how to edit drop down list in google sheets

How to Edit a Drop Down List in Google Sheets

Do you want to create a drop-down list that allows multiple items to be selected in Google Sheets? This feature is useful when you need to allow users to select multiple options from a list. In this article, I'll show you how to edit a drop-down list in Google Sheets and allow for multiple items to be selected.

Step 1: Open the Apps Script Screen

To start editing your drop-down list, open the Apps Script screen by selecting Extensions -> Apps Script from the menu bar.

Step 2: Understand the Limitations of Data Validation

By default, Google Sheets only allows for a single selection in a drop-down list. This can be limiting if you need to allow users to select multiple options.

Step 3: Create a Custom Code Solution

Fortunately, Google Apps Script allows custom code to be written within Google Sheets. We used this feature to solve our problem and create a drop-down list that allows multiple items to be selected.

Step 4: Set Up the Data Validation Menu

To set up the data validation menu, select Data -> Data validation from the menu. This will open a new window with options for creating custom criteria for your drop-down list.

Step 5: Create the Drop-Down List

In the Criteria section of the data validation menu, select Dropdown (from a range) and enter the range of cells that contains your list of color values. For example, if you have a list of colors in cells H2:H9, you would enter =$H$2:$H$9.

Step 6: Allow for Multiple Items to be Selected

To allow for multiple items to be selected, simply select the drop-down list and check the box that says 'Allow multiple selections.'

Editing a drop-down list in Google Sheets is easy once you understand how to use the data validation feature. By following these steps, you can create a custom drop-down list that allows users to select multiple items from a list.

Video Walkthrough

If you'd like to see this solution in action, I've recorded a video walkthrough at the bottom of this article. You can also make a copy of this Google Sheet by clicking File -> Make a copy and editing it yourself.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions or need further assistance.

How to edit drop down list in google sheets