I’m using Excel (2003, XP) for estimating. I also use a growing list (now several dozen) of cost codes, and every line in an estimate has a code, along with the number of hours/units, the cost per unit, etc. What I’d like to do is put that cost code list into Excel somehow so that, for each line item, I can choose a code from a drop down menu rather than manually inputting the code. I’m sure this is possible… anyone know how?
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David,
Here is a Cut&Paste from my compiled help files about Excel. I got it from John Larchers' site.
SamT
Custom Dialog and List Box
Keywords: List Box, VLOOKUP, Command Button, Dialog Sheet
Description: Create a custom dialog to select items from a master list and enter a value in a worksheet cell.
Tip: You can use a simple Visual Basic for Applications procedure to display a custom dialog and list box. If you use worksheet ranges to control the list box, it is easy to return the selected value to a location on your worksheet. With only 12 lines of Visual Basic for Applications code, you can build a useful lookup feature
Guide to the Example: Select a blank cell in column A of the "Demonstration" worksheet. Click on the "Insert Sales Value" button and pick an item from the sales catalog. The name of the item will be returned to the cell you selected and its price to the cell in Column B.
Download example file in Excel 5 fomat: Lacher07.XLS (41KB - less than 1 minute to download)
Click Here to open the copy of the example in Excel 97/2000 format
I'm one of those Excel users that knows just enough to get into a tangled mess. Knowing it's possible, but getting lost in figuring out how.
The fine folks that frequent the forum I've linked to have helped me out more than once. There are some brilliant minds out there. Check out the "Hall of Fame" for mind-blowing solutions.
http://www.mrexcel.com/board2/
PJ
Whatever you can do or dream you can,
Begin it
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Goethe
Congratulations! You have graduated to Access.
Turn your Excel file into an Access table and then start the Access learning curve. You can have all the dropdown boxes you want and a lot more.
Type "create a drop-down list" in the Excel help search. Pretty easy to do and best of all, it doesn't involve visual basic programming.
Thanks to all for the tips. A JLC user sent me to this site:
http://www.excel-vba.com/excel-drop-down-lists.htm
Already did my first estimate with my new, improved template.