dropdown list IN a cell?

[neowok]

basically I have seven options which is basically 7 different bits o
text that I need to restrict users to being able to use in thi
particular column. So what I want is a dropdown of some sort wher
they can ONLY choose from those 7 options (i.e. prevent them typin
them in manually).

I NEED to have the stuff directly in the cell and not some combobo
because a pivotchart is made based on the contants of this table an
these cells, and the contents of this column is used as a basis for th
rows of the table (hence they need to be consistant and so i dont wan
them typing it in manually because it screws up the chart if
character is different).

had a look at validation but it doesnt seem to be able to do this

 

[Tom Ogilvy]

Data validation is the only thing that can do this (meet all your criteria).
You need to look again, see the list option under Data=>Validation.

 

[neowok]

ahh yes didnt see that.

the only problem is it is ignoring the colours for each of the item
(even though the source for the list DOES have the colours in it). bu
ive just put cond formatting on the cells to colour them the relevan
colour when they contain the different items and this seems to b
working fine