Create a searchable drop down list in Excel
Why Stack Overflow recommends it
Stack Overflow users link it when someone wants an Excel data validation dropdown that filters or autocompletes as you type, which Excel does not do natively.
Recommended by 2 people across 2 different months, 2015 to 2018.
What it is
A 12-minute Excel tutorial by Neil Firth that builds a searchable dropdown list step by step. It combines data validation with helper-column formulas such as SEARCH, VLOOKUP, IF, IFERROR, COUNTIF, OFFSET and ISNUMBER.
What people said
Strong rec Hubvill · 2015-04 · Stack Overflow · on “search keyword display dropdown list two columns”
There is a very good video on searchable drop-down lists found here: [this video] You will need some helper columns, but it will work. I've used it myself. It can also be used for multiple drop-down lists. See the part2 video. Hope that helps.
Recommends Byron Wall · 2015-05 · Stack Overflow · on “Predictive text in Excel from a Data Validation list”
Here is one approach: [this video] This will generally require a cell to search and a different cell with the drop down. The two will fight otherwise.
Cites Mathias · 2018-04 · Stack Overflow · on “Clicking dropdown arrow of Excel Data Validation entry no longer enters data into cell”
So I have been following this video to prepare a data validation list that is able to auto-complete user entries: [this video] Essentially at about 10 mins, the instructor demonstrates that when the user types in a letter or part of a word into a data validation cell, when the drop-down of the data validation is clicked this produces a dynamic list of all possible entries. I am able to produce a dynamic list, but the list is only created when I click off the cell not when the dropdown arrow is depressed as in the video. I was wondering if I am missing a setting here to allow data to be entered into a cell with the dropdown, not just on pressing the enter key? Any thoughts or guidance would be gre