter list values in a range of cells. • Click on the data validation button in the data ribbon • Select List from the Allow box
  • 7. • Select the range of cells the list will display • The list and data are now connected • Changes to the source data will be shown in the list
  • 8. Use Named Ranges • Using named ranged references for a list is a best practice strategy • From the previous example, let’s define the list of fruits with a name called “lstFruits” • The data validation will now reference the name rather than a static range of cells
  • 9. • Define a name for the range of cells using the name box to the left of the formula bar • Use the name range in the list definition
  • 10. What if the contents of list changes? • This list will need to be maintained and sorted • When adding items to a named range, you must take care that the item is picked up by the range • This level of maintenance can be time consuming and beyond the skills of some users • The answer is to create self maintaining lists
  • 11. Dynamic List Ranges To the Rescue • Let Excel automatically determine the number of rows in the list and just display those • Items can be added or removed as required without impacting the ease of maintenance
  • 12. Create the first item of list data starting at row 1 Note the old static definition of the list Change the definition of the lstFruits name to the following
  • 13. What the Formula Does =sheet3!$A$1:INDEX(sheet3!$A:$A,COUNTA(sheet3!$A:$A)) • This formula makes everything work • CountA – will count all of the non-blank rows in the column • Index – will determine the bottom of the list
  • 14. You’re Done • You can now add and change items in the list without altering name definitions or tweaking named ranged
  • 15. Building Solutions for Business For more ideas and tips visit our blog at http://www.excelgenius.ca