Used for:
Lists where you have specified answers, for example, a prop list, on the character column – each of the characters in the show are specified. Or maybe a prop list on the status column, where your options might be “Completed, In Process or TBD” Maybe a laundry care list, options “MW (machine wash), HW/HD (hand was and hang dry) etc.)

Excel: select the cells you want this available in (for me this is almost always a full column), and go to “DATA”, “VALIDATION”, then allow your list, and list all your items.

Then you either type a list into the Source Box, or you could link to a column (in another sheet is usually good) and use anything written in that column.

Here’s the option for typing in your list:

Here’s the option for using another sheet:

Prepping this can save you time in the future! And it’s always easy to add more list items later!

Bonus: do this in Google Sheets (as of 1/22/21):

Right-Click → Data Validation OR (top menu) Data → Validation

Criteria → List of Items → (Then list your items with commas between)

Alternately:

You could create another sheet, with the list of the dropdown items you want, and have the dropdown auto-pull from that sheet.

In this case, I wanted a drop-down of every character in the show (and some variations). Rather than having to go in and edit the data validation every time, I just wanted to list it on a tab.

New Tab (“Characters”) → List my items

Original Sheet → Highlight column of cells for dropdown → Data Validation:

Criteria: List from Range → Go to “Characters” sheet and highlight the information you want (in this case all of column A: