Excel 2010: select a name from drop down list but put a value on the cell

[kate8]

Hi,
I am a general excel user, rarely use formula or functions. Now I need create a drop down list in my spread sheet, when the user select one from the list, a value is set on the cell (what are listed are not the values set in the cell).
For example, the drop down list list all the states: California, Ohio, Michigan...etc, when user select California, the "CA" will be set to the cell, not the full name "California". I know how to create the drop down list, but don't know how to associate the name to abbreviation.
Thank you so much for any helps!!

 

[SkipVought]

Hi,

So if you use a Forms ComboBox, the result that goes into the linked cell is the index value of the list. If your list had a second column containing the 2 character abbreviation, then the formula for the abbreviation, in whatever cell you choose would be, assuming that your state list is a Structured Table named tStates, with headings Name, Abbr
[tt]
=INDEX(tStates[Abbr],LinkedCell,1)
[/tt]