Font size in a drop down list

[BillyHank1402]

How can I increase the font size in a drop down list?

[#2]

Hi @BillyHank1402;

Unfortunately best to my know you cannot increase the font size in a drop-down list with data validation.  But if you are using form control then you can list increase the size in changing the drop-down property.

Regards, Faraz Shaikh | MCT, MIE, MOS Master, Excel Expert

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[#3]

@Faraz Shaikh Can you give me the steps to do this please?

[#4]

@BillyHank1402 

Unfortunately, the font size of a drop-down list can only be changed using VBA.

However, you can make the font smaller around the drop-down box (or across the entire sheet), and then zoom in on the overall view. In this way, the font in the drop-down field is also displayed larger.

VBA code :
Alternatively, only with a little trick - simply enlarge the zoom to, for example, 200 when a cell is selected with a dropdown (otherwise set it back to 100):
Change event must be incorporated.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change (ByVal Target As Excel.Range)
On Error Resume Next
If Target.Validation.InCellDropdown Then ActiveWindow.Zoom = 100
End Sub

Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange (ByVal Target As Excel.Range)
On Error GoTo error handler
If Target.Validation.InCellDropdown Then ActiveWindow.Zoom = 200
Exit Sub
error handler:
ActiveWindow.Zoom = 100
End Sub

Hope I was able to help you.

Wish you continued success with Excel (the coolest invention since Chocola ... uh ... Microsoft! :-)))
And ... Please keep asking here - I've just taught myself Excel with the help of this forum ... almost :)

Nikolino

I know I don't know anything (Socrates)

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[#5]

Hi all;  the original poster asked for a solution to changing the font size in a data-validated Excel drop-down list.  All of the answers I've seen change the zoom of the entire sheet using ActiveWindow.Zoom = xxx, which is (in my case) not usable - although it might be fine for the original poster.  Can anyone point to a solution for changing the *font size* in the list, or changing the zoom *of the cell*, not the entire worksheet ?  VBA solutions would be fine... I have tried to apply this same method to change the cell itself when selected (or rather, when the data-validated drop-down is selected), and I've not been successful. 

@NikolinoDE- you said that " the font size of a drop-down list can only be changed using VBA". I'm happy to try that - can you elaborate on how to change the font size, not the worksheet zoom, please?

Appreciate any help or references.  Thanks !  Mal.

[#6]

@Mal_Watts 

It's still not clear to me what you want to do, since the translation isn't very helpful to me.
Do you want the cell text to adjust?
If so, then it would have to be clarified whether it should be with line breaks or simply adapt the text to the cell size (no matter how small the text could be).

With "Format Cells..." you can just select the cell and fit the text to fit the cell size (without changing row and column) or set the text to wrap text if you want the cell width to stay the same.
Here are the steps:

1. Highlight the cells you want to format.
2. Invoke the "Format Cells..." command. You can do this in all Excel versions using the key combination CTRL + 1.
3. In the dialog box that appears, activate the "Alignment" tab.
4. Click the "Fit to cell size" option.
With this option you optimize the font size for the cell width
5. Confirm your definition with the OK button.

or with VBA Code, only here automatically changes with the cell, the whole row and column.

Sub SetColumnsRows()
With ActiveSheet.UsedRange
.Columns.AutoFit
.Rows.AutoFit
End With
end sub

Hope I could help you with this.

[#7]

@BillyHank1402 

I don't know if you are still looking for a solution to your problem, but this might be helpful. The only way I know to increase the size of text in a dropdown list box is to use a combobox. I used this solution for a project of mine and it worked for me. I got the instructions from a website, Contextures. This is the URL: Excel Data Validation Combo box using Named Ranges (contextures.com) 

It uses an ActiveX Control Combo Box, The nice thing about this solution is that you can change the font type, text size, and number of rows.

If you watch the video it explains her whole process. It involves a lot of VBA code (which you can download). If you just need a few dropdown boxes, you can just add some comboboxes and link a list of items. I tried it on a sample sheet and it worked as a simple dropdown list. 

I hope this helps.

Henry