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Excel -- Data Validation -- Combo box -- Click

 

Download the zipped sample file

Create a Data Validation Dropdown List  
Add the Combo box  
Open the Properties Window  
Change the Combo box Properties  
Exit Design Mode  
Add the Code  
Test the Code  


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. 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.

If you would prefer to see the combo box only when you double-click on a data validation cell, please use the instructions at one of the following pages:

Data Validation -- Combo Box     
Data Validation -- Combo Box - Named Ranges

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

 


Create a Data Validation Dropdown List

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

Tip: Use the AutoFill feature to create the lists

  1. In cells K2:K8 type a list of weekdays
  2. In cells M2:M13 type a list of months 

The next step is to create the data validation dropdown lists. 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:

  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 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
  With cboTemp
    .Top = 10
    .Left = 10
    .ListFillRange = ""
    .LinkedCell = ""
    .Visible = False
    .Value = ""
  End With
End If
  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 = ws.Range(str).Address
      .LinkedCell = Target.Address
    End With
    cboTemp.Activate
  End If

exitHandler:
  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
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. 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

 

1. Data Validation
2. Data Validation -- Create Dependent Lists
3. Hide Previously Used Items in a Dropdown List
4. Display Messages to the User
5. Use a List from Another Workbook
6. Validation Criteria Examples
7. Custom Validation Criteria Examples
8. Data Validation Tips
9. Data Validation Documentation
10. Data Validation -- Combo Box     
11. Data Validation -- Combo Box - Named Ranges
12. Data Validation -- Display Input Messages in a Text Box 
13. Data Validation -- Dependent Dropdowns from a Sorted List  
14. Data Validation -- Combo Box -- Click

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Last updated: November 4, 2008 4:22 PM