I double checked the cell formatting and there were no merged cells in the
spreadsheet. I selected and the de-selected the merged cells option just to
make sure. I then tried inserting a blank column in between the cells with
data validation. And the same in the page containing the 'named ranges' that
feed the lists. And....it seems to have worked. I've saved the changes,
closed the file, and opened it again. And it still works.

I can't pretend I know why but many thanks for helping me get there.

Ian
--
Ian


"Debra Dalgleish" wrote:

And there's a bit of information he

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

Duke Carey wrote:
Go to Debra Dalgliesh's site & look for Data Validation & formatting in the
topics index

http://www.contextures.com/

"Ian3103" wrote:


I have created a number of drop down lists using Data Validation on one
spreadsheet. According to all the 'help' I've been able to find "The Data
Validation dropdown is the width of the cell that it's in". Except that in
my spreadsheet it isn't.

All the dropdowns are wider than the cell (about 3 times as wide). They
work perfectly well but don't look good, overlapping adjacent columns and
being far wider than necessary to accommodate the required data.

Anyone know how I can change them so they are constrained by the width of
the cell? Any help would be great. Thanks
--
Ian



--
Debra Dalgleish
Excel FAQ, Tips & Book List
http://www.contextures.com/tiptech.html