Lock drop down cell in Microsoft Excel

[Thedevotee]

I am trying to protect my sheet and control what users can enter. I have many cells with drop down entries but I do not want them to be able to enter anything else into the cell. Is this possible.

[QUENBY]

Try Data validation and list instead of what you are doing. Somewhere on the sheet type your list of things that you do want added then select them as the list under data validation. If the list is going to be on a different sheet then the drop down, you will have to have a named range. Then make your data validation list source as =Name of your range. To create a named range you need to go to insert/ Name Define.

[Hollyn]

I do have my Data Validation set up in this way. However the cell still allows me to type in data as well as choose from the list. I want it so only the list can be selected. In the Data Validation dialog for that cell, go to the Error Alert tab. Make sure there is a check by "Show error alert after invalid data is entered". Click OK to close the dialog.