Creating a "selection menu" within a cell

Question

Some time ago, I did something in Excel, but I can no longer remember HOW I did it, nor what the feature may be called.  So I'm hoping somebody here might be able to point me in a direction, as I have another opportunity to use this feature.  (and yes, I'm feeling old here, as I just can't pull this back to my mind... sorry...)

In that previous spreadsheet, I was able to create a cell such that when you click on the cell, little "selection arrows" pop  up on the right border of the cell.  When you click on one of those arrows, a little selection menu pops onto the screen, letting me choose a value, which will then be displayed in the cell once selected.  (The values displayed for me to choose between are values  (in this case, text) I placed in other cells in another place in the sheet.) 

So, by way of example, assume the cell currently displays the word "closed."   if you click on this special cell, the arrows appear.  If I click on those arrows, the menu pops up, with the words "open" or "closed."  In this example, I select the word "open" and that word is now displayed in the cell.  It really is that simple.

FYI, the reason I want to use this feature/function, is that I wish to limit users to only a small number of input options.

Does anybody know how to do this, or remember what this feature/function is called so I can look it up?  I'd very much appreciate  your help.

Thanks

PS: I'm currently using Office for Mac 2011, but I've used this function before in non-Mac versions as well.

Answer 1

This is called Data Validation

There is a great intro to the subject at

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

best wishes

Answer 2

Thank you Bernard, that was exactly what I was looking for.  Appreciate it!