Excel: data validation lists: is it possible to prevent typing anything in a cell with a list?

Question

I have a cell with data validation. It has a list of items (the pull down list from data validation): "Front", "Back". Is it possible to prevent the user from typing anything in this cell, and just allow the user to select from the list?

Some users might mistype front and back... or type something totally different.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Enter the default value (even a blank value)  into the cell and make sure its included in the list.   That should do what you want.

Answer 2

it should do that automatically. That's the whole point of the data validation option.  Only the options you've given in the list are acceptable.  If the user types anything else in (or mistypes "front" instead of "Front"), they'll get an error message that it's an invalid entry (and you can also customize the error message they get too).