Oct 25 2019 10:13 AM
Hello,
I have figured out how to use the data validation feature to create dropdown options. This is useful to me because I am working on a project that involves me sending somebody a spreadsheet full of different types of errors that need to be fixed. They can use the dropdown menu to tell me either:
The following screenshot demonstrates:
But here’s my problem. Let’s say that they can’t fix the error, so they select “I’m not able to fix this error”, then they send the spreadsheet back to me. I open the spreadsheet, and see the following:
In this instance, I am not able to tell that the error they are unable to fix is the “Birthday Error”. All I know is that there was an error that they weren’t able to successfully fix. Is there any way I can alter the data validation setup so that the three drop-down options that show up are:
Thanks!
Oct 25 2019 11:49 AM
Oct 25 2019 12:03 PM
Thanks for your reply @mathetes ! Your reading of my situation is accurate in that yes, "Birthday Error" is in the same cell where the other person can enter "I fixed" or "not able"
I prefer not to put the drop down validation choices into an adjacent cell because I think it would make my spreadsheet too overwhelming for the other person as there's lots of other columns being used for other purposes here. There are also not really a finite number of errors, as new types of errors emerge from time to time.
I appreciate that you've suggested alternative solutions, however what I am hoping to do is alter the data validation setup so that whatever is already typed into the cell will show up as a dropdown option in that same cell.
Currently I have it set up as such so that it's referencing my list which contains "I fixed" and "Not able to fix":
But maybe if I use the custom feature in the screenshot below, there will be some way I can write a formula so that it references whatever is already in the cell that is to contain the dropdown menu?
Thanks!
Oct 25 2019 12:22 PM
I agree with the assessment given by @mathetes to use an adjacent cell. If you really need this to work in 1 cell the only way I can think of at the moment is to keep your validation list in the cell and pair it with some conditional formatting. The conditional formatting would check the value in the cell. For example, if "No" is picked then custom format: 0;0;0;"Birthday Error"
The issue with this is the custom format is all for show. It does not place that text in the cell.
Oct 25 2019 02:31 PM