I also think that your best bet is to create a list. You can create a
separate worksheet, put the list on the new sheet and hide that sheet. One
caveat is in the syntax for the validation list source. Here's something I
picked up quite some time ago to help me remember the syntax...

'/===================================/
' Data Validation using a List from another worksheet or workbook

' Using a List from
' On the Data Validation form,
' on the Settings tab,
' In the Validation Criteria area,
' In the 'Allow' dropdown,
' Select 'LIST'
' When the List is in ANOTHER WORKSHEET in the same workbook:
' The syntax in the 'SOURCE' RefEdit box should be
' something like...
' =INDIRECT("'Sheet2'!A1:A5")
'
' When the List is in a WORKSHEET in another WORKBOOK:
' The syntax in the 'SOURCE' RefEdit box should be
' something like...
' =INDIRECT("'C:\Temp\[Test.xls]Sheet2'!A1:A5")
'
'/===================================/

--
Hope this helps.
If this post was helpfull, please remember to click on the ''''YES''''
button at the bottom of the screen.
Thanks,
Gary Brown


"Don" wrote:

can you create a list? I usualy have on another sheet select a range and
name the range , then in the Data validation, do list and "=rangename"

I did see where if you do list and even put a space and comma then the
items, it does not show a blank first , but the way above does.

"wild turkey no9" wrote:

Using the list option, I have six entries that are separated by commas
entered in the data validation source box. These work fine. How to I add a
blank space as the first choice on the dropdown list?

Thanks

Kevin