Data Validation Drop Down List Display

Hi Laundry,

With Data Validation, the currently selected item from the drop-down list will be the highlited item when you click the drop-down arrow. If nothing has been selected, the first item should be highlited.

As for adding spaces for future expansion.. why? You can use a dynamic length list to handle that, as follows:

Let's say you have list of names in A1:A5 (Bob, Tom, Joe, Tim, Ted).
1. Click Insert -> Name -> Define..
2. Beneath 'Names in workbook', give your Name a new, well, name, like "MemberList" (without the quotes)
3. In the 'Refers to:' box, type:
=OFFSET($A$1,0,0,COUNTA(A:A),1)
4. Click Add, then OK

In the cell you want your drop-down list, click Data -> Validation, then set 'Allow' to "List", and 'Source' to "=MemberList" (without the quotes). Click OK.

At that point, you would see the list of names from A1:A5 in your drop-down list. Next add the name Paul in A6. Click your drop-down arrow again and you'll see Paul added to the bottom of the list.

Tada!

Are you sure the cells below your list are actually blank and don't contain spaces or other non-viewable characters?

Or was your list created using formulas, and it's leaving cells with "" at the bottom of the list? In that case, change the formula for the Name you defined to

=OFFSET($B$1,0,0,COUNT(B:B),1)

not COUNTA.

You could also try deleting all of the "blank" cells below your list in the column. (Select the cells, click Edit -> Delete -> Shift Cells Up)

It works just fine. Rather than try to explain here, they've done a good job at this site:

http://www.contextures.com/xlDataVal02.html