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How to create a dynamic list without blank in Excel?

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:

doc-drop-down-list-without-blank-1

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.

doc-drop-down-list-without-blank-2

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:

doc-drop-down-list-without-blank-3

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:

doc-drop-down-list-without-blank-4

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.

doc-drop-down-list-without-blank-5


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Comments (16)
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This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
The version of Excel my workplace uses does not allow the filter function and I have been unsuccessfully searching for a workaround. FINALLY this was the one! I am crying tears of joy. Thank you.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Thanks so so much … working well for me, with some adjustments … love it ……😀👍🌟
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Excellent! This works to eliminate cells with "" in them also and allows you to use many functions that cannot handle blank or empty cells. Thank you!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
THank you so much for this beautiful trick !! very smart and beautiful ! Marc
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
you are a genius :)
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Thanks a lot! Just perfect and exactly what I needed.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi Guys, your tutorial above 'create a dynamic list without blank in Excel' worked perfectly for me.

Without people like you I would never have gained the skills in Excel I have today.

Thank You so very much. Regards. JV
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
This works perfectly, thanks, but what can I do in case of dependant lists, where the secondary list depends on a primary list in another cell?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I recreated the exact same formulas and cells and it repeats the numbers. Instead of 1, 2, 3, it's showing, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, etc.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, sdafasf, could you upload your data and formula for details?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I'm just getting circular reference on the max formula? It's not working. If I change my iteration settings, it just keeps continuously keeps adding for no reason.
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