I have a worksheet with several columns that have data validation set on
them. In some I am allowed to type the data as long as it is in the
validation list. In others I can not manually enter the numbers I must
select from a pull down menu. Please help. It's driving me crazy because it
takes much longer to select from a long list than it does to enter the 2
digit number manually.

You can still use the Data validation List option but uncheck the "in cell
dropdown" option. This way you can manually enter values that are in the
list. If you manually enter something that is not in the list you will still
get a popup complaining.

Biff

"wildes06241" wrote in message
...
I have a worksheet with several columns that have data validation set on
them. In some I am allowed to type the data as long as it is in the
validation list. In others I can not manually enter the numbers I must
select from a pull down menu. Please help. It's driving me crazy because
it
takes much longer to select from a long list than it does to enter the 2
digit number manually.

I already tried that and it didn't help. Still getting the error message
"The value you entered is not valid".

"T. Valko" wrote:

You can still use the Data validation List option but uncheck the "in cell
dropdown" option. This way you can manually enter values that are in the
list. If you manually enter something that is not in the list you will still
get a popup complaining.

Biff

"wildes06241" wrote in message
...
I have a worksheet with several columns that have data validation set on
them. In some I am allowed to type the data as long as it is in the
validation list. In others I can not manually enter the numbers I must
select from a pull down menu. Please help. It's driving me crazy because
it
takes much longer to select from a long list than it does to enter the 2
digit number manually.

OK, I found the issue. The cells were formatted wrong. Once I selected the
group of cells that had the validation on them and changed it to text (the
numbers here are 09, 06, 15, 31 etc) I could now manually enter them. (Even
with the dropdown option selected.) I appreaciate the help.

"T. Valko" wrote:

You can still use the Data validation List option but uncheck the "in cell
dropdown" option. This way you can manually enter values that are in the
list. If you manually enter something that is not in the list you will still
get a popup complaining.

Biff

"wildes06241" wrote in message
...
I have a worksheet with several columns that have data validation set on
them. In some I am allowed to type the data as long as it is in the
validation list. In others I can not manually enter the numbers I must
select from a pull down menu. Please help. It's driving me crazy because
it
takes much longer to select from a long list than it does to enter the 2
digit number manually.

Turn off the error alert for those cells and make sure "ignore blanks" is
checked.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Tue, 29 May 2007 11:16:01 -0700, wildes06241
wrote:

I have a worksheet with several columns that have data validation set on
them. In some I am allowed to type the data as long as it is in the
validation list. In others I can not manually enter the numbers I must
select from a pull down menu. Please help. It's driving me crazy because it
takes much longer to select from a long list than it does to enter the 2
digit number manually.