Maybe you can use an adjacent column to return the explanations of the code
based on a table and an =vlookup() formula:

Debra Dalgleish has some notes:
http://www.contextures.com/xlFunctions02.html (for =vlookup())
and
http://www.contextures.com/xlFunctions03.html (for =index(match()))

Mike Busch wrote:

We are using a drop down list for a column. Under the main body of the
spreadsheet is the same list with an explanation of the code used. Is there
any way to add contents to all the cells in the column automatically to
reflect the proper code from the list. Thank you in advance

--

Dave Peterson