How to make drop down list allowing free text (manually entry) in Excel?
By default, for the cells with created data validation drop down lists, you are not allowed to enter texts beyond the list values. When entering words that do not include in the list, an error dialog box will pop up as the below screenshot shown. This tutorial is going to show you how to make drop down list allowing free text in Excel.
Make drop down list allowing free text in Excel
More tutorial for drop down list...
Make drop down list allowing free text in Excel
Please do as follows to make drop down list allowing free text.
1. Select the cells which contain the drop down lists you have already created, and then click Data > Data Validation > Data Validation. See screenshot:
2. In the Data Validation dialog box, uncheck the Show error alert after invalid data is entered box under Error Alert tab, then click the OK button.
Then you can enter any text into drop down list cells as you need without getting an error alert.
Alternatively, you can keep the Show error alert after invalid data is entered box checked, choose Warning from the Style drop-down list and then click the OK button.
After that, when entering a value doesn't match the data validation restrictions defined for a cell, a Microsoft Excel warning dialog will pop up. Click Yes to continue.
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