Using WPS Spreadsheet’s Data Validation feature to create drop down menus is a powerful way to improve data accuracy and streamline data entry in your spreadsheets.

By confining input to a controlled list, you prevent spelling mistakes, wps官网 guarantee standardized entries, and simplify future reporting and sorting tasks.

Ideal for customer feedback forms, product catalogs, employee records, and other data collections where accuracy is non-negotiable.

First, choose the specific range of cells intended to host the dropdown menu.

After selection, go to the Data tab in the ribbon toolbar and select the Data Validation command.

You’ll now see the Data Validation window, where you can configure what inputs are permitted.

Under the Settings tab, locate the Allow dropdown menu and choose List from the available options.

WPS Spreadsheet now understands you intend to build a dropdown selection menu.

You must now identify the origin of the dropdown options.

You may manually enter options in the Source field, using commas to separate each item, like Apple, Banana, Orange.

or link to a pre-defined range of cells where your list is stored.

For instance, if your list resides in cells A1 to A5 on Sheet2, use Sheet2!A1:A5 as the source reference.

This approach is recommended since updating the source range automatically refreshes the dropdown, eliminating the need to re-enter settings.

Once the source is defined, you may enable Ignore blank to permit empty entries, or disable it to enforce mandatory selection.

You can also switch to the Input Message tab to display a helpful message when the cell is selected, guiding users on what to choose.

For instance, you might write Select a fruit from the list.

This improves user experience and reduces confusion.

In the Error Alert tab, you can customize what happens if someone tries to enter a value that is not in your list.

While the system defaults to a Stop alert, you’re free to modify the type to Warning or Information and personalize the message—for example: "Invalid entry. Choose only from the list below.".

After clicking OK, a tiny dropdown arrow will appear beside each selected cell.

When users click the arrow, the full list appears, allowing them to pick an option instantly.

This accelerates input while guaranteeing consistent, error-free data collection.

Keep in mind that any edits to the source range will dynamically refresh the dropdown, provided the cell reference stays intact.

This dynamic nature makes it easy to maintain lists over time, such as updating product codes or department names without reconfiguring validation rules.

Additionally, data validation with drop down menus can be copied to other cells using standard copy and paste functions.

When you paste a validated cell elsewhere, the dropdown settings transfer automatically, streamlining setup for uniform fields.

Be cautious when pasting values from external sources into cells with data validation.

If the pasted value is not in the allowed list, WPS Spreadsheet will block the entry and display your custom error message.

To avoid this, make sure the data you are importing matches the predefined options or temporarily disable validation if needed.

Ultimately, the Data Validation dropdown feature is indispensable for users handling organized, repetitive datasets.

This tool boosts reliability, cuts down on manual errors, and significantly improves the user-friendliness of your worksheets.

No matter the scale—whether you’re building a one-time form or a multi-sheet database—dropdown validation is a thoughtful, efficient method that elevates data integrity and operational performance