How to Create a Drop Down Checklist in Excel (with Quick Steps)

Below is a dataset of several students’ names. Of these students, only 3 passed. We want to create a drop-down checklist containing these students’ names. Then, we want to check the passed students’ names and get an output in another cell containing only the passed students.

Sample Dataset to Create a Drop Down Checklist in Excel


Step 1: Create Drop-Down Checklist Options

  • Click on the Developer tab on your Excel ribbon.
  • Click on the Insert tool >> ActiveX Controls group >> List Box (ActiveX Control) option.

Insert a List Box to Create a Drop Down Checklist in Excel

  • A list box will open.
  • Drag your mouse to determine the list box area.
  • Right-click on the list box area and choose the Properties option from the context menu.

Access the Properties Window

  • A Properties window will appear.
  • Enter checkList in the (Name) text box.
  • Refer to the cells B5:B12 in the ListFillRange text box.
  • Choose option 1 – fmListStyleOption from the ListStyle option list.
  • Choose option 1 – fmMultiSelectMulti from the MultiSelect option list.

Properties Window to Create a Drop Down Checklist in Excel

  • There will be a drop-down checkbox list with the student’s names.
  • To get the passed students’ names in a cell, create a header and name the output cell as CheckListOuput in the NameBox.

Create a Name for Output Cell

Your dropdown checklist options are created properly and the output cell is also declared with a proper name.

Read More: How to Make a Daily Checklist in Excel


Step 2: Add an Interactive Button to Extract the Result

Add a button to make a checklist interactive and extract your desired result.

  • Go to the Insert tab.
  • Go to the Illustrations group >> Shapes tool >> Rectangle option.

Insert a Rectangle to Create a Button

  • You will have control over a rectangle.
  • Drag your mouse to create your button area and fill the rectangle with your desired color.
  • Right-click on your mouse inside the rectangle area and choose the  Assign Macro… option from the context menu.

Choose the Assign Macro Option

  • The Assign Macro window will appear.
  • Name your macro as Button_Click on the Macro Name: option and click on the New button.

Assign Macro Window

  • The VB Editor will open, creating a new module named Module1.

VB Editor Window

  • Enter the following VBA code:
Sub Button_Click()
Dim buttonShape As Shape, listOption As Variant, M As Integer, N As Integer
Dim xP As String
Set buttonShape = ActiveSheet.Shapes(Application.Caller)
Set checkListBox = ActiveSheet.checkList
If checkListBox.Visible = False Then
    checkListBox.Visible = True
    buttonShape.TextFrame2.TextRange.Characters.Text = "Tick the Passed Students"
    resultStr = ""
    resultStr = Range("CheckListOutput").Value
    
    If resultStr <> "" Then
         resultArr = Split(resultStr, ";")
    For M = checkListBox.ListCount - 1 To 0 Step -1
        xP = checkListBox.List(M)
        For N = 0 To UBound(resultArr)
            If resultArr(N) = xP Then
              checkListBox.Selected(M) = True
              Exit For
            End If
        Next
    Next M
    End If
Else
    checkListBox.Visible = False
    buttonShape.TextFrame2.TextRange.Characters.Text = "Click Here"
    For M = checkListBox.ListCount - 1 To 0 Step -1
        If checkListBox.Selected(M) = True Then
        listOption = checkListBox.List(M) & ";" & listOption
        End If
    Next M
    If listOption <> "" Then
        Range("CheckListOutput") = Mid(listOption, 1, Len(listOption) - 1)
    Else
        Range("CheckListOutput") = ""
    End If
End If
End Sub

VBA Code to Create a Drop Down Checklist in Excel

Note: In the code, the button’s macro name is Button_Click; checkList is the name of our checklist, and checkListOutput is the output cell’s name. You must change these names inside the VBA code if you name these things something else.

  • Afterward, press Ctrl + S on your keyboard.
  • As a result, a Microsoft Excel window will appear.
  • Following, click on the No button.

Microsoft Excel Window

  • The Save As dialogue box will appear.
  • Choose the Save as type: option as .xlsm file and click on the Save button.

Save As Dialogue Box

  • The code is saved and workable now.
  • Close the code window and go back to your main Excel file.
  • There will be interactive checkboxes and the Tick the Passed Students button.
  • Click on the passed students’ names Lily, Mathew, and Naomi.
  • Click on the Tick the Passed Students button.

Created an Interactive Drop Down Checklist in Excel

  • You will find your result in cell F5 and the button will be named Click Here now interactively.

Drop Down Checklist Result

You will be able to create a drop-down checklist in Excel and use it to generate results.

Read More: How to Create an Audit Checklist in Excel


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Md. Tanjim Reza Tanim, a BUET graduate in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, contributed over one and a half years to the ExcelDemy project. As an Excel & VBA Content Developer, he authored 100+ articles and, as Team Leader, reviewed 150+ articles. Tanim, leading research, ensures top-notch content on MS Excel features, formulas, solutions, tips, and tricks. His expertise spans Microsoft Office Suites, Automating Finance Templates, VBA, Python, and Developing Excel Applications, showcasing a multifaceted commitment to the... Read Full Bio

4 Comments
  1. Reply
    claudia sgiarovello Jul 18, 2024 at 11:14 AM

    hi, to me the VBA code is not working and in the debugging I first get stuck here

    Else
    Range(“CheckListOutput”) = “”

    and by ignoring and re-clicking I get as top here

    resultStr = Range(“CheckListOutput”).Value

    It would be really helpful for me to get it work. thanks!

    • Hello Claudia Sgiarovello,

      On our end the VBA code is working perfectly. Rechecked the code to confirm it.

      Make sure you replace the curly quotation marks with straight quotation marks to avoid syntax errors in VBA. If the problem persists, double-check the name of the range “CheckListOutput” to ensure it matches exactly with what is in your Excel workbook.

      1. Ensure all quotes are straight quotes ().
      2. Check that “CheckListOutput” matches the actual named range in your Excel workbook.
      3. Verify that “checkList” matches the name of your ActiveX listbox control.

      If these steps don’t resolve the issue, consider providing more details about any specific error messages or behaviors you’re encountering.

      Regards
      ExcelDemy

  2. I have the same issue however i only used for single option, it doesnt work

    • Hello Jennifer Almeida,

      In our existing VBA code, the previously stored values in the output cell are overwritten when a new selection is made. This happens during the Button_Click event when the new selection is written directly into CheckListOutput, replacing the previous value.

      To preserve previous selections, we adjusted the logic so that the newly selected value is appended to the existing content rather than overwriting it. Here’s an update to your code:

      Sub Button_Click()
          Dim buttonShape As Shape, listOption As String, M As Integer
          Dim xP As String
          Set buttonShape = ActiveSheet.Shapes(Application.Caller)
          Set checkListBox = ActiveSheet.checkList
      
          If checkListBox.Visible = False Then
              checkListBox.Visible = True
              buttonShape.TextFrame2.TextRange.Characters.Text = "Tick the Passed Students"
              resultStr = Range("CheckListOutput").Value
              If resultStr <> "" Then
                  resultArr = Split(resultStr, ";")
                  For M = checkListBox.ListCount - 1 To 0 Step -1
                      xP = checkListBox.List(M)
                      If resultArr(0) = xP Then
                          checkListBox.Selected(M) = True
                          Exit For
                      End If
                  Next M
              End If
          Else
              checkListBox.Visible = False
              buttonShape.TextFrame2.TextRange.Characters.Text = "Click Here"
              For M = checkListBox.ListCount - 1 To 0 Step -1
                  If checkListBox.Selected(M) = True Then
                      listOption = checkListBox.List(M)
                      Exit For ' Ensure only one selection
                  End If
              Next M
      
              ' Append the new selection if it's not already in the output
              If listOption <> "" Then
                  If InStr(Range("CheckListOutput").Value, listOption) = 0 Then
                      If Range("CheckListOutput").Value <> "" Then
                          Range("CheckListOutput").Value = Range("CheckListOutput").Value & ";" & listOption
                      Else
                          Range("CheckListOutput").Value = listOption
                      End If
                  End If
              End If
          End If
      End Sub
      

      Regards
      ExcelDemy

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