Excel drop down box

[amillia]

My Boss was sent a spreadsheet with drop down boxes and she wants the data that is in the drop down box put into a word document so she can look at it all at once. Does anyone know an easy way to do this? Thank you.

 

[straybullet]

View the Properties of the DropDown box. The input range will be where the information can be found either on the same sheet (sometimes hidden) or on another sheet. This information can them be copied and pasted where needed.

Let them hate - so long as they fear... Lucius Accius

 

[carrr]

First, verify that it's not a drop menu populated by data validation. Selecting the cell housing the drop menu, go to Data > Validation... > if you see a range referenced, it is a Data Validation drop menu and you'll simply need to go to the range that feeds the validation and copy out the data.

"'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds." - Malaclypse the Younger

 

[straybullet]

Data validation is for the cell isnt it? Not for a control atop a cell. A dropdown box with the following dates 1/6/98, 1/25/00, 5/14/99, 9/4/03 (cells D811) still "drops down" even if data validation for the cell it is sitting on is set to allow dates only between 1/7/98 & 5/14/99.
In this type of situation, data validation would either permit or refuse to allow entry of data into the input range.
The point is that using data validation in this case is simply a way to keep people from entering invalid data to your input range. It is not a necessity for an input range.

Let them hate - so long as they fear... Lucius Accius

 

[carrr]

No.
What you describe is not the limit of data validation.
That's why I mentioned it.
We frequently use data validation lists to fuel drop menus.
The poster indicated only "drop down boxes" with no qualifications. There're different ways to construct these in Excel.

"'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds." - Malaclypse the Younger

 

[straybullet]

There's a difference between a dropdown box and a dropdown list. While the original post mentions the former, what you describe is the latter. A menu is another thing altogether. One other thing, even your dropdown list requires the content data to exist in a named range.

Let them hate - so long as they fear... Lucius Accius

 

[carrr]

I'm not sure how you're "reading the mind" of the poster.
All they've mentioned is a drop down box.
We've no idea how its fed until the poster responds.
It may be a drop down box with Properties, in which case you're right on.
It may be a drop list populated by data validation.
That is why I offered the alternative.
This is an illustration - since it seems to be necessary -

http://www.contextures.com/xlDataVal01.html

That is why I suggested, in the event that it not a drop down box of the variety you address that the poster seek out the range (not necessarily "named" by any stretch) which feeds the drop down.

"'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds." - Malaclypse the Younger

 

[amillia]

Okay, I right clicked on the cell with the drop down and I do not see a properties option. Also I looked at Data Validation but the box is not highlighted.

 

[carrr]

Select the cell containing the "drop down."
Now that it is outlined in black, go to Data > Validation... > is anything in the "Allow" field? the Source field?

"'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds." - Malaclypse the Younger

 

[amillia]

When I do this the data validation in the menu is not highlighted to look at.

 

[carrr]

On the Tools menu, go to Protection, is Unprotect Sheet an option? If the sheet is protected, you cannot get to data validation. Unprotect if necessary, then repeat...

"'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds." - Malaclypse the Younger

 

[amillia]

Just to finish the post, I was not able to unprotect the spreadsheet because it had a password. However my boss just come in and told me to forget it she had changed the requirement. But thanks for your help.

 

[carrr]

Very good.

"'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds." - Malaclypse the Younger