PTG,
Try playing around with this sub.
Note the instructions in the Input Box.
Another way would be to use a Textbox on a UserForm and
limit which characters can be entered in the textbox.
Jim Cone
San Francisco, USA
http://www.officeletter.com/blink/specialsort.html

Sub WhichColumns()
Dim cols As Excel.Range
Dim rngC As Excel.Range
Dim rngA As Excel.Range

ActiveSheet.Columns.Hidden = False
On Error Resume Next
Set cols = Application.InputBox(vbCr & _
"Hold down the Ctrl key and select the columns required. ", Type:=8)
If Err.Number < 0 Then
Exit Sub
End If
ActiveSheet.UsedRange.EntireColumn.Hidden = True
For Each rngA In cols.Areas
For Each rngC In rngA.Columns
rngC.Hidden = False
Next 'rngC
Next 'rngA
ActiveWindow.ScrollColumn = 1
End Sub
'-------------


"pete the greek"

wrote in message
hi jim thanks for this i still get errors how should the user type the column
in the input book
a:a or 1 what would they used to seperate muiltiple columns as they input them

what i am trying to achieve is i have a 220 column spreadsheet and would
like to be able to ask the user which columns they would like to see and hide
the rest. i can do this by manually creating the array "cols" but thought the
input box would make it more flexible

Set rng = ActiveSheet.UsedRange
lastcol = rng.Columns.Count
lastrow = rng.Rows.Count
cols = Array(2, 56, 79, 122, 165)
rng.Columns.Hidden = True
For Each zz In cols
ActiveSheet.Columns(zz).Hidden = False


Next zz