Forum Discussion
Viewing Notes in a Data Validated List
JP2Ro so neither comment nor note will show up in a data validation drop down list. There are some workarounds possible:
a) you can add info on extra lines in the same cell using ALT-ENTER and format cell to only show that 1st line
here is image showing cells A1 with 2 lines of text but you only see 1 in that cell, A2 has comment and A3 has note and then drop down in C2 shows the help text from A1 but notice how comments and notes aren't shown:
but in this case C2 does return value/text that looks like the drop down (i.e. carriage return is lost)
alternatively
b) add helper columns that have the name with more info and then create links between them. for example the 'real' list is in column A then col B has list with 'help' info. Then in D is the data validation drop down based on col B. Then make col C a XLOOKUP(value in D, column B, column A, "") so then C will show the text the way you want it to be seen but D is the actual dropdown box. You can play with formatting to make it appear 'better' to some extent but there are trade-offs and limitations:
so I made the text in col D white on white so you don't see it and you can lock the sheet and make col D and not col C selectable but it is still clunky