Returning Item Codes Instead of Item Names

Alan can use data validation to create a drop-down list of valid choices for a cell. However, what he actually needs is more complex. He has a large number of item names with associated item codes. In cell B2 he can create a data validation list that shows all the item names (agitator, motor, pump, tank, etc.). The user can then choose one of these. When he references cell B2 elsewhere, however, he wants the item code—not the item name—returned by the reference. Thus, the reference would return A, M, P, TK, etc. instead of agitator, motor, pump, tank, etc.

There is no direct way to do this in Excel. The reason is because data validation lists are set up to include only a single-dimensional list of items. This makes it easy for the list to contain your item names. However, you can expand how you use the data validation list a bit to get what you want. Follow these steps:

1. Someplace to the right of your worksheet data, set up a data table. This table will contain your item names and, to the right of each item name, the item code associated with that name.
2. Select the cells that contain your item names. (Don't select the item codes, just the names.)
3. Display the Formulas tab of the ribbon.
4. Click the Define Name tool in the Defined Names group. Excel displays the New Name dialog box. (See Figure 1.)



Figure 1. The New Name dialog box.

5. In the Name box, enter a descriptive name, such as ItemNames. (Note that there can be no spaces in the name.)
6. Click OK to add the name and close the dialog box.
7. Select cell B2 (the cell where you want your validation list).
8. Display the Data tab of the ribbon.
9. Click the Data Validation tool in the Data Tools group. Excel displays the Data Validation dialog box. (See Figure 2.)



Figure 2. The Data Validation dialog box.

10. Using the Allow drop-down list, choose List.
11. In the Source box, enter an equal sign followed by the name you defined in step 5 (such as =ItemNames).
12. Click OK.

With these steps done, people can still use the data validation drop-down list to select valid item names. What you now need to do is reference the item code from the data table you set up in step 1. You can do that with a formula such as this:

=VLOOKUP(B2,OFFSET(Itemlist,0,0,,2),2,FALSE)

This formula can be used on its own (to put the desired item code into a cell) or it could be used within a larger formula, anyplace you would have originally referenced B2.

If, for some reason, you cannot create a data table for your item names and codes, you could approach the problem by entering your names and codes directly into a formula. Either of the following will work:

=CHOOSE(MATCH(B2,{"agitator","motor","pump","tank"}),"A","M","P","TK")
=INDEX({"A","M","P","TK"},MATCH(B2,{"agitator","motor","pump","tank"},0))

These formulas work just fine in Excel 2021 or the Excel in Microsoft 365. In other versions of Excel you'll need to enter it as an array formula by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Enter.

The biggest drawback to the in-a-formula approach is that it can quickly become unwieldy to keep the formula updated and there is a "viability limit" on how many pairs of codes and items you can include in the formula. (The limit is defined by formula length, so it depends on the length of your item names.) Also, this approach is good to only return the item code in another cell, rather than including it as part of a larger formula.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12078) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Excel in Microsoft 365, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Returning Item Codes Instead of Item Names.