Forum Discussion
Drop Down List in a cell
I have set up a drop down list for a column of cells via the Data Validation menu. The drop down arrow appears and the list is showing. When I select a value from the drop down list, it appears in the Formula bar, but not in the cell itself. What do I need to do to get the value to show up in the cell itself?
If the text color is the same as the cell background color, it can give the appearance of the text not being visible, even though it's there.
Here is how you can check and adjust the text and background color:
1. Check Text and Background Color:
Select the cell with the drop-down list value.
Go to the "Home" tab on the ribbon.
Look at the "Font Color" and "Fill Color" options. Make sure the font color is not the same as the fill color.
2. Adjust Font Color:
If the font color is the same as the cell background, change the font color.
- Select the cell.
- Click on the "Font Color" button in the ribbon (it looks like an "A" with a color next to it) and choose a different color.
3. Adjust Background Color:
If the fill color is causing an issue, adjust it.
- Select the cell.
- Click on the "Fill Color" button in the ribbon (it looks like a paint bucket) and choose a different color.
After adjusting the font color or fill color, the text should be visible in the cell. If the issue persists, there might be another factor affecting the display.
If the values selected from the drop-down list are not appearing in the cells, it's possible that the cells are formatted as text. Here are a few steps you can take to resolve this issue:
1. Change the Cell Format:
Select the cells where you have the drop-down list.
Right-click on the selected cells and choose "Format Cells."
In the Format Cells dialog box, go to the "Number" tab.
Choose a format like "General" or any other appropriate format.
Click "OK" to apply the changes.
2. Recreate the Drop-Down List:
Select the cells where you want the drop-down list.
Go to the "Data" tab on the ribbon.
Click "Data Validation."
In the Data Validation dialog box, go to the "Settings" tab.
Ensure that the "List" option is selected in the "Allow" drop-down.
In the "Source" field, make sure your range for the drop-down list is correct.
Click "OK" to apply.
3. Check for Data Validation Errors:
Go to the cells where you have the drop-down list.
Click on the drop-down arrow to see if the values are still present.
If there are any errors or missing values in the list, correct them.
4. Remove Filters (if applied):
If your worksheet has filters applied, try removing them and see if the issue persists.
After performing these steps, try selecting values from the drop-down list again and check if they appear in the cells. If the issue persists, there might be other factors specific to your Excel version or settings that need to be investigated. AI was partially deployed to support the text.
Without further information it is very difficult to say what the source of the error could be. Information such as Excel version, operating system, storage medium, file extension, etc., at the same time uploading a file (without sensitive data) or photos would make the proposed solution more accurate.
My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!
Hope this will help you.
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