Reference external data in drop-down lists

[ravi16]

I know how to create a data validation drop-down list that references data in another workbook.. is it possible to do it with data from a non-spreadsheet file e.g word or access & if so how do I do so?

 

[Eloise T]

If you're wanting to go from Excel to say MS Word, then simply right-click on the Excel cell you want to be the "button" and select "Hyperlink" from the drop-down menu and browse to the data file in Word or Access or even a .jpg, really any data file you want to open up. It sounds like you may already know that. It is highly likely that Excel can do little more than view it. I would be highly surprised if Excel can manipulate any data even from it's own brands companion products, i.e. Access, Word, etc. I also would be glad to find out that I am wrong.

If you're asking if you can go from Word to Excel, you can try starting at the Insert Tab on Word and select: Links > Hyperlink. For whatever reason Hyperlink is greyed-out on my version of Word so I am unable to experiment. Maybe someone else knows something more? As far as MS Access, I'm unaware of anything with Access in that regard. You might try Google or your favorite search engine with: "Access 20xx Hyperlink" filling in the xx with your version number.

 

[jeffsk]

Interesting, I posted this question on the MSOffice forums just over a week ago & since then it's appeared on several other forums, pretty much word for word, under other people's names e.g. here from ravi16.....curious!

Anyway, thanks @Whatever, it's not really a hyperlink that I need:

I'm prepping for the Excel Expert 2007 exam & one of the things I need to know is how to "Reference external data in drop-down lists" (it's in the 'Capture Data' section).

I know how to create a data validation drop-down list that references data in another workbook..........is it possible to do it with data from a non-spreadsheet file e.g word or access & if so how do I do so?

Just to be clear - I know I can import data from non-spreadsheet external sources (data tab > get external data), but that seems to just put the data into visible cells, it's how to use it in a drop down list that I'm asking for help with.

TIA

 

[Eloise T]

I'm sorry. I completely misunderstood what you were asking in your original message.

 

[NARAYANK991]

Hi Jeff ,

I doubt that you can directly reference external data in a Data Validation list , though I may be wrong.

You can always use a Data Connection to bring external data into a workbook , and then reference that data in a DV list.

https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...nal-data-9967afd8-85ee-4df3-aa06-753bcc1a2724

Narayan

 

[jeffsk]

I'm sorry. I completely misunderstood what you were asking in your original message.

@Whatever - no need to apologise, the OP had just lifted part of my post from MSOffice forums, so it wasn't really clear what I was asking. Thanks for your help

 

[jeffsk]

Hi Jeff ,

I doubt that you can directly reference external data in a Data Validation list , though I may be wrong.

You can always use a Data Connection to bring external data into a workbook , and then reference that data in a DV list.

https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...nal-data-9967afd8-85ee-4df3-aa06-753bcc1a2724

Narayan

Thanks for the link @Naryan, I'll have to explore that. Once I've got it figured out one way or the other I'll post back to share with others.