Excel Data Validation Combo Box Click

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Excel Data Validation Combo box Click

Create an Excel Data ValidationDropdown List Add the Combo box Open the Properties Window Change the Combo box Properties Exit Design Mode Add the Code Test the Code

Download the zipped sample file

You can use Excel Data Validation to create adropdown list of options in a cell. However, the listfont can't be changed, nor can the number of visiblerows, which has a maximum of eight. Also, DataValidation doesn't have an AutoComplete feature,which finds matching items in the list as you start totype.

To overcome these limitations, you can add a combobox to your worksheet, and use programming tomake it appear in cells that contain a data validationlist. Click on a cell that contains a data validation list,and the combo box appears. The combo box's fontsize can be set, more than 8 rows can be displayed,and autocomplete can be enabled.

If you would prefer to see the combo box only when

you double-click on a data validation cell, pleaseuse the instructions at one of the following pages:

Data Validation -- Combo Box Data Validation -- Combo Box - NamedRanges

Note: If the worksheet is protected, allow users toEdit Objects, and they will be able to use thecombobox.

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Excel Data Validation Combo box Click http://www.contextures.com/xlDataVal14.html

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Create a Data ValidationDropdown List

On Sheet1, type the lists that will be used in the datavalidation dropdowns:

Tip: Use the AutoFill feature to create the lists

In cells K2:K8 type a list of weekdays1.

In cells M2:M13 type a list of months 2.

The next step is to create the data validation dropdownlists. There are detailed instructions here: Data Validation-- Introduction

Cells C2:C12 have data validation lists with the source

K2:K8. When a cell in this range is selected, a

dropdown list of weekdays is available.

Cells D2:D12 have data validation lists with the source

M2:M13. When a cell in this range is selected, a

dropdown list of months is available.

Add the Combo box

To add or edit the Combobox, open the Control Toolbox,and enter Design Mode:

Choose View | Toolbars1.

Select Control Toolbox2.

Click the Design Mode button3.

Click on the Combo box button, to activate that tool.4.

Click on an empty area of the worksheet, to add a

combo box

5.

Open the Properties Window

To format the combo box, open the properties window:

Select the combo box1.

On the Control Toolbox, click the Properties button2.

Change the Combo boxProperties

Name the Combo box

In the Properties window, click in the Name box1.

Type a name for the combo box. In this example, the

name is: TempCombo

2.


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Change the Font and Font Size

In the Properties window, click in the Font property,

and click the ... button

1.

In the Font dialog box, select a font, font size, and

other settings that you want for your combo box.

2.

Click OK 3.

Set the Number of Rows

In the Properties window, click in the ListRows box1.

Type the number of rows that you want displayed in

the dropdown. In this example, the setting is: 12

2.

Turn on AutoComplete

In the Properties window, click in the MatchEntry

property

1.

From the dropdown list, select

1-frmMatchEntryComplete

2.

Exit Design Mode

Close the Properties window1.

On the Control Toolbox, click the Exit Design Mode

button

2.

Add the Code

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code is required to make the combo boxappear when you click in a cell that contains a data validation list.

Copy the following code:

'=========================================

Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)

Dim str As String

Dim cboTemp As OLEObject

Dim ws As Worksheet

Set ws = ActiveSheet

On Error GoTo errHandler

If Target.Count > 1 Then GoTo exitHandler

Set cboTemp = ws.OLEObjects("TempCombo")

On Error Resume Next

If cboTemp.Visible = True Then


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With cboTemp

.Top = 10

.Left = 10

.ListFillRange = ""

.LinkedCell = ""

.Visible = False

.Value = ""

End With

End If

On Error GoTo errHandler

If Target.Validation.Type = 3 Then

'if the cell contains a data validation list

Application.EnableEvents = False

'get the data validation formula

str = Target.Validation.Formula1

str = Right(str, Len(str) - 1)

With cboTemp

'show the combobox with the list

.Visible = True

.Left = Target.Left

.Top = Target.Top

.Width = Target.Width + 15

.Height = Target.Height + 5

.ListFillRange = ws.Range(str).Address

.LinkedCell = Target.Address

End With

cboTemp.Activate

'open the drop down list automatically

Me.TempCombo.DropDown

End If

exitHandler:

Application.ScreenUpdating = True

Application.EnableEvents = True

Exit Sub

errHandler:

Resume exitHandler

End Sub

'====================================

'Optional code to move to next cell if Tab or Enter are pressed

'from code by Ted Lanham

'***NOTE: if KeyDown causes problems, change to KeyUp

Private Sub TempCombo_KeyDown(ByVal _

KeyCode As MSForms.ReturnInteger, _

ByVal Shift As Integer)

Select Case KeyCode

Case 9 'Tab

ActiveCell.Offset(0, 1).Activate

Case 13 'Enter

ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Activate

Case Else

'do nothing

End Select

End Sub

'====================================

To add this code to the worksheet:

Right-click on the sheet tab, and choose View Code.1.

Choose Edit | Paste, to paste the code onto the sheet

module, where the cursor is flashing.

2.

Choose File | Close and Return to Microsoft Excel. 3.

Test the Code

Click on one of the cells that contains a data

validation list.

1.

The combo box will appear2.

Select an item from the combo box dropdown list3.

Click on a different cell, to select it4.

The selected item appears in previous cell, and the

combo box disappears.

5.

Download the sample file

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Excel Tutorials - Data Validation

Data Validation BasicsData Validation - Create Dependent ListsData Validation - Dependent Dropdowns from aSorted List Data Validation - Dependent Lists With INDEX Hide Previously Used Items in a Dropdown ListData Validation - Display Messages to the UserData Validation - Display Input Messages in aText Box Data Validation - Use a List from AnotherWorkbookData Validation Criteria ExamplesData Validation Custom Criteria ExamplesData Validation TipsData Validation DocumentationData Validation Combo Box Data Validation Combo Box - Named RangesData Validation Combo Box -- ClickData Validation - Add New Items

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Debra Dalgleish

Last updated: July 11, 2013 4:34 PM


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Excel Data Validation Combo Box Click