Quick Product Tip: Data Validation in Google Spreadsheets

Save data entry time and minimize errors through drop down lists

Google Sheets are by far one of the best tools for data entry. Maybe you want to collect information from your users or internal team detailing a product, and from this they have to pick one thing from a list. Data validation comes in handy.This is used when you want to constrain the values of a cell to a pre-set list or a specific range.

It’s definitely a more user friendly approach to data entry as it involves less typing from the user and also minimized errors and typos. In these easy steps, you can enable selecting of an option in google spreadsheet dropdown:

• Cell range: Select cells to add data validation. This could be one or more cells. Hold down shift and click a range of cells to select more than one cell
• Right click and choose the data validation option

• Criteria: Has six options. We will focus on:

List from a range: This is when you have a pre-filed sheet with the data. Preferred when the options are many

List of items: This is when you input your options directly here, each option separated by a comma. Usually preferred when the options are few

• On valid data: Invalid entries can be rejected or show a warning message
• Appearance: This is the message that shows when someone hovers on the drop down
• Save, then on your spreadsheet, click arrow on the right hand corner to view and select entry options

Outcome: