Skip to main content

How to set/show preselected value for drop down list in Excel?

In default, the general drop down list you created is show blank before you choosing one value from the list, but in some cases, you may want to show or set a preselected value/default value for the drop down list before users selecting one from the list as bellow screenshot shown. Here this article can help you.

doc show preselected value drop down list 1
Set default value (preselected value) for drop down list with formula

arrow blue right bubble Set default value (preselected value) for drop down list with formula

To set default value for the drop down list, you need to create a general drop down list first, and then use a formula.

1. Create a drop down list. Select a cell or a range that you want to place the drop down list, here is K1, and click Data > Data Validation. See screenshot:
doc show preselected value drop down list 2

2. Then in the Data Validation dialog, under Settings tab, select List from Allow list, and then select the value you want to show in the drop down list to Source textbox. See screenshot:
doc show preselected value drop down list 3

3. Then click Error Alert tab in the Data Validation dialog, and uncheck Show error alert after invalid data is entered option. see screenshot:
doc show preselected value drop down list 4

4. Click OK to closed the dialog, and go to the drop down list, and type this formula =IF(J1="", "--select--") into it, and press Enter key. See screenshot:
doc show preselected value drop down list 5

Tip: In the formula, J1 is a blank cell next to the K1, make sure that the cell is blank, and "--select--" is the preselected value you want to show, and you can change them as you need.

5. Then keep the drop down list cell selected, and click Data > Data Validation to show Data Validation dialog again, and go to Error Alert tab, and check Show error alert after invalid data is entered option back. See screenshot:
doc show preselected value drop down list 6

7. Click OK, now before users select values from the drop down list, there is a default value shown in the specified cell with drop down list.
doc show preselected value drop down list 7

Note: While a value is selected from the drop down list, the default value disappears.
doc show preselected value drop down list 8

Best Office Productivity Tools

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions…
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates   |  Delete Blank Rows   |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data   |   Round without Formula ...
Super Lookup: Multiple Criteria VLookup  |   Multiple Value VLookup  |   VLookup Across Multiple Sheets   |   Fuzzy Lookup ....
Advanced Drop-down List: Quickly Create Drop Down List   |  Dependent Drop Down List   |  Multi-select Drop Down List ....
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Ranges & Columns ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus   |  Design View   |   Big Formula Bar   |  Workbook & Sheet Manager   |  Resource Library (Auto Text)   |  Date Picker   |  Combine Worksheets   |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells   |  Send Emails by List   |  Super Filter   |   Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets:  12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters, ...)   |   50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart, ...)   |   40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday, ...)   |   19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path, ...)   |   12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion, ...)   |   7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Cells, ...)   |   ... and more

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...

Description

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!
Comments (15)
No ratings yet. Be the first to rate!
Arun
Arun
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi,

How to count (D71) conditionally formatted RED color cell (D40:D70)?

Pls guide...

Thanks.
Reply
0
0
Arun
Arun
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi,

How to make default value (UP) for certain range of column (C40:C70) only in the below code? Add what command?

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
‘Updated by ARUN
Dim xObjV As Validation
On Error Resume Next
Set xObjV = Target.Validation
If xObjV.Type = xlValidateList Then
If IsEmpty(Target.Value) Then Target.Value = “UP”
End If
End Sub

Pls guide…

Thanks.
Reply
0
0
Sunny
Sunny     Arun
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Try this code
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    'Updated by ExtendOffice
    Dim xObjV As Validation
    On Error Resume Next
    Set xObjV = Target.Validation
    
    'Check if the target is within C40:C70
    If Not Intersect(Target, Range("C40:C70")) Is Nothing Then
        If xObjV.Type = xlValidateList Then
            If IsEmpty(Target.Value) Then Target.Value = "UP"
        End If
    End If
End Sub
Reply
Report
0
0
Arun
Arun     Sunny
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi,

Its working...

Thanks
Reply
0
0
Asad Shah
Asad Shah
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, How can I get defined value limit in excel dropdown menu, like I want to Enter Apple in product against three name and it should not put 4th entry and give error if i do so, any solution please.
Reply
Report
0
0
Sunny
Sunny     Asad Shah
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Sorry, I do not understand your question, could you describe with more details or upload a file to describe it?
Reply
Report
0
0
Asad
Asad
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, How can I get defined value limit in excel dropdown menu, like I want to Enter Apple in product against three name and it should not put 4th entry and give error if i do so, any soluition please.
Reply
0
0
miradek
miradek
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
hello, my data is about names and phone numbers. can make it if two names selected in one cells using data validations, the particular name which their name as selected, their phone numbers will be shown next to it.

help me!
Reply
0
0
JStirfry
JStirfry
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello!

How can I set a data validation list such that if the drop down value in the cell is deleted, the cell will automatically show a default value (i.e. "-Select-")?

For example, I have a worksheet with multiple drop down lists that I want to show a default value of "-Select-" once the sheet is opened. A user will select values from the lists that will impact the result of calculations throughout the entire spreadsheet. A user may accidentally "delete" the cell contents of the lists. If this happens, rather than the cell becoming blank, I want the cell to show a default value of "-Select-". This scenario occurs in multiple random locations throughout the spreadsheet, not just in one localized place.

I was able to find the following VBA code so far, but it only applies the concept over a range, rather than just individual cells that contain drop down lists. The problem with what I have coded so far is that every single blank cell in the range ends up with "-Select-" in it. Some of the lists are in ranges, but some are also scattered throughout the sheet. The problem I'm having with my current code is that every single blank cell in the range ends up with "-Select-" in it. I'm trying to get this to apply over the entire worksheet to ONLY cells that are drop down lists.

Is what I'm trying to accomplish even possible?

Example file can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VoO8VgFs3IJ0ALwqfk0i8gt69UE4vEKW/view?usp=sharing

Example code:

Option Explicit

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim cel As Range
' If Target.Cells.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub 'turning this off allows multiple cells to be selected and deleted at the same time
If Not Intersect(Target, Range("f2:p17")) Is Nothing Then
For Each cel In Range("f2:p17")
Application.EnableEvents = False
If IsEmpty(cel.Value) Then cel.Value = "-Select-"
Next cel
End If
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub


Thanks in advance!
Reply
Report
0
0
Justin
Justin
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
How can I set a data validation list such that if the drop down value in the cell is deleted, the cell will automatically show the a default value (i.e. "-Select-")?

For example, I have a worksheet with multiple drop down lists that I want to show a default value of "-Select-" once the sheet is opened. A user will select values from the lists that will impact the result of calculations throughout the entire spreadsheet. A user may accidentally "delete" the cell contents. If this happens, rather than the cell becoming blank, I want the cell to show a default value of "-Select-". This scenario occurs in multiple random locations throughout the spreadsheet, not just in one localized place.

I was able to come up with the following VBA code so far, but I've only figured out how to apply the concept over a range, rather than just cells that contain a drop down list. The problem with what I have coded so far is that every single blank cell in the range ends up with "-Select-" in it.

Option Explicit

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim cel As Range
' If Target.Cells.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub
If Not Intersect(Target, Range("f2:p17")) Is Nothing Then
For Each cel In Range("f2:p17")
Application.EnableEvents = False
If IsEmpty(cel.Value) Then cel.Value = "-Select-"
Next cel
End If
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub
Reply
0
0
Dary
Dary
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
The idea is nice, but my problem is that if the dropdown value is deleted, it doesn't revert to the default.
Reply
0
0
zaid
zaid     Dary
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I also have the same issue , please reply if you solved it
Reply
0
0
Scott
Scott     Dary
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Exactly!!! I'm having the same issue, have you found a solution?
Reply
0
0
Alex
Alex     Scott
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
You can insert the function in that specific cell using VBA, make sure you call the insert function when workbook is opening.
Reply
0
0
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor     Alex
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Only works if you speak VBA, not all of us code.
Reply
0
0
There are no comments posted here yet
Please leave your comments in English
Guest
Posting as Guest
×
Rate this post:
Reset
0   Characters
Suggested Locations