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How to create a case-sensitive data validation list in Excel?

Author Sun Last modified

When you create a data validation list from a range of cell contents, the validation is not case-sensitive when you manually enter values in the data validation cell, as shown in the screenshot below. How can you create a case-sensitive data validation list in Excel?
A screenshot showing the non-case sensitive drop-down list in Excel

Create a case-sensitive dropdown in Excel

Create a case-sensitive dropdown in Excel

To create a case-sensitive data validation list in Excel, you only can manually type the choices of the list in the Data Validation dialog.

1. Select a cell or cells and click Data > Data Validation > Data Validation. See screenshot:
A screenshot of the Data Validation option in Excel

2. In the Data Validation dialog, select List from the Allow drop-down list, and type the choices for the data validation list you need into the Source textbox (use comma to divide these choices). See screenshot:
A screenshot of the Data Validation dialog box with the List option selected

3. Click OK. The case-sensitive data validation list will be created. If you type a value that does not match the case sensitivity, a warning dialog will appear. See screenshots:
A screenshot of the created case-sensitive data validation list
A screenshot of the warning dialog in Excel when case-sensitive data is entered 

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