How to Create a Checklist in Microsoft Excel

Using a checklist may make entering data into Microsoft Excel a snap, whether you're creating a spreadsheet to be shared with others or just one for your personal monitoring. Here's how to construct a checklist that seems like it belongs to you in your spreadsheet.

Why have a list? A checklist may be used to keep track of things to pack for a vacation, purchases for your business, holiday present lists, monthly expenses, and responsibilities. In Excel, you can make a checklist for whatever you want by using a simple check box from control.

Navigate to the Developer Tab

Make sure you have access to the Developer tab in Microsoft Excel before using the check box form control. It merely takes a minute to add this tab to Excel's top bar if you don't already have it there.

Click anywhere on the Excel ribbon with the right mouse button, then choose "Customize the Ribbon" from the drop-down menu. As an alternative, you may choose Customize Ribbon from the menu by clicking File > Options.

Make sure "Main Tabs" is chosen under "Customize the Ribbon" on the right side of the window. Check the box next to "Developer" in the list that follows.

The Excel Options window will then close when you click "OK."

Add Items from Your List in Excel

Add the list items as your first step in creating your checklist. This provides you the foundation you need to add your checkboxes, even though you can always add or delete things afterward. Of course, you may also add whatever row or column headers you need.

Add checkboxes to the items in your list.

The checkbox serves as the checklist's action component. Make sure to choose the Developer tab since here is where it will be useful. Select a line item from your list, then click the cell you want a checkbox in.

Click the "Insert" button located in the "Controls" section of the ribbon. Select "Checkbox" from the list of form controls.

Your cursor will then turn into a set of crosshairs (like a plus sign). When you see your checkbox appear, release after dragging a corner.

For a simple checklist, you won't need the label that is already linked by default to the tick. Simply click the "Backspace" or "Delete" key while selecting that text. The checkbox control is then selected, and if necessary, you may enlarge it by dragging a corner.

Format Your Checkboxes

You may alter a checkbox's look after you place it if you'd like. Right-click on the checkbox control. Make careful you right-click the control itself rather than the cell where it is located. Go to the shortcut menu and choose "Format Control."

The "Colors and Lines" and "Size" tabs provide quick and simple methods for coloring the lines, adding a fill color, scaling the checkbox, and locking the aspect ratio. Immediately after making your adjustments, click "OK."

Cell links and checkbox values

The "Control" tab is the other one you may wish to use. With this one, you may change the value, if required, create a cell connection, and use 3D shading.

Values in checkboxes

A checkbox is unchecked by default when you insert it. You could like to have the items ticked by default depending on the kind of checklist you make. The user is compelled to uncheck any things they don't want to. To do this, check the box next to "Value" on the Control tab, then click "OK."

Cell Links

Utilize "Cell Link" under the "Control" tab if you want to use your checklist in combination with Microsoft Excel formulae. If the box is checked or unchecked when you input a cell into this field, a True or False value will be shown.

Here is one instance. Say you want to check off how many of the 25 items are on your checklist using the COUNTIF function. The True and False values connected to the ticked and unchecked boxes may serve as the foundation for your formula.

Simply enter the cell reference into the field or click the spreadsheet cell to automatically fill it with data when using the "Cell Link" feature.

Add the rest of the checkboxes

To add checkboxes to the things on your remaining list, repeat the procedure above. Use AutoFill to quickly copy the checkboxes across the cells of your other items if you prefer that method.

Put your cursor on the bottom-right corner of the cell that contains the checkbox to utilize AutoFill. Drag to fill the extra cells when you see the Fill Handle (plus sign), then let go.

Preparing a checklist in Excel is a terrific idea for checking things off of a to-do list, making a gift list and double-checking it, or keeping track of the payments you pay each month.