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Guide - Data Validation Select Popup

This user guide shows how use the Setup workbook, where you can customize and install the Data Validation Select Popup (DVSP) tool from Contextures.

Note: The DVSP tool is a free version of the popular DVMSP tool that I sold for several years. In the videos, screen shots and written steps, you might see "DVMSP", instead of "DVSP".

DVSP Intro

With the DVSP tool, you can set up popup lists in an Excel workbook, to quickly and easily select items from a drop down listt.

Before you can use the popup list, you must have named ranges set up in your workbook, and drop down lists that are based on those ranges.

Follow the steps below, to set up the DVSP popup list in your workbook.

• Videos: DVSP Videos page - Quick Demo, and step-by-step video for using the Setup workbook.
• Tips & Fixes: Check the DVSP Frequently Asked Questons (FAQ) page.

Open the DVSP Setup File

After you download and unzip the DVSP tool, open the DVSP Setup file. A DMVSP tab will appear on the Excel Ribbon -- click that to see the DVSP commands.

The Overview page is showing, and you can click the Overview command at any time, to return to that page.

Prepare Your Excel File

Before you can use the popup list in your workbook, you'll have to prepare your file, by setting up one or more drop down lists.

On the DVSP tab click the Prepare Your File command, then follow the steps on that page.

Change the Column Headings

Next, you will be customizing the DVSP code, so it runs the way you need it to. Some of the options ask for a column number, so use the command to change the column headings from letters to numbers..

If your column headings currently show letters, on the DMVSP tab click the Column Headingscommand, to change them to numbers.

Later, you can click that command again, to change them back to letters..

Customize the Code - Basic

Next, click the Customize the Code - Basic command on the DVSP tab.

The Customize the Code - Basic sheet appears, and there are drop down lists where you can select the options for your workbook. In the example shown below, column 5 in the workbook will be Single Selections, and all the other columns will allow multiple selections.

Customize the Code - Advanced

Next, click the Customize the Code - Advanced command on the DVSP tab.

The Customize the Code - Advanced sheet appears, and there are drop down lists where you can select the options for your workbook. You can select from the drop down lists, or click the Apply Default Settings button, to use those settings.

Trust Access to Visual Basic Project

The next step will be to copy the code to your workbook. Click the Copy the Code and Forms command on the DVSP tab.

In order to automatically copy the code from the Setup file, into your workbook, Excel must have permission to access the VB Project. If you don't have this setting turned on, you will see the Trust Access to Visual Basic Project page. Follow the steps there, to change the setting. Then, click the Copy the Code and Forms command on the DVSP tab again.

This is an application level setting, so you will only have to do this once, not for every workbook.

If the Trust page does not appear, go to the section below.

Copy the Code

When you click the Copy the Code and Forms command on the DVSP tab, a form appears, with two drop down lists.

• In the first list, select the workbook into which you want to copy the popup list.
• In the second list, select the worksheet where the popup list should appear.

Click OK and the popup list form, the Add New Items form, and a code module, are copied to your workbook.

When the confirmation message appears, click OK, then test the popup list in your workbook.

DVSP Help Pages

There is no technical support provided for the DVSP tool. Use the tool as is, and at your own risk.

For more tips and instructions, visit the following pages:

-- Data Validation Multi-Select Popup page

-- DVSP Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ) page

Related Tutorials

Data Validation Basics

Create Dependent Lists

Data Validation Tips