form control combobox

[Gail]

Is it possible, using a combo box from the Forms Control toolbox (not the
ActiveX toolbox) to allow the user to either select from the drop-down list
OR enter information into the field?

 

[Jacob Skaria]

You can use ComboBox control from Control Tool Box (View>Toolbars) and set
the below properties of the controls to a cell range. The linked cell will
always have the selection value which can be used as a reference in your
formulas/macros..

ListFillRange
Linked Cell

If this post helps click Yes

 

[Gail]

I want the user to be able to either select a choice from the dropdown list
or type in their answer if they don't find it in the dropdown list. The
dropdown list is populated from a named range.

 

[Jim Thomlinson]

It is possible but certainly not easy. The Forms Toolbar combo box does not
return the selected value but rather the index. So you need to use a formula
to show the selected value.

With your combo box hooked to return its value to A1 and the list range in
B1:B10 you would use a formula like

=index(B1:B10, A1)

Since you are using a formula to show the value it would be more than
inconvenient if it got overwritten. You can get around this using the camera
tool as described here but from personal experience it is a bit fussy to make
it work...

http://spreadsheetpage.com/index.php/oddity/the_camera_tool/

Essentailly it allows you to show the value of a cell (the one with the
formula) in another cell. When your users type in the cell they are not
overwritting the formula.

 

[Jacob Skaria]

Then why dont you try Data>Validation>dropdown>Settings--List-->and select
the source or named range and in 'Error Alert' tab uncheck the 'Show error
alert after invalid data"

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[Gail]

I don't think I explained very well what I meant. I want the user to either
select a value from the drop-down list or if the answer is not in the
drop-down list I want the user to be able to enter the information. Must I
use a ActiveX combo-box to allow the user to enter information if they do not
see their answer in the drop-down list?

 

[Jacob Skaria]

Gail; have you tried the combo box from forms control ..It allows other
entries too..

If this post helps click Yes

 

[Jim Thomlinson]

If it was me I would use a data validation list for what you are asking...

Data | Validation | List

The only thing you need to do is to turn off the alert on the Error Alert
tab (uncheck).