Adding a blank in Data Validation List?

P

Pheasant Plucker®

Hi there,

I have a spreadsheet with some cells setup with a drop-down list containing
Y, N or N/A

This is being used on a TabletPC but if I make a mistake or need to change
back to a blank field I have to invoke the soft keyboard, activate the cell
and hit backspace then close the soft keyboard - quite a long-winded
procedure just to change an incorrect choice!

What I would like to do is add a blank to the list so if I have to revert
back to a blank I can just use the stylus to choose a blank from the chooser
list.

How do I add the option of inputting a blank from the Data Validation List
bearing in mind I am using the Data Validation Source box for entering my
choices directly and not specifying a range of cells?

I have tried adding "" and even a space to no avail.

Although not a betting man I would wager there is a simple 'fix' for this
but things are only simple if you know how in the first instance! ;^)
 
P

prabhuraaman

There doesn't seem to be a way.
I have tried it even by writing a macro code but that too could not be
made successful as the argument accepts a string with comma delimited
values.
Instead of blank,you could use an another value,say 0, and then select
it and could hide it by checking the zero values box in the
tool-options-view menu.Else,you could use a different character and
conditionally format it to white though it may not look good.
 
D

Dave Peterson

Can you just hit the delete key to clear the contents? (I've never used a
tablet pc.)
 
P

Pheasant Plucker®

Hello again Dave,

When it is in Tablet mode the screen turns through 180 degrees and then
folds down flat and is locked over the keyboard...only the stylus can be
used for input.

The idea was for me to make it easy on myself (being lazy?:) so it would
actually be much easier to invoke the soft keyboard using the usual 6-tap
operation rather than taking the TabletPC out of the sleeve, unlocking the
keyboard, swivelling the keyboard, hitting the delete key and then reversing
the procedure would be counter-productive to say the least! ;^) <ducking>

Much quicker while running through the spreadsheet to tap the stylus on the
List box and select the elusive blank...

Thanks & kind regards,
-=pp=-
 
R

Roger Govier

Hi

it sounds as though you have your DV set with the list of options
entered directly into the DV dialogue box with comma separators.
Instead, set up a list on another sheet (or unused part of same sheet)
with Y, N, N/A in cells say A1:A3.
In the DV dialogue, select List, but instead of typing the list enter
=Sheet2!A1:A4 which will include a Blank for you.

--
Regards

Roger Govier


Pheasant Plucker® said:
Hello again Dave,

When it is in Tablet mode the screen turns through 180 degrees and
then
folds down flat and is locked over the keyboard...only the stylus can
be
used for input.

The idea was for me to make it easy on myself (being lazy?:) so it
would
actually be much easier to invoke the soft keyboard using the usual
6-tap
operation rather than taking the TabletPC out of the sleeve, unlocking
the
keyboard, swivelling the keyboard, hitting the delete key and then
reversing
the procedure would be counter-productive to say the least! ;^)
<ducking>

Much quicker while running through the spreadsheet to tap the stylus
on the
List box and select the elusive blank...

Thanks & kind regards,
-=pp=-
Click to expand...
 
P

Pheasant Plucker®

Hi Roger,

Thanks for the quick reply...

You are correct in that I do have the DV set with the list of options
entered directly into the DV dialogue box with comma separators.

I would much prefer to leave it this way if at all possible without setting
up a list on an existing or another sheet?

Anyway if I add an extra sheet and change the Source then I get an error
saying "You may not use references to other worksheets or workbooks for Data
Validation criteria"

It does work if I put separate entries on each sheet but that way it is a
lot of work to update if any of the entries change...

Putting all the info on a separate worksheet would be a good compromise -
data all in one place, easy to update etc. but for the problem I described
above.

Is DV supposed to work across a separate worksheet within the same
spreadsheet in Excel 2000?

Thanks & regards,
-=pp=-


Roger Govier said:
Hi

it sounds as though you have your DV set with the list of options
entered directly into the DV dialogue box with comma separators.
Instead, set up a list on another sheet (or unused part of same sheet)
with Y, N, N/A in cells say A1:A3.
In the DV dialogue, select List, but instead of typing the list enter
=Sheet2!A1:A4 which will include a Blank for you.
Click to expand...
 
M

M. Authement

If you name the range that contains your list, then refer to the name rather
than the range, it will work across sheets.
 
R

Roger Govier

Hi

Using DV lists from other sheets in the same workbook is not normally a
problem. I use it all the time in XL2000 and XL2003.
Using the lists from other Workbooks can be a problem, but there is
usually a way around it.

I played about with achieving your requirement with a type list, and I
think the following will be suitable for your requirement, but note that
it will make the blank cell a text format (which I am assuming is not a
problem because of your other inputs).
Make the DV list Y,N,N/A,',
The last one is the single quote. It will appear on the dropdown as the
single quote mark, but when selected the cell will be blank.
 
P

Pheasant Plucker®

Thanks for the quick reply...please don't forget that you are dealing with a
complete muppet when it comes to Excel so...

How do I name a range?

<ducking>

Thanks & regards,
-=Glyn=-
 
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