jDropdown()

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Function Summary

The jDropdown function returns data from a Data Portal that can be displayed in a dropdown window for the user to select and insert into a designated range of cells within the spreadsheet. It is typically used to easily insert a valid parameter into the spreadsheet to filter the data returned by a report function after a pull action. When this function is linked to a hyperlink, the user can simply click on the hyperlink to display a list of valid parameters and insert one or more into the spreadsheet.

For an example of this function, see jDropdown.

Function Arguments

Type String/jDataPortal()
Constraints Max 255 char
If Blank Function Error

Type Param()
Constraints The values must match the order of the parameters in the data source (The order can be verified using the Validation Report)
If Blank Data is not filtered

Type Boolean
Constraints
If Blank False

Type Range/Pair()/PairGroup()
Constraints
If Blank Function Error

Type String
Constraints Max 255 char
If Blank Function Error

Type String
Constraints Max 255 char
If Blank Uses Value Column Name

Type String
Constraints Max 255 char
If Blank ","

Type String
Constraints Max 255 char
If Blank "Please select the desired options below."

Excel Formula Bar Example (Single Cell Output)

Excel =jDropdown(jDataPortal("NorthwindCustomersDropdown",1),,FALSE,C17,"CompanyName","DisplayText",,"Select a Customer")

Function Composition

Argument Name Example Mapping Explanation
Function Name =jDropdown() The name of this function.
DataPortal jDataPortal("NorthwindCustomersDropdown",1) Uses the helper function jDataPortal() designating the "NorthwindCustomersDropdown" Data Portal.
Parameters "" The data returned from the data source will not be filtered.
MultiSelect FALSE Only one entry can be selected from the dropdown window.
Target Cell C17 The entry selected will be inserted into cell C17.
Value Column Name "CompanyName" The selected value for the column "CompanyName" will be inserted.
Display Column Name "DisplayText" The values from the column "DisplayText" will be displayed in the dropdown options.
Delimiter   Value ignored because MultiSelect is false.
Instruction Text "Select a Customer" The text "Select a Customer" will be displayed under the title in the dropdown window.

Excel Formula Bar Example (Multiple Cell Output)

Excel =jDropdown(jDataPortal("NorthwindCustomersDropdown",1),,FALSE,PairGroup(Pair(E3,G13),Pair(F3,H13), Pair(G3,I13)),"CompanyName","DisplayText",,"Select a Customer")

Function Composition

Argument Name Example Mapping Explanation
Function Name =jDropdown() The name of this function.
DataPortal jDataPortal("NorthwindCustomersDropdown",1) Uses the helper function jDataPortal() designating the "NorthwindCustomersDropdown" Data Portal.
Parameters "" The data returned from the data source will not be filtered.
MultiSelect FALSE Only one entry can be selected from the dropdown window.
Target Cell PairGroup(Pair(E3,G13),Pair(F3,H13),Pair(G3,I13)) The entry selected becomes the ID. This ID is matched to column names in E3, F3, and G3, the value of which will be outputted to cells G13, H13, and I13 respectively.
Value Column Name "CompanyName" The selected value for the column "CompanyName" will be inserted.
Display Column Name "DisplayText" The values from the column "DisplayText" will be displayed in the dropdown options.
Delimiter   Value ignored because MultiSelect is false.
Instruction Text "Select a Customer" The text "Select a Customer" will be displayed under the title in the dropdown window.

Embeddable Helper Functions