Excel – Data Validation with the Indirect Function – Excel Advanced

Microsoft Excel Tips and Tricks

Data Validation is a great way to make certain only certain information gets entered into Excel. For example, you don’t want a department column and someone typing Human Resources and later typing HR. Same for Countries. USA and U.S. are the same country, but with data analysis, they are different. You can do Data Validation with numbers and text. In this example, we are using a validation list. A drop-down arrow appears, and only the items listed can be selected. We will use the Indirect function with a table. The Indirect function allows records added to the table to be included in the drop-down list.

Credit Chris Menard