Copy a cascading dropdown list to other cells.

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Lilibau Posted messages 32 Status Member -  
Lilibau Posted messages 32 Status Member -
Hello everyone,

I have read several articles on cascading drop-down lists but I can't seem to solve the following problem: how to apply my cascading drop-downs (LDC) to other cells using the INDIRECT formula?

I have 3 columns that consist of 3 types of categories:
- Column 1: Level 1 category = backoffice or frontoffice for example
- Column 2: Level 2 category = administration, monitoring, exchange management, document base, ...
- Column 3: Level 3 category = user management, contract management, ...

For col.1, I created a drop-down list named Rub_1 with my 2 choices
For cols. 2 and 3, I created a drop-down list using the INDIRECT formula that refers to column 1 or 2 - example = INDIRECT(L8C1)
I also tried naming the cell = INDIRECT(start)

Everything works fine: I select my choice in col.1, my col.2 only displays the choices related to col.1, and my col.3 only shows the choices related to col.2

The problem is when I want to copy/paste the cell to all other rows (more than 500 rows). The formula stays on the first selected cell and does not apply to the correct line.

I tried putting in the formula “”, or & ... nothing works. The only solution I found is to recreate the formula for each cell ...

Has anyone else encountered this problem? If so, is there a trick I haven't found?

Thank you in advance for your help.

1 answer

  1. JvDo Posted messages 1924 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   859
     
    Hello,

    it's because you've used an absolute reference.
    your L8C1 corresponds to an $A$8.

    switch to relative and you won't have any more issues.

    best regards
    1
    1. Lilibau Posted messages 32 Status Member
       
      Hello JvDo,

      Thank you for your response and sorry for the delay, I wasn't at my desk.
      Could you please clarify how to switch to relative reference? When I click on the cell, the value automatically becomes absolute. I just switched to Excel 2013 and the headers are slightly different: for example, I only have numbers for the columns and no longer letters. I don't know how to remove this absolute value.
      Thank you in advance for your help.
      0
      1. JvDo Posted messages 1924 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   859 > Lilibau Posted messages 32 Status Member
         
        Hello,

        I don't know the 2013 version, but I assume you can go to your options under "Formulas" and uncheck "R1C1 reference style"

        then, regarding absolute references, it's the "$" that makes them so.
        remove the "$" and the formula will reference the cells relatively.

        you have the F4 keyboard shortcut that allows you to toggle a reference from absolute to relative, passing through relative/absolute and absolute/relative.

        best regards
        0
    2. Lilibau Posted messages 32 Status Member
       
      Thank you, JvDo. It's exactly what needed to be done: File > Options > Formulas and I unchecked R1C1 reference style. So no more problem copying my LD with the INDIRECT formula.
      Have a great day!
      0