Hi Dan

You could use List for your DV and type in the dialogue box
AL,Annual Leave,B,Bereavement,Sick,Sick Leave

The dropdown would show the short code you want the user to choose, followed
by the Description underneath.
Obviously, if they selected the longer value, that would also get accepted
as an input.
--
Regards
Roger Govier

"BaggieDan" wrote in message
...
I thought so, looks like I'll just have to add an extra column, use
vlookup
and make the full description 'disappear'.

Thanks again

"T. Valko" wrote:

I can not use a Macro due to IT issues

Can't be done without a macro.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"BaggieDan" wrote in message
...
Good Morning, Afternoon, Evening (Depending on where you are)

I have put together a TimeSheet that allows the user to select a type
of
leave that a person may have, e.g. Annual Leave, Sick, Bereavement
Leave
etc.


Currenty I have a list of names in columns and dates in rows and when a
person is on leave the user drops a list down and selects the relevant
leave.
However, what I want is rather than the whole word to appear e.g.
Annual
Leave, I want a short code to appear e.g. A.L.


So the user sees the full description in the drop down list but all
that
is
entered into the cell is the short code.

I can not use a Macro due to IT issues, I think if it can be done then
it
is
the Data Validation function, but not too sure what to do then. Its
almost a
VLookup command but if you enter this in the cell and then create a
drop
down
list you get a circular reference, which is not good!

I hope I have explained myself clearly enough and thank you in advance
for
any help you can offer.