All the help I could find allows me to change the font and size of a
drop down list in the excel toolbar. What I want to do is change the
font and size of a validation list in the worksheet itself.

I was unable to find any reference to it. I have a list that points at
a named range for the hour of the day, but my drop down list is so tiny I
can barely read it.

Does anyone know how I can change it.

For that matter, the information boxes that are part of the validation
dialog pops up in a box I would like to size and even change the color
of.

Can that be done, or is it tied to the Windows OS help system or
something?

You can set a font size and color using a combo box from the control
toolbox.

Right click any toolbar and select Control Toolbox.
Click the Design Mode icon (top left icon that looks like a blue triangle)
Click the Combo box icon then navigate to where you want the list.
Use your mouse and "draw" the combo box
Right click the combo box and select Properties
Here you can select font size and color (among various other options)
On the Alphabetic tab, select Font, select the font and size desired.
Select Forecolor, on the Palette tab set the font color
As the source for the list select ListFillRange and type in your named range
If you want to use the selected item in some calculation then you have to
link the combo box to a cell. For example, A1. Then your formula would
reference this linked cell. Select LinkedCell and enter the cell address.

After you're done click the Design mode icon to exit design mode. Close the
control toolbox toolbar.

--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Capt. Cave Man" wrote in message
...

All the help I could find allows me to change the font and size of a
drop down list in the excel toolbar. What I want to do is change the
font and size of a validation list in the worksheet itself.

I was unable to find any reference to it. I have a list that points at
a named range for the hour of the day, but my drop down list is so tiny I
can barely read it.

Does anyone know how I can change it.

For that matter, the information boxes that are part of the validation
dialog pops up in a box I would like to size and even change the color
of.

Can that be done, or is it tied to the Windows OS help system or
something?

Maybe this workaround from Debra Dalgleish's site:
http://contextures.com/xlDataVal08.html#Larger

"Capt. Cave Man" wrote:

All the help I could find allows me to change the font and size of a
drop down list in the excel toolbar. What I want to do is change the
font and size of a validation list in the worksheet itself.

I was unable to find any reference to it. I have a list that points at
a named range for the hour of the day, but my drop down list is so tiny I
can barely read it.

Does anyone know how I can change it.

For that matter, the information boxes that are part of the validation
dialog pops up in a box I would like to size and even change the color
of.

Can that be done, or is it tied to the Windows OS help system or
something?

--

Dave Peterson

On Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:29:26 -0400, "T. Valko"
wrote:


Right click any toolbar and select Control Toolbox.


NOT a toolbar!

It is a validation list on a cell.

If you guys could ADD at least ONE binary group, folks could post
screen shots and/or templates to examine.

Thanks for the help doing this via a combo box though.

Hi

Biff did NOT suggest you were using a Toolbar.
He was giving you instructions on how to use a Combobox in place of Data
Validation to house your dropdown list, as the Combobox gives you more
control over formatting etc.

You will find more information with screen shots at
http://www.contextures.com/xlDataVal14.html

--
Regards
Roger Govier

"Capt. Cave Man" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:29:26 -0400, "T. Valko"
wrote:


Right click any toolbar and select Control Toolbox.


NOT a toolbar!

It is a validation list on a cell.

If you guys could ADD at least ONE binary group, folks could post
screen shots and/or templates to examine.

Thanks for the help doing this via a combo box though.

NOT a toolbar!
It is a validation list on a cell.

Yes, I know.

You can't change the font size or color using a data validation list without
some "trickeration". You can use some code and piggyback a data validation
list with a combo box but why go through that when you can just use a combo
box from the control toolbox.


--
Biff
Microsoft Excel MVP


"Capt. Cave Man" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:29:26 -0400, "T. Valko"
wrote:


Right click any toolbar and select Control Toolbox.


NOT a toolbar!

It is a validation list on a cell.

If you guys could ADD at least ONE binary group, folks could post
screen shots and/or templates to examine.

Thanks for the help doing this via a combo box though.