How to make suggestions in Excel data validation list while typing. There are constraints in my request:
So after typing am
we should hypothetically have a suggestion to pick up from Amelia
, Camila
, Samantha
, provided that those girls' names are on the item list.
I have found a good solution here, however it does not filter the items with contains
clause but begins with
. I sum up the proposed solution here shortly.
We right click on a sheet name > View code > and paste the VBA code in the sheet VBA editor:
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
'Update by Extendoffice: 2018/9/21
Dim xCombox As OLEObject
Dim xStr As String
Dim xWs As Worksheet
Dim xArr
Set xWs = Application.ActiveSheet
On Error Resume Next
Set xCombox = xWs.OLEObjects("TempCombo")
With xCombox
.ListFillRange = ""
.LinkedCell = ""
.Visible = False
End With
If Target.Validation.Type = 3 Then
Target.Validation.InCellDropdown = False
Cancel = True
xStr = Target.Validation.Formula1
xStr = Right(xStr, Len(xStr) - 1)
If xStr = "" Then Exit Sub
With xCombox
.Visible = True
.Left = Target.Left
.Top = Target.Top
.Width = Target.Width + 5
.Height = Target.Height + 5
.ListFillRange = xStr
If .ListFillRange = "" Then
xArr = Split(xStr, ",")
Me.TempCombo.List = xArr
End If
.LinkedCell = Target.Address
End With
xCombox.Activate
Me.TempCombo.DropDown
End If
End Sub
Private Sub TempCombo_KeyDown(ByVal KeyCode As MSForms.ReturnInteger, ByVal Shift As Integer)
Select Case KeyCode
Case 9
Application.ActiveCell.Offset(0, 1).Activate
Case 13
Application.ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Activate
End Select
End Sub
I could not find a way to modify to change the search option from 'begins with' to contains
.
The questions about autocomplete or autosuggest in validation list have been asked so far.
Excel data validation with suggestions/autocomplete
Excel 2010: how to use autocomplete in validation list
But neither of them contained answers which would satisfied the constraints I imposed.
Test file for download is here.
Try to add the following event (additionally the the other 2). Every time you enter something the code refreshes the ComboBox list.
Private Sub TempCombo_Change()
With Me.TempCombo
If Not .Visible Then Exit Sub
.Clear 'needs property MatchEntry set to 2 - fmMatchEntryNone
.Visible = False 'to refresh the drop down
.Visible = True
.Activate
Dim xStr As String, xArr As Variant
xStr = TempCombo.TopLeftCell.Validation.Formula1
xStr = Right(xStr, Len(xStr) - 1)
xArr = Split(xStr, Application.International(xlListSeparator))
Dim itm As Variant
For Each itm In xArr
If InStr(1, itm, .Value, vbTextCompare) > 0 Or .Value = "" Then
.AddItem itm
End If
Next itm
.DropDown
End With
End Sub