Change size of drop-down list?
 

Hi folks!

Using Excel 2003 or later, is there a way to increase the length of
the drop-down box that you can use to choose from a created list?
(Data Validation)

Even with the screen maximized, the drop-down boxes are only 8 options
long.

Many thanks!!!
Craig

Change size of drop-down list?
 

You can't change the number of items displayed in a data validation drop
down list.

An alternative is to use a combo box from the Forms toolbar. You can select
how many items are displayed. However, a combo box works differently than a
DV drop down list.

A combo box is *always* visible as opposed to the DV drop down which is only
visible when the cell is selected.

A combo box doesn't actually reside in a cell, it "floats" above the
worksheet and for this reason you can't directly reference the selection
made in a combo box in a formula. You can link the combo box to a cell and
then refer to that cell but there's a catch to this. The linked cell will
return the index *number* of the selection and not the selection itself. So
then you'd need to match the index number of the selection to the actual
selection.

Sounds like a lot of BS to go through, don't it? Well, it's not as bad as I
make it sound! <g

If you want to go this route and need help just let us know.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"TheMilkGuy" wrote in message
...
Hi folks!

Using Excel 2003 or later, is there a way to increase the length of
the drop-down box that you can use to choose from a created list?
(Data Validation)

Even with the screen maximized, the drop-down boxes are only 8 options
long.

Many thanks!!!
Craig

Change size of drop-down list?
 

WOW! <blinks twice, mouth agape

Perhaps the guys in my Cell can just live with scrolling through the
drop-down list! haha

Thanks Biff,
Craig

On Jul 22, 8:55 pm, "T. Valko" wrote:
You can't change the number of items displayed in a data validation drop
down list.

An alternative is to use a combo box from the Forms toolbar. You can select
how many items are displayed. However, a combo box works differently than a
DV drop down list.

A combo box is *always* visible as opposed to the DV drop down which is only
visible when the cell is selected.

A combo box doesn't actually reside in a cell, it "floats" above the
worksheet and for this reason you can't directly reference the selection
made in a combo box in a formula. You can link the combo box to a cell and
then refer to that cell but there's a catch to this. The linked cell will
return the index *number* of the selection and not the selection itself. So
then you'd need to match the index number of the selection to the actual
selection.

Sounds like a lot of BS to go through, don't it? Well, it's not as bad as I
make it sound! <g

If you want to go this route and need help just let us know.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

"TheMilkGuy" wrote in message

...

Hi folks!

Using Excel 2003 or later, is there a way to increase the length of
the drop-down box that you can use to choose from a created list?
(Data Validation)

Even with the screen maximized, the drop-down boxes are only 8 options
long.

Many thanks!!!
Craig

Change size of drop-down list?
 

If you want to give it a try see here for instructions.

http://www.contextures.on.ca/xlDataVal10.html


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:07:28 -0700 (PDT), TheMilkGuy
wrote:

WOW! <blinks twice, mouth agape

Perhaps the guys in my Cell can just live with scrolling through the
drop-down list! haha

Thanks Biff,
Craig

On Jul 22, 8:55 pm, "T. Valko" wrote:
You can't change the number of items displayed in a data validation drop
down list.

An alternative is to use a combo box from the Forms toolbar. You can select
how many items are displayed. However, a combo box works differently than a
DV drop down list.

A combo box is *always* visible as opposed to the DV drop down which is only
visible when the cell is selected.

A combo box doesn't actually reside in a cell, it "floats" above the
worksheet and for this reason you can't directly reference the selection
made in a combo box in a formula. You can link the combo box to a cell and
then refer to that cell but there's a catch to this. The linked cell will
return the index *number* of the selection and not the selection itself. So
then you'd need to match the index number of the selection to the actual
selection.

Sounds like a lot of BS to go through, don't it? Well, it's not as bad as I
make it sound! <g

If you want to go this route and need help just let us know.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

"TheMilkGuy" wrote in message

...

Hi folks!

Using Excel 2003 or later, is there a way to increase the length of
the drop-down box that you can use to choose from a created list?
(Data Validation)

Even with the screen maximized, the drop-down boxes are only 8 options
long.

Many thanks!!!
Craig

Change size of drop-down list?
 

Gord, Biff, or whomever may read this...

Thanks for the link to the contextures site... While on there, I
stumbled across this:
http://www.contextures.on.ca/ShowFilePicsDemo.zip

Which will allow you to insert graphics into a defined area based on
data from a drop-down box.

I would REALLY like to get this to work with my current project, but
my drop-down list and graphics are on two separate worksheets in the
same file.

Can anyone offer some VBA advice on how to make this happen? I
understand it on a kindergarten level. ;)

Many thanks!!!
Craig

On Jul 23, 1:19 pm, Gord Dibben <gorddibbATshawDOTca wrote:
If you want to give it a try see here for instructions.

http://www.contextures.on.ca/xlDataVal10.html

Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:07:28 -0700
wrote:

WOW! <blinks twice, mouth agape

Perhaps the guys in my Cell can just live with scrolling through the
drop-down list! haha

Thanks Biff,
Craig

On Jul 22, 8:55 pm, "T. Valko" wrote:
You can't change the number of items displayed in a data validation drop
down list.

An alternative is to use a combo box from the Forms toolbar. You can select
how many items are displayed. However, a combo box works differently than a
DV drop down list.

A combo box is *always* visible as opposed to the DV drop down which is only
visible when the cell is selected.

A combo box doesn't actually reside in a cell, it "floats" above the
worksheet and for this reason you can't directly reference the selection
made in a combo box in a formula. You can link the combo box to a cell and
then refer to that cell but there's a catch to this. The linked cell will
return the index *number* of the selection and not the selection itself. So
then you'd need to match the index number of the selection to the actual
selection.

Sounds like a lot of BS to go through, don't it? Well, it's not as bad as I
make it sound! <g

If you want to go this route and need help just let us know.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP

"TheMilkGuy" wrote in message

...

Hi folks!

Using Excel 2003 or later, is there a way to increase the length of
the drop-down box that you can use to choose from a created list?
(Data Validation)

Even with the screen maximized, the drop-down boxes are only 8 options
long.

Many thanks!!!
Craig