I'd like to add a drop-down list to a Windows application. It will have two choices, neither of which are editable. What's the best control to use? Is it a combo box with the editing property set to No?
I'm using Visual Studio 2008.
I'd suggest taking a look at the Windows Vista User Experience Guide. It sounds like you might be better off with radio buttons, or, if it's an explicit on/off type of situation, using a check box. I think we'd really need more info, though.
yourComboBox.DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList
Set the DropDownStyle property to DropDownList.
See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.combobox.dropdownstyle(VS.80).aspx
The combobox in winforms doubles as a uneditable drop down list by changing the DropDownStyle property to "DropDownList": I don't think there is a separate drop down list control.
Create two text boxes next to each other TextBox1 and TextBox2, for TextBox2 set multiple lines and autosize.
create your dropdown list somewhere. In my example it was in a different sheet with about 13,000 entries.
Below are two functions, the first drives the input box, TextBox1. as you type, the 2nd box, TextBox2 shows the remaining valid choices. The second function, loads the first textbox if you click on a choice in the second box
In the below, cell B3 on the current sheet had to be loaded with the typed/selected answer. In my application, I only wanted to search for uppercase characters hence the UCase usage. My list data was 13302 entries in column Z
Private Sub TextBox1_Keyup(ByVal KeyCode As MSForms.ReturnInteger, ByVal Shift As Integer)
Dim curtext As String
Dim k, where As Integer
Dim tmp As String
Dim bigtmp As String
curtext = TextBox1.Text
curtext = UCase(curtext)
TextBox1.Text = curtext
Range("b3").Value = curtext
If Len(curtext) = 0 Then
TextBox2.Visible = False
Exit Sub
End If
TextBox2.Visible = True
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
For k = 2 To 13303 ' YOUR LIST ROWS
tmp = Sheets("General Lookup").Range("Z" & k).Value ' YOUR LIST RANGE
where = InStr(1, tmp, TextBox1.Text, 1)
If where = 1 Then
bigtmp = bigtmp & tmp & Chr(13)
End If
Next
TextBox2.Text = bigtmp
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
Private Sub TextBox2_MouseUp(ByVal Button As Integer, ByVal Shift As Integer, ByVal X As Single, ByVal Y As Single)
If Len(TextBox2.SelText) > 0 Then
TextBox1.Text = TextBox2.SelText
Range("b3").Value = TextBox2.SelText
TextBox2.Visible = False
End If
End Sub
Related
I've got part of my code that creates a tab in a tabcontrol, and then fills it with a datagridview which contains a couple columns that are DataGridViewComboBoxColumn.
It looks like this:
Private Sub NewTabPage()
Dim TabPageCount As Integer = RacerOrderTAB.TabPages.Count
RacerOrderTAB.TabPages.Add(TeamNames(TabPageCount)) 'teamnames() is an array of team names
Dim CurrentTabPage = RacerOrderTAB.TabPages(TabPageCount)
Dim GridToAdd As New DataGridView
GridToAdd.Size = CurrentTabPage.Size
GridToAdd.AutoSizeColumnsMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnsMode.Fill
GridToAdd.Location = New Point(CurrentTabPage.Location.X, CurrentTabPage.Location.Y)
GridToAdd.Columns.Add("ShiftCOL", "Shift Name")
GridToAdd.Name = "grid_" & CurrentTabPage.Text
For y As Integer = 1 To ShiftSetup.racerspershift 'add extra column for each racer in shift
Dim cmb As New DataGridViewComboBoxColumn
cmb.HeaderText = "Racer" & y
cmb.Name = "Racer_" & y
cmb.MaxDropDownItems = AmountOfRacers
cmb.DisplayStyle = DataGridViewComboBoxDisplayStyle.DropDownButton
GridToAdd.Columns.Add(cmb)
Next
RacerOrderTAB.TabPages(TabPageCount).Controls.Add(GridToAdd)
End Sub
But I've been having difficulty in adding an eventhandler for the comboboxes. What I want to happen is that when a combobox is clicked and opened, I populate it with the items I want.
I managed to vaguely get it working by adding:
AddHandler GridToAdd.EditingControlShowing, AddressOf <sub name>
but then have been unable to figure out which combobox was clicked, and how to populate it. It's also been requiring like four clicks before the drop list will appear. I'm only slightly very confused.
Thanks for any advice; these DataGridViewComboBoxColumns [deep breath] have been confusing me a lot!
It may be a little hacky but it should do what you are asking… hopefully. I created two List(Of String) variables. AllRacers contains all the racers… i.e. all the names we want to appear in a combo box such that there is no other combo box on that row that has an item selected. These names are what all combo boxes on all rows would initially contain in the selectable items list.
The other List(Of String) UsedRacers contains a list of all the “comboboxes” on the current row that have selected items. Each time a cell value is changed and it is one of the “combobox” column cells, then UsedRacers is cleared/updated to reflect the added/changed selected item on the current row.
When a “comboBox” cell value is changed, SetUsedRacersForRow is called…
Private Sub SetUsedRacersForRow(rowIndex As Int16)
UsedRacers.Clear()
Dim curValue = ""
For i = 1 To racersPerShift
If (Not (dgvRacers.Rows(rowIndex).Cells(i).Value Is Nothing)) Then
curValue = dgvRacers.Rows(rowIndex).Cells(i).Value.ToString()
If (Not (String.IsNullOrEmpty(curValue))) Then
UsedRacers.Add(curValue)
End If
End If
Next
End Sub
The code above loops through all the “combobox” cells in the given row and if a “combobox” cell has something selected, the selected value is added to the UsedRacers list.
Now that the selected items for all the “comboboxes” in that row are in the UsedRacers list, we can now loop through each “combobox” cell in that row and set the proper list of names. To help, a method is created that returns a DataGridViewComboBoxCell such that the names in the current UsedRacers list will NOT be in the DataGridViewComboBoxCell’s list of selectable names.
The only issue here would be with cells that currently have an item selected. Each “combobox” cell with an item selected will uniquely need to have its selected item in its list of items. To remedy this, a check is needed to see if the “combobox” cell contains a value. If the “combobox” cell DOES contain a selected value, then this value is also contained in the UsedRacers list. Since THIS cell is the cell that is in the UseRacers list… then we need to ADD this value to this cells items list. Otherwise, we would not be able to display the unique selection.
To keep the UsedRacers list consistent, we need to add this item directly to the individual “combobox” cell and not remove or alter the UsedRacers list as this will be used for the other “combobox” cells. In other words… whatever value is selected in a combo box, we need to make sure it is one of the items in the “combobox’s” list of selectable items. I hope that makes sense.
This can all be done in the DataGridViews CellChanged event.
Private Sub dgvRacers_CellValueChanged(sender As Object, e As DataGridViewCellEventArgs) Handles dgvRacers.CellValueChanged
If (e.ColumnIndex >= 1 And e.ColumnIndex <= racersPerShift) Then
SetUsedRacersForRow(e.RowIndex)
For i = 1 To racersPerShift
Dim newCell As DataGridViewComboBoxCell = GetCurrentComboBoxCell()
If (Not (dgvRacers.Rows(e.RowIndex).Cells(i).Value Is Nothing)) Then
Dim curValue = dgvRacers.Rows(e.RowIndex).Cells(i).Value.ToString()
newCell.Items.Add(curValue)
newCell.Value = curValue
End If
dgvRacers.Rows(e.RowIndex).Cells(i) = newCell
Next
End If
End Sub
In the code above, a method GetCurrentComboBoxCell (below) returns a DataGridViewComboBoxCell such that the items in the combo boxes list of items does not contain any items that are in the UsedRacers list. Because of this, a check is needed (above) to see if the cell already contains a value. NOTE: the DataGridViewComboBoxCell returned will always contain a “blank” empty item. This is necessary to allow the user to “De-Select” any currently selected value and then make the “De-Selected” item available to the other combo box cells.
Public Function GetCurrentComboBoxCell() As DataGridViewComboBoxCell
Dim newComboCell = New DataGridViewComboBoxCell()
newComboCell.DisplayStyle = DataGridViewComboBoxDisplayStyle.DropDownButton
newComboCell.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Flat
newComboCell.Items.Add("")
For Each curRacer In AllRacers
If (Not UsedRacers.Contains(curRacer)) Then
newComboCell.Items.Add(curRacer)
End If
Next
Return newComboCell
End Function
Finally, putting all this together…
Dim racersInShift = 3
Dim AllRacers As List(Of String) = New List(Of String) From {"John", "Bobby", "Trent", "Josh", "Chapman", "Henry", "George", "Marvin"}
'Dim racersPerShift As Int16 = AllRacers.Count '<-- should be MAX value
Dim racersPerShift As Int16 = 4
Dim UsedRacers = New List(Of String)
Private Sub Form2_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
BuildGrid()
End Sub
Private Sub BuildGrid()
dgvRacers.Size = New Size(800, 200)
dgvRacers.AutoSizeColumnsMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnsMode.Fill
'dgvRacers.Location = New Point(50, 200)
dgvRacers.Columns.Add("ShiftCOL", "Shift Name")
dgvRacers.Name = "RacersDGV"
dgvRacers.EditMode = DataGridViewEditMode.EditOnEnter
dgvRacers.AllowUserToAddRows = False
AddRacerColumns()
AddRacerRows()
End Sub
Private Sub AddRacerColumns()
Dim newColumn As DataGridViewComboBoxColumn
For i As Integer = 1 To racersPerShift
newColumn = GetNewComboBoxColumn("Racer" & i, "Racer " & i)
dgvRacers.Columns.Add(newColumn)
Next
End Sub
Private Sub AddRacerRows()
For i As Integer = 1 To racersInShift
Dim row As New DataGridViewRow
dgvRacers.Rows.Add(row)
Next
End Sub
Private Sub dgvRacers_CellValueChanged(sender As Object, e As DataGridViewCellEventArgs)
‘See code above
End Sub
Private Sub SetUsedRacersForRow(rowIndex As Int16)
‘See code above
End Sub
Public Function GetCurrentComboBoxCell() As DataGridViewComboBoxCell
‘See code above
End Function
‘Lastly a method to set a whole `DataGridviewComboBoxColumn` which is used to initialize all the combo box columns
Public Function GetNewComboBoxColumn(colName As String, colHeader As String) As DataGridViewComboBoxColumn
Dim newComboCol = New DataGridViewComboBoxColumn()
newComboCol.DisplayStyle = DataGridViewComboBoxDisplayStyle.DropDownButton
newComboCol.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Flat
newComboCol.Items.Add("")
newComboCol.HeaderText = colHeader
newComboCol.Name = colName
For Each curRacer In AllRacers
newComboCol.Items.Add(curRacer)
Next
Return newComboCol
End Function
I hope this helps, I am guessing there is an easier way to do this.
In visual basic I want to be able to access a button's name using the number stored in a variable.
For example if I have 24 buttons that are all named 'Button' with the numbers 1, 2, 3... 22, 23, 24 after it. If I want to then change the text in the first eight buttons how would I do that.
Here's my example to help show what I mean:
For i = 1 to 8
Button(i).text = "Hello"
Next
The proposed solutions so far will fail if the Buttons are not directly contained by the Form itself. What if they are in a different container? You could simple change "Me" to "Panel1", for instance, but that doesn't help if the Buttons are spread across multiple containers.
To make it work, regardless of the Buttons locations, use the Controls.Find() method with the "searchAllChildren" option:
Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim ctlName As String
Dim matches() As Control
For i As Integer = 1 To 8
ctlName = "Button" & i
matches = Me.Controls.Find(ctlName, True)
If matches.Length > 0 AndAlso TypeOf matches(0) Is Button Then
Dim btn As Button = DirectCast(matches(0), Button)
btn.Text = "Hello #" & i
End If
Next
End Sub
For index As Integer = 1 To 8
CType(Me.Controls("Button" & index.ToString().Trim()),Button).Text = "Hello"
Next
Use LINQ and you're good to go:
Dim yourButtonArray = yourForm.Controls.OfType(of Button).ToArray
' takes all controls whose Type is Button
For each button in yourButtonArray.Take(8)
button.Text = "Hello"
Next
Or
Dim yourButtonArray = yourForm.Controls.Cast(of Control).Where(
Function(b) b.Name.StartsWith("Button")
).ToArray
' takes all controls whose name starts with "Button" regardless of its type
For each button in yourButtonArray.Take(8)
button.Text = "Hello"
Next
In any case, .Take(8) will iterate on the first 8 items stored inside yourButtonArray
I am new in vb.net, so not much familiar with all VB functions. While working on 1 Windows Application, while taking order we need to save product and its specification like weight, height, width, color, length, material etc.
since every product can have different specification so its is not possible to determine and provide for fields in database.
So, I decided to provide textboxes so user can enter name & value while entering product details. 1 textbox for name & other textbox for value.
like this
Textbox1 = "WEIGHT" TextBox2 = "10" '(Value of Weight)
Textbox3 = "WIDTH" TextBox4 = "5" '(value of Width)
Textbox4 = "LENGTH" TextBox5 = "5" '(Value of Length)
(All these textboxes are dynamically created in Groupbox "GBox1")
Instead of saving product specification in separate column. I want to save these names & values as String e.g. "WEIGHT=10;WIDTH=5;LENGTH=5" in SQL Database(TEXT OR VARCHAR field). Because we dnt want any calculations or search etc. on this. just customer requirements to book order & save in Database for future records.
Then again While calling or editing Product SPLIT the string as separate fields, String Before = Separate & string after = separate, then display all names & their corresponding values in Textboxes (as Displayed while adding) so user can edit and after changes again save as single string value.
After search I found SPLIT & JOIN functions for this purpose.
need some help in using these functions in Loop to merge string from textboxes
for each loop to read all textboxes in Groupbox
Dim ItemList As New ArrayList()
Dim PrDetails As String
For Each Ctrl As Control In GBox1.Controls
If TypeOf Ctrl Is TextBox Then
ItemList.Add(CType(Ctrl, TextBox).Text)
End If
Next
PrDetails = String.Join()
How to perform join on these array list? and again SPLIT this pattern while retrieving from Database.
Also need suggestions regarding this approach or any other way to implement. Thanks.
For this solution to work, you will need to accept the fact that there needs to be some amount of standardization to your solution. TextBox1 and TextBox3 won't work as names, so I used txtName1 and txtValue1 etc. To test this solution, make a new form, put GroupBox1, paste the code in the class and run.
Private nameTextBoxName = "txtName" ' name textbox prefix
Private valueTextBoxName = "txtValue" ' value textbox prefix
Private paramSeparator = ";" ' between sets of parameters
Private nameAndValueSeparator = "=" ' between name and value
Private xOffset = 10 ' for horizontal spacing inside the groupbox
Private yOffset = 20 ' for vertical spacing inside the groupbox
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
' your example data
Dim testString = "WEIGHT=10;WIDTH=5;LENGTH=5"
' set the textboxes
setTextBoxes(testString)
' get the string from the textboxes
Dim result = getTextBoxesString()
End Sub
' call to get a string with all the data from the textboxes
Private Function getTextBoxesString() As String
Dim stringToDatabase = ""
Dim textBoxes = GroupBox1.Controls.OfType(Of Control).
Where(Function(co As Control) TypeOf co Is TextBox).
Select(Of TextBox)(Function(co As Control) CType(co, TextBox))
Dim nameTextBoxes = textBoxes.Where(Function(co As Control) co.Name.Contains(nameTextBoxName))
Dim valueTextBoxes = textBoxes.Where(Function(co As Control) co.Name.Contains(valueTextBoxName))
stringToDatabase = nameTextBoxes.Select(Of String)(
Function(nameTextBox As TextBox)
Dim valueTextBox = valueTextBoxes.
Where(Function(vtb As TextBox) vtb.Name = nameTextBox.Name.Replace(nameTextBoxName, valueTextBoxName)).
First()
Return nameTextBox.Text & nameAndValueSeparator & valueTextBox.Text
End Function).Aggregate(Function(oldValue, newValue) oldValue & paramSeparator & newValue)
Return stringToDatabase
End Function
' call to set the textboxes inside the groupbox based on the data string
Private Sub setTextBoxes(textBoxesString As String)
Dim params = textBoxesString.Split(paramSeparator)
Dim index = 1
GroupBox1.Controls.Clear()
For Each param In params
Dim nameAndValue = param.Split(nameAndValueSeparator)
Dim nameTextBox As New TextBox With
{.Name = nameTextBoxName & index.ToString(),
.Text = nameAndValue(0),
.Location = New Point(xOffset, (index - 1) * .Height + yOffset)}
Dim valueTextBox As New TextBox With
{.Name = valueTextBoxName & index.ToString(),
.Text = nameAndValue(1),
.Location = New Point(.Width + xOffset, (index - 1) * .Height + yOffset)}
GroupBox1.Controls.Add(nameTextBox)
GroupBox1.Controls.Add(valueTextBox)
index += 1
Next
End Sub
I have a setup in my code where there is a datagridview. For each row I have a combo box cell that I have a separate combo box cell since I want a different selection of items for each cell.
Problem : The cell only drops down when the arrow is double clicked. How can I change the cell formatting, or possibly a cell click event, so that the cell response to just one click?
Here's my cell creation code. Frankly, I didn't start any other code since I didn't know what event to touch or call. Is there a property I can edit?
Code:
'add items to combobox list
Dim comboCell As New DataGridViewComboBoxCell
comboCell.FlatStyle = FlatStyle.Flat
Dim resolutionList As New List(Of cmbStruct)
Dim currentResIndex As Integer = 0
'create list of resolutions
For j As Integer = 0 To resolutions.Length - 1
Dim resClass As New cmbStruct
resClass.Name = resolutions(j)
resClass.ID = resolutions(j)
resolutionList.Add(resClass)
comboCell.Items.Add(resolutions(j))
Next
'set combocell values
comboCell.DisplayMember = "Name"
comboCell.ValueMember = "ID"
'set the default value to the current resolution index
Try
comboCell.Value = resolutions(currentResIndex)
Catch ex As Exception
End Try
comboCell.ValueType = GetType(cmbStruct)
comboCell.DataSource = resolutionList
editCameraTable("Resolution", i) = comboCell
Next
Change the EditMode property:
DataGridView1.EditMode = DataGridViewEditMode.EditOnEnter
There seems to be a nearly identical question and a very good answer. It involves using the click_event. Here is the link:
How to manually drop down a DataGridViewComboBoxColumn?
In the link:
Private Sub cell_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As DataGridViewCellEventArgs) Handles DataGridView1.CellClick
DataGridView1.BeginEdit(True)
If DataGridView1.Rows(e.RowIndex).Cells(ddl.Name).Selected = True Then
DirectCast(DataGridView1.EditingControl, DataGridViewComboBoxEditingControl).DroppedDown = True
End If
End Sub
I'm using a large validation list on which a couple of vlookup() functions depend. This list is getting larger and larger. Is there a way to type the first letters of the list item I'm looking for, instead of manually scrolling down the list searching for the item?
I've done some Googling but this suggests that this is indeed possible in earlier versions of Excel, but not in Excel 2010. Hope you guys can help.
Here is a very good way to handle this (found on ozgrid):
Let's say your list is on Sheet2 and you wish to use the Validation List with AutoComplete on Sheet1.
On Sheet1 A1 Enter =Sheet2!A1 and copy down including as many spare rows as needed (say 300 rows total). Hide these rows and use this formula in the Refers to: for a dynamic named range called MyList:
=OFFSET(Sheet1!$A$1,0,0,MATCH("*",Sheet1!$A$1:$A$300,-1),1)
Now in the cell immediately below the last hidden row use Data Validation and for the List Source use =MyList
[EDIT] Adapted version for Excel 2007+ (couldn't test on 2010 though but AFAIK, there is nothing really specific to a version).
Let's say your data source is on Sheet2!A1:A300 and let's assume your validation list (aka autocomplete) is on cell Sheet1!A1.
Create a dynamic named range MyList that will depend on the value of the cell where you put the validation
=OFFSET(Sheet2!$A$1,MATCH(Sheet1!$A$1&"*",Sheet2!$A$1:$A$300,0)-1,0,COUNTA(Sheet2!$A:$A))
Add the validation list on cell Sheet1!A1 that will refert to the list =MyList
Caveats
This is not a real autocomplete as you have to type first and then click on the validation arrow : the list will then begin at the first matching element of your list
The list will go till the end of your data. If you want to be more precise (keep in the list only the matching elements), you can change the COUNTA with a SUMLPRODUCT that will calculate the number of matching elements
Your source list must be sorted
Here's another option. It works by putting an ActiveX ComboBox on top of the cell with validation enabled, and then providing autocomplete in the ComboBox instead.
Option Explicit
' Autocomplete - replacing validation lists with ActiveX ComboBox
'
' Usage:
' 1. Copy this code into a module named m_autocomplete
' 2. Go to Tools / References and make sure "Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library" is checked
' 3. Copy and paste the following code to the worksheet where you want autocomplete
' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' - autocomplete
' Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
' m_autocomplete.SelectionChangeHandler Target
' End Sub
' Private Sub AutoComplete_Combo_KeyDown(ByVal KeyCode As msforms.ReturnInteger, ByVal Shift As Integer)
' m_autocomplete.KeyDownHandler KeyCode, Shift
' End Sub
' Private Sub AutoComplete_Combo_Click()
' m_autocomplete.AutoComplete_Combo_Click
' End Sub
' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' When the combobox is clicked, it should dropdown (expand)
Public Sub AutoComplete_Combo_Click()
Dim ws As Worksheet: Set ws = ActiveSheet
Dim cbo As OLEObject: Set cbo = GetComboBoxObject(ws)
Dim cb As ComboBox: Set cb = cbo.Object
If cbo.Visible Then cb.DropDown
End Sub
' Make it easier to navigate between cells
Public Sub KeyDownHandler(ByVal KeyCode As MSForms.ReturnInteger, ByVal Shift As Integer)
Const UP As Integer = -1
Const DOWN As Integer = 1
Const K_TAB_______ As Integer = 9
Const K_ENTER_____ As Integer = 13
Const K_ARROW_UP__ As Integer = 38
Const K_ARROW_DOWN As Integer = 40
Dim direction As Integer: direction = 0
If Shift = 0 And KeyCode = K_TAB_______ Then direction = DOWN
If Shift = 0 And KeyCode = K_ENTER_____ Then direction = DOWN
If Shift = 1 And KeyCode = K_TAB_______ Then direction = UP
If Shift = 1 And KeyCode = K_ENTER_____ Then direction = UP
If Shift = 1 And KeyCode = K_ARROW_UP__ Then direction = UP
If Shift = 1 And KeyCode = K_ARROW_DOWN Then direction = DOWN
If direction <> 0 Then ActiveCell.Offset(direction, 0).Activate
AutoComplete_Combo_Click
End Sub
Public Sub SelectionChangeHandler(ByVal Target As Range)
On Error GoTo errHandler
Dim ws As Worksheet: Set ws = ActiveSheet
Dim cbo As OLEObject: Set cbo = GetComboBoxObject(ws)
Dim cb As ComboBox: Set cb = cbo.Object
' Try to hide the ComboBox. This might be buggy...
If cbo.Visible Then
cbo.Left = 10
cbo.Top = 10
cbo.ListFillRange = ""
cbo.LinkedCell = ""
cbo.Visible = False
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
ActiveSheet.Calculate
ActiveWindow.SmallScroll
Application.WindowState = Application.WindowState
DoEvents
End If
If Not HasValidationList(Target) Then GoTo ex
Application.EnableEvents = False
' TODO: the code below is a little fragile
Dim lfr As String
lfr = Mid(Target.Validation.Formula1, 2)
lfr = Replace(lfr, "INDIREKTE", "") ' norwegian
lfr = Replace(lfr, "INDIRECT", "") ' english
lfr = Replace(lfr, """", "")
lfr = Application.Range(lfr).Address(External:=True)
cbo.ListFillRange = lfr
cbo.Visible = True
cbo.Left = Target.Left
cbo.Top = Target.Top
cbo.Height = Target.Height + 5
cbo.Width = Target.Width + 15
cbo.LinkedCell = Target.Address(External:=True)
cbo.Activate
cb.SelStart = 0
cb.SelLength = cb.TextLength
cb.DropDown
GoTo ex
errHandler:
Debug.Print "Error"
Debug.Print Err.Number
Debug.Print Err.Description
ex:
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub
' Does the cell have a validation list?
Function HasValidationList(Cell As Range) As Boolean
HasValidationList = False
On Error GoTo ex
If Cell.Validation.Type = xlValidateList Then HasValidationList = True
ex:
End Function
' Retrieve or create the ComboBox
Function GetComboBoxObject(ws As Worksheet) As OLEObject
Dim cbo As OLEObject
On Error Resume Next
Set cbo = ws.OLEObjects("AutoComplete_Combo")
On Error GoTo 0
If cbo Is Nothing Then
'Dim EnableSelection As Integer: EnableSelection = ws.EnableSelection
Dim ProtectContents As Boolean: ProtectContents = ws.ProtectContents
Debug.Print "Lager AutoComplete_Combo"
If ProtectContents Then ws.Unprotect
Set cbo = ws.OLEObjects.Add(ClassType:="Forms.ComboBox.1", Link:=False, DisplayAsIcon:=False, _
Left:=50, Top:=18.75, Width:=129, Height:=18.75)
cbo.name = "AutoComplete_Combo"
cbo.Object.MatchRequired = True
cbo.Object.ListRows = 12
If ProtectContents Then ws.Protect
End If
Set GetComboBoxObject = cbo
End Function
Building on the answer of JMax, use this formula for the dynamic named range to make the solution work for multiple rows:
=OFFSET(Sheet2!$A$1,MATCH(INDIRECT("Sheet1!"&ADDRESS(ROW(),COLUMN(),4))&"*",Sheet2!$A$1:$A$300,0)-1,0,COUNTA(Sheet2!$A:$A))
Excel automatically does this whenever you have a vertical column of items. If you select the blank cell below (or above) the column and start typing, it does autocomplete based on everything in the column.
As other people suggested, you need to use a combobox. However, most tutorials show you how to set up just one combobox and the process is quite tedious.
As I faced this problem before when entering a large amount of data from a list, I can suggest you use this autocomplete add-in . It helps you create the combobox on any cells you select and you can define a list to appear in the dropdown.
=OFFSET(NameList!$A$2:$A$200,MATCH(INDIRECT("FillData!"&ADDRESS(ROW(),COLUMN(),4))&"*",NameList!$A$2:$A$200,0)-1,0,COUNTIF($A$2:$A$200,INDIRECT("FillData!"&ADDRESS(ROW(),COLUMN(),4))&"*"),1)
Create sheet name as Namelist. In column A fill list of data.
Create another sheet name as FillData for making data validation list as you want.
Type first alphabet and select, drop down menu will appear depend on you type.