Excel provides a built-in feature called "Data Validation" that can create a dropdown list in a cell using values from a range. However, this feature does not support filtering the list based on a typed substring. To achieve the desired behavior, you can use a combination of Data Validation and VBA.
Please follow these steps:
- Set up Data Validation: a. Select the cell where you want the dropdown list (Cell1). b. Go to the "Data" tab and click "Data Validation." c. In the "Allow" field, choose "List." d. In the "Source" field, enter the range of cells containing the list of items (Range1). e. Click "OK."
- Add VBA code for filtering the list based on the typed substring: a. Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor. b. Double-click on the sheet name where Cell1 is located in the "Project Explorer" pane on the left. c. Paste the following code into the code window:
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim strTyped As String
Dim rngList As Range, cell As Range
Dim rngFiltered As Range
' Set the range where the original list of items is located (Range1)
Set rngList = Range("A1:A10") ' Adjust this range to match Range1
' Set the cell where the dropdown list is located (Cell1)
If Target.Address = "$B$1" Then ' Adjust this address to match Cell1
strTyped = Target.Value
' Filter the original list based on the typed substring
For Each cell In rngList
If LCase(Left(cell.Value, Len(strTyped))) = LCase(strTyped) Then
If rngFiltered Is Nothing Then
Set rngFiltered = cell
Else
Set rngFiltered = Union(rngFiltered, cell)
End If
End If
Next cell
' Update the dropdown list with the filtered list
If Not rngFiltered Is Nothing Then
With Target.Validation
.Delete
.Add Type:=xlValidateList, AlertStyle:=xlValidAlertStop, Operator:=xlBetween, Formula1:="=" & rngFiltered.Address
End With
End If
End If
End Sub
d. Adjust the range address (A1:A10) to match Range1 and the cell address ($B$1) to match Cell1 in the code. e. Close the VBA editor.
Now, when you type a substring in Cell1, the dropdown list will be filtered based on the typed substring, and you can select the remaining items using the up and down arrow keys.
Note that this solution might not be perfect in handling every scenario, and you may need to adjust the VBA code according to your specific requirements. Also, make sure to save the workbook as a macro-enabled file (.xlsm).