We are using MS Excel 2007.

We have a spreadsheet which uses drop down lists (implemented using the
standard method - validation referencing a named list).

We want to save it in Excel-based HTML format so that a user can click
directly on the file name in a SharePoint list and it will open directly in
IE (rather than having to open the Exel file. This also works when you embed
the hyperlink to the Excel-based web page in a standard SharePoint workspace
page.

If the user wants to edit the file they still have to go in via SharePoint
and select the "Edit using MS Excel" option. Having it as HTMl-based Excel
just makes it easier to integrate into the general navigation of the
SharePoint workspace (it's all about the user experience!).

Anyway, this format works fine (with the HTML version being a fairly
accurate representation of the information in the original Excel file) except
for drop down lists, which seem to disappear when you save it as HTML.

Is there any way to retain drop down lists when you save an Excel file as
HTML so that when you reopen the file for editing in Excel they are available?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.