# Dropdowns

> How to use dropdowns to collect user input

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use dropdowns with inventor.bot.

> This tutorial assumes you know the basics of inventor.bot- we recommend doing the [Ping Command](https://inventor.bot/docs/tutorials/ping-command) tutorial if you haven't already.

Start by creating a flow to send the dropdown. In this case, we'll use a **Slash Command** called `/dropdown`

![SCR 20260507 maja](https://docs.inventorassets.com/f80fa214-f1fe-4044-9034-506f7df30e32.png)

Now add a **Respond to Interaction with Advanced Message** block. Inside of that, add an **Action Row** with a **String Select** inside- give it a Custom ID and a placeholder. You'll need to use that same Custom ID later, so don't forget it!

> If you used a non-interaction trigger, like **Message Sent** or **Member Join**, you'd need to replace the **Respond to Interaction with Advanced Message** block with a **Send Advanced Message** one.

![SCR 20260507 mbhr](https://docs.inventorassets.com/d540f630-e7ef-4bd1-88a7-a431af719004.png)

Now you can add a **String Select Option** block for each option you want to add to the menu. In this case, I'll add three fruits. **Value** should be a unique identifier for the option- it's the only thing you can use to figure out what was selected.

![SCR 20260507 mcfw](https://docs.inventorassets.com/d500b1a6-febc-45db-a397-5304d1aadde1.png)

Create a new flow with the **Dropdown Select** trigger and input the **Custom ID** you used in the previous flow.

![SCR 20260507 mdqd](https://docs.inventorassets.com/e2411275-99b3-427e-94e0-4de4c7e9f854.png)

Now we need to figure out which option the user selected. To do this, we'll use the trigger's **Selected Values (CSV)** output. This will be the **String Select Option**'s value you set earlier.

> If the dropdown allowed for more than one item to be selected, the **Selected Values (CSV)** output would be formatted like `apple,pear,orange`

![SCR 20260507 mdza](https://docs.inventorassets.com/461c9e6c-c3dd-491a-9df8-a269f70f36f7.png)

Add a response for this option and add similar if statements and responses for all the other options you added to the dropdown.

![SCR 20260507 mfqf](https://docs.inventorassets.com/073d89fc-305c-45f4-8708-3b156213deaa.png)

Now you can select an option and see the response you defined in the second flow!

![SCR 20260507 mgbs](https://docs.inventorassets.com/d123a928-f4fe-4ba0-8e1e-cbfc6edec000.png)