Hiding Previously used items in drop down across multiple colums

**alienj19** · 11-06-2012, 08:10 PM

Hi Everyone,

Ok so I am able to for one column of input do a drop down and have any previously used items hide so as not to use more than once but how can i get it to do it using the same data for multiple columns. I want to use the same lists for each date that a shift occurs. I am attaching a sample file. Hopefully someone can help me.

Thanks,

Jeremy
Help.xlsx

**dredwolf** · 11-06-2012, 08:27 PM

check this thread out:

http://www.excelforum.com/excel-form...69#post2986169

if you want to use the same values over for each column, with full data available for each column, i think you would have to use a separate index and a separate source list to accomplish this.
the main source list could remain the same, just the source for each column would change

Also, i got the help from JBeaucaire, so any kudos if this helps, rightfully belongs to him

**alienj19** · 11-07-2012, 05:02 PM

Hey Dredwolf,

Thanks for the info. That approach is pretty much what I'm using now but yeah it only works if you use the date once. I could basically make duplicate columns for each instance I need but it's gonna end up being a schedule for say 50-100 days over time.

If anyone else can look at it and figure out a way to re use the vanishiing drop down over multiple columns please let me know. Otherwise I just might take the vanishing part out and so a sum check to let you know if each of the options has been used once and only once.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Jeremy

**dredwolf** · 11-07-2012, 07:48 PM

Yes, an extra 200 columns just doesn't make sense in that case...sorry about that, hopefullly someone else has an idea

**alienj19** · 11-10-2012, 06:35 PM

Bump for one last try to see if anyone can help with this.

**dredwolf** · 11-10-2012, 07:09 PM

Maybe using VBA is the better way, use controls (combobox maybe?) and attach a macro doing the check for existing names/data...not sure as my Macro/VBA skills are pretty low, but it seems to be a reasonable way to accomplish this without all the extra index and source lists..

Hope that helps