Received an excel spreadsheet with columns. Need to edit one and add something, how?

Question

I want to add an option on the drop down menu that comes up in a particular column. How do I do that? Was shown how by the creator of the document but my version must not have what he told me to do because I can't find it anywhere.

Answer 1

To add an option to a drop-down menu in a specific column of an Excel spreadsheet, you will typically need to modify the data validation settings for that column. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Select the Column: Click on the header of the column where you want to add the drop-down option.
2. Open Data Validation: Go to the Data tab on the ribbon, and then click on Data Validation in the Data Tools group.
3. Modify the List: In the Data Validation dialog box, under the Settings tab, you should see a field labeled Source. This is where the options for your drop-down menu are defined. You can either type in the new option directly or reference a range of cells that contain the options.
4. Add Your Option: If you are typing directly, simply add your new option to the existing list, separating each option with a comma. If you are using a range, make sure the range includes your new option.
5. Click OK: Once you have made your changes, click OK to apply them.
6. Test the Drop-down: Click on the cell in the column to see if your new option appears in the drop-down list.

If you do not see the Data Validation option, ensure that your version of Excel supports it, or check if the file is protected or in a format that restricts editing.

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References:

• Open in Excel experiences FAQ
• View and update entity data with Excel