Using a drop-down to filter data

**john_london** · 05-12-2010, 03:24 PM

Hey guys

Say if I have four columns of data. I want to sort the data by the first column, but instead of the column header I want to be able to pick the value from a drop down in a cell which is in a different column..

What would be the best way to go about that?

Thanks in advance!!

**ClikClak** · 05-12-2010, 04:07 PM

Can you use the built-in filter feature in Excel?

**ChemistB** · 05-12-2010, 04:39 PM

So what you're asking is if your data is in A:D, you want a dropdown in, say, E1 which lists all unique values in column A and then when you chose a value, Excel filters based on that value in A?

**Palmetto** · 05-12-2010, 05:19 PM

So, which is it you want to do: Sort the data per your thread description or Filter the data per your thread title?

You cannot perform sorting use a drop down, but you can do so with filtering.

I want to be able to pick the value from a drop down in a cell which is in a different column

In the drop down cell, you will need to use Data Validation with the list option.

**john_london** · 05-14-2010, 11:19 AM

Hey guys - to clarify - I want to sort four columns of data based on a dropdown in a cell. ChemistD has it pretty much right. So the drop down has four options, say A, B, C, D. If pick 'C' for example, I want the four columns of data to display all rowns with 'C' in column A

**Palmetto** · 05-14-2010, 11:47 AM

to clarify - I want to sort four columns of data based on a dropdown in a cell

As I stated, sorting using a drop down is not possible - thus, you want to filter data.

Here is the basic code. See attached example.
This will filter on column-A whenever a selection from the drop down is made in B1. To clear the filter and see all values, simply delete the value in B1.

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**ChemistB** · 05-14-2010, 11:57 AM

You'll need to use VBA to do that. Right click on the tab and "View Code" and paste this in

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where H1 is the cell which you are designating for your dropdown choices and $A$1:$F$20 is your table (including header). Modify accordingly. Does that work for you?

**snydercmc** · 09-04-2012, 03:29 PM

Hello,

Can you give me an example that sorts several variables out? Your example allows for the sorting based off of one input, I would like to sort several times based on my inputs. Similar to what you have here, but several drop down menus with several choices in other columns... So a filter that I control using the drop down menus.

Thanks,
J

**Cutter** · 09-04-2012, 03:46 PM

Hello snydercmc, and welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately you have inadvertently broken one of the forum rules. Please read the following and make the necessary change. Thanks.

Your post does not comply with Rule 2 of our Forum RULES. Don't post a question in the thread of another member -- start your own thread. If you feel it's particularly relevant, provide a link to the other thread. It makes sense to have a new thread for your question because a thread with numerous replies can be off putting & difficult to pick out relevant replies.

**evasmama** · 07-29-2014, 05:43 PM

Is there a setting that I need to change in Excel. I tried this code and it didn't work in my sheet. I opened up your file, without changing anything, and it still didn't work.