5 Ways To Create Excel Drop Down Multiple Select

Excel drop-down menus are an excellent way to make data entry easier and reduce errors. However, by default, Excel only allows you to select one option from a drop-down menu. Fortunately, there are a few workarounds to create an Excel drop-down multiple select feature.

In this article, we'll explore five ways to create an Excel drop-down multiple select feature. From using Excel formulas to leveraging third-party add-ins, we'll cover the most effective methods to achieve this functionality.

Method 1: Using Form Controls

One of the simplest ways to create an Excel drop-down multiple select feature is by using Form Controls. Here's how:

1. Go to the Developer tab in Excel (if you don't see the Developer tab, go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon and check the Developer checkbox).
2. Click on the Insert button in the Controls group.
3. Select the Combo Box control from the drop-down list.
4. Draw the combo box on your worksheet.
5. Right-click on the combo box and select Properties.
6. In the Properties window, select the "ListFillRange" property and enter the range of cells containing your drop-down options.
7. Set the "MultiSelect" property to "True".

This method allows users to select multiple options from the drop-down list. However, it does have some limitations, such as the inability to easily extract the selected values.

Method 2: Using VBA Macros

Another way to create an Excel drop-down multiple select feature is by using VBA macros. Here's a basic example:

1. Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor.
2. In the editor, go to Insert > Module to insert a new module.
3. Paste the following code:

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    If Target.Address = "$A$1" Then
        Dim selectedValues As String
        selectedValues = ""
        For Each item In Target.Validation.Value
            selectedValues = selectedValues & item & ", "
        Next item
        Range("B1").Value = Left(selectedValues, Len(selectedValues) - 2)
    End If
End Sub

4. Save the module and return to your worksheet.
5. Create a drop-down list in cell A1 using Data Validation.
6. Set the "Allow" property to "List" and enter the range of cells containing your drop-down options.

This method allows users to select multiple options from the drop-down list and extracts the selected values to a separate cell.

Method 3: Using Excel Formulas

You can also create an Excel drop-down multiple select feature using formulas. Here's one way to do it:

1. Create a drop-down list in cell A1 using Data Validation.
2. Set the "Allow" property to "List" and enter the range of cells containing your drop-down options.
3. In cell B1, enter the following formula:

=TEXTJOIN(", ",TRUE,IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH($A$1,Options)),Options,""))

4. Press Enter to apply the formula.
5. Copy the formula down to other cells as needed.

This method allows users to select multiple options from the drop-down list and concatenates the selected values into a single cell.

Method 4: Using Power Query

Power Query is a powerful tool in Excel that allows you to manipulate and transform data. You can use Power Query to create an Excel drop-down multiple select feature. Here's how:

1. Go to the Data tab in Excel.
2. Click on the From Other Sources button in the Get & Transform Data group.
3. Select "Blank Query" from the drop-down list.
4. In the Power Query editor, go to Home > Advanced Editor.
5. Paste the following code:

= Table.FromList(List.Distinct(List.Transform(List.Split(Text.Combine({Column1}),", "), each {Text.Trim(_)})), Splitter.SplitTextByDelimiter({" ", ColumnDelimiter.Unquoted}, " "))

6. Save the query and return to your worksheet.
7. Create a drop-down list in cell A1 using Data Validation.
8. Set the "Allow" property to "List" and enter the range of cells containing your drop-down options.

This method allows users to select multiple options from the drop-down list and extracts the selected values to a separate table.

Method 5: Using Third-Party Add-ins

Finally, you can use third-party add-ins to create an Excel drop-down multiple select feature. There are several add-ins available, such as ASAP Utilities and Excel-Tool. Here's how to use ASAP Utilities:

1. Download and install ASAP Utilities.
2. Go to the ASAP Utilities tab in Excel.
3. Click on the Drop Down List button in the Controls group.
4. Select the "Multiple Select" option from the drop-down list.
5. Follow the prompts to create a drop-down list with multiple select functionality.

This method allows users to select multiple options from the drop-down list and extracts the selected values to a separate cell.

Gallery of Excel Drop Down Multiple Select

Excel Drop Down Multiple Select

Conclusion

Creating an Excel drop-down multiple select feature can be achieved through various methods, including using form controls, VBA macros, formulas, Power Query, and third-party add-ins. Each method has its pros and cons, and the best approach depends on your specific needs and preferences.