Auto Fill values in cells with items in Data Validation or a List/range

[Bond00]

So much like the title says, I'd like to be able to just type 1 or 2 letters in a cell and have it auto fill in. (Much like it does as if the same thing was typed the cell above, it auto fills it in that cell)

Like in the pic below, if the name was in that column already (without spaces) it will auto populate in the cell. This happens in excel regardless if its Data Validation or not.
But if a list is skipped with even just 1 blank space this great feature no longer exists. Is there a way to make that not the case?

See in this picture below it doesn't work now just because there's a blank space between..

It no longer auto fills.. If there was a way around this that would make me happy in itself.
But it would be nice that if as i'm typing it would auto come up with options in the Validation list as if it was typed in the cell above as options.

I thought about maybe hiding some rows with all these names typed in that column so this would work but that's not an option since it has to all be in a row and no spaces.

I'm using a older version of excel right now but does this even exist in newer versions like 2019, 2021 or 2024? (not a 365 user)

 

[Jeffrey Mahoney]

This feature does exist in 365. So nice.

I have tried to replicate that exact feature in Excel prior to 365 and in my opinion, it is not possible. I have created a clunky version, but it requires creating dependent dropdowns; it makes the user enter partial string, then the dropdown filters the list based on that partial. You could create combo boxes for each cell (wut a pain).

Jeff

 

[Skyybot]

It seems to work for me. Office 365