The article shows how to add colors to your data validation lists to make them more visually appealing and user-friendly.
You don't have to be an expert to make a drop-down menu in Excel or Google Sheets. But let's be honest - staring at a long list of values can be pretty boring. If you're looking to add some excitement to your spreadsheets, why not try highlighting a drop-down list with color? Whether you're organizing a list of products, categorizing expenses, or tracking sales data, a colored dropdown will make your data easier to read and understand. In this article, we'll show you how to do just that.
If you use Excel for data entry, you've likely used the Data Validation feature to create drop-down lists. But did you know that you can also add colors to these lists? This section will guide you through the steps to colorize your drop-down list for a more eye-catching look.
To add color to your Excel picklist, you first need to create the list itself. If you're unfamiliar with this process, refer to our separate article on creating a drop-down list that describes all possible methods in detail.
For this example, let's assume you have the source list of items in A3:A10 and you've created a drop-down menu with those items. To do that, simply select the range of cells where you want the dropdown to appear (D3:D12 in our case) and click the Data Validation button on the Data tab. In the Data Validation dialog box that appears, choose List from the Allow drop-down menu and, in the Source field, enter the reference to the range of cells containing your items.
Once you've created your drop-down list, you can move on to adding colors.
To highlight your picklist with some color, we will be using Excel conditional formatting. The steps are:
To test your colored drop down menu, click on the arrow next to the cell. You should see the list of items you entered, with the first item highlighted in the chosen color:
Repeat the above steps for other selections and you will get a cohesive color scheme that makes it easy to visually distinguish between different selections.
Tips:
Google Sheets has become a go-to tool for many people. Like its Microsoft Excel counterpart, it offers the ability to create drop-down menus for easier data entry. With the latest version of Google spreadsheets, you no longer need to rely on conditional formatting tricks. Now, you can add colors to your data validation lists directly as you create them!
To create a colored drop-down list in Google Sheets, follow these steps:
If you choose Dropdown from a range, type the range reference in the text field or use the Select Data Range button to pick the range. Either way, be sure to use absolute references with the $ sign to lock cell addresses such as e.g. =$D$4:$D$8.
There you have it - a colored drop-down menu that not only looks great, but also helps you organize and analyze your data more effectively.
In the first part of this tutorial, you learned how to create dropdown with colored text values. But what if you want to create a color-coded dropdown where only colors are visible, without any text values? This section will show you how to achieve that outcome. By selecting the same color for both the fill and font, you can create a monochromatic effect that is ideal for organizing data in a clear and concise way. Let's dive in and learn how to create a color coded dropdown list with hidden text values.
To make a color-coded dropdown in Excel worksheets, you set up conditional formatting rule as described in Adding colors to drop-down menu. When choosing the format, switch between the Fill and Font tabs and pick the same color on both.
Choosing the fill color:
Choosing the font color:
As a result, you will have a color-coded drop down list where each option is represented by a colored cell. This visual representation can be especially useful for data sets with a large number of categories or where color is a significant factor.
To color code drop down list in Google Sheets, follow these steps. After adding background colors (Step 6), do the following:
That's it! After following the steps outlined above, you'll have a color-coded dropdown menu effectively hiding the text values and leaving only the color swatches visible.
Note. Please remember that the purpose of visual communication is to enhance understanding, and different situations may require different visual cues to achieve that goal. Color codes are useful for representing data where the color is the primary indicator of meaning. However, if you need to provide additional context for each item, using different fill and font colors can be a more effective way to communicate this information visually.
In conclusion, adding color to drop-down lists in Excel and Google Sheets is a great way to enhance the visual appeal of your spreadsheets while also making them more functional and comprehensible. So go ahead and try it out, and see how color can transform your spreadsheets today!
Excel color drop down list (.xlsx file) Google Sheets drop down list with color (online sheet)
Atas ialah kandungan terperinci Cara Membuat Senarai Drop Down Berwarna Dalam Lembaran Excel dan Google. Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila ikut artikel berkaitan lain di laman web China PHP!