Forum Discussion
Excel searchable combobox
I've been waiting for somebody with knowledge of the Combo Box methodology to respond, but after six hours decided I'd jump in to ask you for a few more details on exactly what you're trying to accomplish.
The reason I'm asking is that with the far simpler Data Validation method, combined with the newly available Dynamic Range functions in some creative ways, I think it's possible to do a lot of things that Combo Boxes used to deliver. Maybe not everything...as I said, I'm not really familiar with them...
But if you can spell out what you're trying to do (i.e., give some examples of what's in the basic or central one; what would be an example of the linked "secondary" boxes, etc., maybe we can come up with a simpler solution.
mathetesthe combo box continues to reduce the options as you type in what you are looking for and each item has a specific item number and unit of issue. Each item is in its own cell and the item number and unit of issue are in adjacent cells in the same row. The combo box works like google search so I need the item number to autopopulate in the appropriate cell.
As I said, the new Dynamic Range functions, with a database, can do some pretty amazing things with drop down boxes. Assuming that the list of things which (to stick with your example) "glove" would elicit is somewhat fixed, changing perhaps on a monthly basis, I would think we could create something that would work. Certainly assuming you routinely start with a finite set of "first words"...
Anyway, let's wait for somebody who knows the ins and outs of Combo Boxes.....
mathetesalso the combo box will find a match no matter where the word is in the description of the item, beginning, middle, or end.
jrod68 I believe you are in need of a searchable dropdown list. Provided that your Excel version supports the new Dynamic Array functions, you can read about it in the attached link.
https://www.xelplus.com/searchable-drop-down-list/
In your case, you need separate data validation rules for each line item. A slimmed down example is given in the attached workbook.
