Hi April,

If using the data validation drop down you can do this. Sort your list to
have all the entries that begin with a at the top and the b's next all the
way to z.

At the beginning of each letter change in the list enter a single a at the
beginning of the a's, same with a b at the beginning of the b's etc. on to
z.

To go to the beginning of the t's for example, just type t in the drop down
cell and DON'T hit enter. Click on the drop down arrow and the t list will
appear. (You can hit enter after typing the letter but then you have to
reselect the drop down cell, just saves a step)

HTH
Regards,
Howard

"april" wrote in message
...
i have a long list in a drop down box. i would like to set it up so that
if
a person types the first letter of a name, the list begins with all those
entries that start with that letter

thanks
--
aprilshowers