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How to create a dynamic list without blank in Excel?

Author Sun Last modified

In some cases, you have a list of data with some blanks, and now you want to create a dynamic list based on these data without the blanks, and most of you may remove the blank one by one then create the dynamic list, but here I will tell you a quick way to solve this task in Excel.

Create a dynamic list and remove blanks


arrow blue right bubble Create a dynamic list and remove blanks

1. Select a cell next to the original list and type this formula =IF(B2="","",MAX(A$1:A1)+1) into it, and then drag the autofill handle down to the range you need. Now you will see only the cells with data has a number next to. See screenshot:

this image shows use a formula to generate serial numbers in column A based on the content of column B

In above formula, B2 is the first cell in the range that you will create a dynamic list by.

2. Then go to another column and type this formula =IFERROR(INDEX($B$2:$B$11,MATCH(ROW()-ROW($D$1),$A$2:$A$11,0)),"") into it, and then drag the autofill handle down until blank cells appears.

list all values from column b and ignore blanks

In the above formula, B2: B11 is the range of original data, and A2:A11 is the range that number the row in step 1.

3. Then select a cell or range you want to create the dynamic list without blanks, and click Data > Data Validation. See screenshot:

screenshot of clicking Data > Data Validation

4. In the Data Validation dialog, select List from the Allow list, and type this formula =OFFSET(Sheet1!$C$1,1,0,MAX(Sheet1!$A:$A),1) into Source textbox. See screenshot:

set options in the dialog box

Note:

1. In Excel 2007, users cannot use reference to other worksheets or workbook for Data Validation criteria. Therefore, you need to select a blank cell in current worksheet in Step 3, and enter the formula =OFFSET($C$1,1,0,MAX($A:$A),1) into Source text box in Step 4.

2. In the above formula, C1 is the first cell of the new list you made in step 2.

5. Click OK. Then you can see the dynamic list is created without blanks.

a dynamic list is created without blanks


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