Next, you’ll create named range in the workbook where the drop down list will be added. (For instructions on creating a named range, refer to Naming Ranges.) Create a Named Reference to the Source List

In this example, you have a workbook named DataValWb.xlsx, which contains a list of customer names. On my website, there are similar instructions to create a data validation list from a different workbook in Excel 2003. The following instructions are for Excel 2007 and later. Users will have to open both the workbooks - the one with the drop down lists, and the workbook with the original source list. Important Note: For the data validation to work, the workbook that contains the list must be open, in the same instance of Excel. Drop Down from a List in Another Workbook The demo uses Excel 2010, and it’s the same in Excel 2007, except that there is an Office button, instead of a File tab. The instructions are below, and watch the video to see the steps. Usually, the list of valid items is stored in the same workbook, but it’s possible to set up a drop down from a list in another workbook.

In Excel, you can create a drop down Data Validation list, so it’s easy to enter valid items in a cell.