How to create drop down list ignore blank cells in Excel?
Let’s say you have a list of values with several blank cells are populated, when you create a data validation drop-down list with this data list, you will find the blank cells are added into the drop-down list even you have checked the Ignore Blank option while creating it. Actually, there is no direct method for you to create drop-down list without the blank cells. In this tutorial, we will provide you a trick with separating the values and blank cells based on the original data, and finally creating a drop-down list for the extracting data.
Create drop down list ignore blank cells in Excel
Create drop down list ignore blank cells in Excel
For example you have below data in a range B2:B13, for creating drop down list without blank cells, first, you can copy and paste the data into a new column without blanks. And then create a drop down list based on this new value list.
1. Apply the following formula to copy and paste only the non-blank cell values, please enter this formula: =LOOKUP("zzzzz",CHOOSE({1,2},"",INDEX(B:B,SMALL(IF($B$1:$B$13<>"",ROW($B$1:$B$13)),ROWS($D$1:D1))))) into a blank cell D1 for example, and then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys together to get the following result:
Note: In the above formula, B1:B13 is the data list that you want to use. You can change the cell reference to your need.
2. Then select the cell D1, and drag the fill handle down to the range that you want to contain this formula, and all the non-blank cell values have been extracted. See screenshot:
3. Now create you data validation drop down list with this new data list. Select the cells you want to locate the drop down list, then click Data > Data Validation.
4. In the Data Validation dialog box, you need to:
5. Then the drop-down lists are created immediately without blanks.
Related articles:
- How to auto populate other cells when selecting values in Excel drop down list?
- How to autocomplete when typing in Excel drop down list?
- How to create a searchable drop down list in Excel?
- How to create a drop down list calendar in Excel?
- How to create drop down list with multiple selections or values in Excel?
Best Office Productivity Tools
Supercharge Your Excel Skills with Kutools for Excel, and Experience Efficiency Like Never Before. Kutools for Excel Offers Over 300 Advanced Features to Boost Productivity and Save Time. Click Here to Get The Feature You Need The Most...
Office Tab Brings Tabbed interface to Office, and Make Your Work Much Easier
- Enable tabbed editing and reading in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Visio and Project.
- Open and create multiple documents in new tabs of the same window, rather than in new windows.
- Increases your productivity by 50%, and reduces hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day!
