- On a new worksheet, type the values that you want to appear in your drop-down list. They should be in a single column or row without any blank cells (for easy to use, it is recommended to sort your values).
- Select all of your values, right-click, and then click "Define Name"
- Then it will prompt up a "New Name" window. Type a name for the values of your drop-down list and then click "OK". (No space in the name. )
- Select the cells that you want to have drop-down list.
- Click Data Validation.
- In the settings tab, select "List" from Allow box
- From the source field, type equal sign (=) and immediately followed by the name you defined in step 3.
- Click OK to confirm.
Apply the Conditional Formatting to color coded the drop-down list values.
- Highlight the cells you want to have drop-down list.
- Then click "Conditional Formatting" --> New Rule.
- Select "format only cells that contain"
- Edit your condition in the session called "Edit the Rule Description".
- Click "format" button to select your desired color in cell.