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Data Validation Combo Box using Named Ranges

Set up the Workbook    
Create a Dropdown 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 Sample File
More Data Validation Tutorials

You can use Data Validation to create a dropdown list of options in a cell. However, the list font can't be changed, nor can the number of visible rows, which has a maximum of eight. Also, Data Validation doesn't have an AutoComplete feature, which finds matching items in the list as you start to type.

To overcome these limitations, you can add a combo box to your worksheet, and use programming to make it appear in cells that contain a data validation list.

Double-click on a cell that contains a data validation list, and the combo box appears. The combo box's font size can be set, more than 8 rows can be displayed, and autocomplete can be enabled.

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

Set up the Workbook

Two worksheets are required in this workbook.

  1. Delete all sheets except Sheet1 and Sheet2
  2. Rename Sheet1 as ValidationSample
  3. Rename Sheet2 as ValidationLists

On the ValidationLists sheet, type the lists that will be used in the data validation dropdowns:

Tip: Use the AutoFill feature to create the lists

  1. In cells A1:A7 type a list of weekdays
  2. In cells C1:C12 type a list of months

Name the lists (there are Naming instructions here: Name a Range):

  1. Name the range A1:A7 as DayList
  2. Name the range C1:C12 as MonthList    

Create a Dropdown List

The next step is to create the dropdown lists. There are detailed instructions here: Excel Data Validation Introduction 

  • Cells C2:C12 have data validation lists with the source DayList. 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 MonthList. 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:

  1. Choose View | Toolbars
  2. Select Control Toolbox
  3. Click the Design Mode button

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

  5. Click on an empty area of the worksheet, to add a combo box

Open the Properties Window

To format the combo box, open the properties window:

  1. Select the combo box
  2. On the Control Toolbox, click the Properties button


Change the Combo box Properties

Name the Combo box

  1. In the Properties window, click in the Name box
  2. Type a name for the combo box. In this example, the name is: TempCombo

Change the Font and Font Size

  1. In the Properties window, click in the Font property, and click the ... button 

  2. In the Font dialog box, select a font, font size, and other settings that you want for your combo box.

  1. Click OK  

Set the Number of Rows

  1. In the Properties window, click in the ListRows box
  2. Type the number of rows that you want displayed in the dropdown. In this example, the setting is: 12

Turn on AutoComplete

  1. In the Properties window, click in the MatchEntry property
  2. From the dropdown list, select 1-frmMatchEntryComplete

Exit Design Mode

  1. Close the Properties window
  2. On the Control Toolbox, click the Exit Design Mode button


Add the Code

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

Copy the following code:

'==========================
Private Sub Worksheet_BeforeDoubleClick(ByVal Target As Range, _
  Cancel As Boolean)
Dim str As String
Dim cboTemp As OLEObject
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim wsList As Worksheet
Set ws = ActiveSheet
Set wsList = Sheets("ValidationLists")

Cancel = True
Set cboTemp = ws.OLEObjects("TempCombo")
  On Error Resume Next
  With cboTemp
  'clear and hide the combo box
    .ListFillRange = ""
    .LinkedCell = ""
    .Visible = False
  End With
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 + 5
      .Height = Target.Height + 5
      .ListFillRange = str
      .LinkedCell = Target.Address
    End With
    cboTemp.Activate
    'open the drop down list automatically
    Me.TempCombo.DropDown 

  End If
  
errHandler:
  Application.EnableEvents = True
  Exit Sub

End Sub
'=========================================
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim str As String
Dim cboTemp As OLEObject
Dim ws As Worksheet
Set ws = ActiveSheet
Application.EnableEvents = False
Application.ScreenUpdating = True

If Application.CutCopyMode Then
  'allow copying and pasting on the worksheet
  GoTo errHandler
End If

Set cboTemp = ws.OLEObjects("TempCombo")
  On Error Resume Next
  With cboTemp
    .Top = 10
    .Left = 10
    .Width = 0
    .ListFillRange = ""
    .LinkedCell = ""
    .Visible = False
    .Value = ""
  End With

errHandler:
  Application.EnableEvents = True
  Exit Sub

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:

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

  2. Choose Edit | Paste, to paste the code onto the sheet module, where the cursor is flashing.
  3. Choose File | Close and Return to Microsoft Excel.

Test the Code

  1. Double-click on one of the cells that contains a data validation list.
  2. The combo box will appear
  3. Select an item from the combo box dropdown list
  4. Click on a different cell, to select it
  5. The selected item appears in previous cell, and the combo box disappears.

Download the Sample File

To test the combo box code, you can download the zipped sample file.

More Data Validation Tutorials

Data Validation Basics
Data Validation - Create Dependent Lists
Data Validation - Dependent Dropdowns from a Sorted List  
Data Validation - Dependent Lists With INDEX  
Hide Previously Used Items in a Dropdown List
Data Validation - Display Messages to the User
Data Validation - Display Input Messages in a Text Box 
Data Validation - Use a List from Another Workbook
Data Validation Criteria Examples
Data Validation Custom Criteria Examples
Data Validation Tips
Data Validation Documentation
Data Validation Combo Box     
Data Validation Combo Box - Named Ranges
Data Validation Combo Box -- Click
Data Validation - Add New Items  

 

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Last updated: June 3, 2013 6:54 PM