Excel 2010: how to use autocomplete in validation list

Question

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 l

Answer 1

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