Create a Drop-down Menu to Track Your Progress

In this video, you will use data validation to create a dropdown menu to track the progress of each task.

Data validation limits the contents of a cell to certain options in a dropdown list.

For example, you may want to use the drop-down list to track each task and view whether it's been started, is in progress, or is completed.

Selecting a status from a menu saves you time because you won't have to type your status each time it changes.

You will just select one from the dropdown menu.

To begin, add data validation to the "Status" column.

Type "Not started," "In progress," and "Complete" to describe the different stages of each task.

Now, use the drop-down list to assign task status.

The data validation acts as a checklist to ensure each task is completed on time and nothing is forgotten along the way.

Notice that the column header shows an error message.

This appears because you applied data validation to the entire column.

The header text doesn't match the criteria you set up.

To fix this, click the first cell in the column, and remove the data validation.

The error message disappears.

As you work towards completing your goal, update the status of each task.

Now it's your turn: set up data validation for the Status column, and use the dropdown menu to change the status of each task.