#BACKPACKING CHECKLIST TEMPLATE EXCEL HOW TO#

I've updated most of the Google Sheets versions of my checklists to use that feature. You can go to Insert > Checkbox to quickly create one, and you can customize it by going to Data > Data Validation. Google Sheets beat Microsoft to the punch and introduced a Checkbox as one of the Data Validation options. Like the drawing objects, working with a large number of checkboxes can get messy. The linked cell will be a boolean value TRUE or FALSE. The checkbox form field, found in the Forms toolbar, can link to a cell in the spreadsheet without requiring any Visual Basic programming. Checkbox Form Object - Use the checkbox form field only if you are wanting to add interactivity to your checklist.

Moving a bunch of autoshapes around in the spreadsheet can get messy and annoying. Autoshapes (Drawing Objects) - I don't recommend this approach unless you are going for something fancy, like using fluffy clouds in your check list.If that's the look you're going for with your checklist, then by all means, go for it.

You'll see this approach used a lot in legal documents and other types of forms.

Parentheses ( ) or Brackets - This is a very common simple approach for including a checkbox within a text-based file.

For more information, see my article Using Unicode Character Symbols in Excel.

#BACKPACKING CHECKLIST TEMPLATE EXCEL HOW TO#

The only hard part is remembering how to insert a check mark symbol in Excel. This isn't quite as good as clicking once to fill in a checkbox, but it is great for the mobile Excel apps. You can include special characters like this in a Data Validation drop-down list. Special Unicode Characters in Data Validation Lists: ☐, ☑, ✓, ✔ - This may be my favorite approach.I use this approach in the wedding and camping checklists. It is easy to customize by copying and pasting items, inserting new items, etc. Just size the column containing the check boxes so that they appear square. Cell Borders - This is perhaps that simplest and fastest way to create a checklist from scratch.I've listed the most common methods below, along with an explanation of the uses and pros/cons.

If providing this list to an emergency contact or house sitter, you can use this space to provide additional information that they may need to know.The main question people have when creating a checklist in Excel is what method to use to create the check box.

Notes – use this space to keep notes associated with your trip.

Other contacts – keep the contact information for anyone else with whom you might need to check in during your trip (i.e., pet care, house sitter, baby sitter, etc).

Emergency contacts – you never know when you’ll need to have this emergency contact information handy don’t rely on your cell phone always working.

Travel details – keep all of your travel details in one place, have the location phone numbers, addresses, and other important details recorded.

Checklist of common items to be packed – with this listing you’ll be organized and confident that the little things aren’t forgotten!.

But what happens when you arrive at the camp site without all of your essential gear? Welcome back frustration! Spend 15 minutes before your next camping trip, give some focused thought to your packing list, and leave frustration behind.

The point of a camping trip is usually to get away from the complex and frustration of life’s daily grind. Going camping shouldn’t be a complex process.

Backpacking checklist template excel