Data Validation: Drop down lists
For each cell, you can define in advance what type of contents is valid for that cell. This allows you to guide users through data entry in OpenOffice.org Calc by restricting cells to receive specific values and ranges.
For selected cells, a drop-down list of possible values can be defined. In this tutorial, we show how this is done.
Step1: Select the required cell and open the data validation dialog as shown below.
Step2: In the Criteria tab of the validation dialog, the Allow option is itself a drop-down list. We select List.
Step3: With List slected, a text box appears which we populate with the list of allowed values for the selected cell(s). We are almost done.
After closing the validation dialog, we see that we now must select a value for our cell from the drop-down list we have just created - as shown below. It is also acceptable to leave it blank.
This example can be downloaded here.
July 27th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title Data Validation: Drop down lists. Thanks for informative article
August 3rd, 2007 at 7:07 am
I have to say, that I could not agree with you in 100% regarding Data Validation: Drop down lists, but it’s just my opinion, which could be wrong
January 6th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Switched from XP/ MS office to VISTA/open office.. To say the least I have been pulling my hare out by the yard, relearning thigs. I’ve been trying for 4 days now to do a drop down list. Found this did it in 5 minutes. WHo woulda thunk it could be so easy.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Thanks for this article, one thing I would like to do is be able to assign a value to text items in the drop down list?
eg.
list1 = 10
list2 = 11
list3 = 12
so that when “list1″ is selected, the value calculated when that cell is used in a function would be 10.
Did that make sense?
thanks again.
Might I also suggest your update and enable akismet, will stop most of your spam comments.
=)