If you’d like to allow invalid data but show a warning, select Show warning for the “On invalid data” setting. If you want to show help text when a user hovers their mouse over a data validated cell, check Show validation help text and enter text in the field below.Ĭheck Show dropdown list in cell if you allow users to choose valid options from a menu. Use this option when your valid entries aren’t already included on your spreadsheet. Select Enter list items and type them in the box to the right.

Instead of creating a list from range, you can also enter the list of items manually. You can even choose a range from a different spreadsheet within the doc. Alternately, you can click the button to the right of the box and select a range with your mouse (this option is easier). Type in the range of cells you’d like to use as your entry options. In the Criteria drop-down menu, choose List from range. Alternately, you can right-click your selected cells and select Data Validation… You can select multiple cells by holding Shift and clicking a range of cells.Ĭlick Data and choose Data validation…. Select the cell or cells to which you’d like to add data validation. Enjoy! How-To Add Google Docs In-cell Dropdown Validation Step 1 I’ve updated the screenshots and some of the steps below accordingly. Some of the setting names and menus have changed. It covers important foundations.Update: This post was originally published in 2010. Insert a chart from Google Sheets into a Google DocĪre you just getting started? Then take a moment to watch my Google Sheets tutorial for beginners on YouTube. We’re going to cover a range of tips that will help you save time and do some awesome things, all using the power of Google Sheets! Let’s get started!Īnd if you like, you can jump straight to a tip:Īdd heatmaps using conditional formatting It’s really easy to start using Google Sheets, but did you know it offers some great ways to get even more out of your data? It has a clean interface, it’s easy to collaborate with people and it integrates with other Google products that I use every day (like Google Analytics and Google Data Studio).

How to use google drive spreadsheets