I created an Excel add-in called “Search deList”, to create searchable data validation

Akuini

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Joined
Feb 1, 2016
Messages
4,965
Office Version
  1. 365
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  1. Windows
I created an add-in called “Search deList”, and I share it as a freeware.
Its function is to speed up searching in data validation list. In any cell that has data validation (with List type) pressing ALT+RIGHT will open a Userform with a combobox. You can type multiple keywords (separated by a space) in the combobox and the list will be narrowed down as you type.
I’d be appreciate if anyone can test this add-in to find any bugs or just suggesting ideas to improve its functionality.
Also, the code is not protected by password, so if anyone needs to change or add specific feature or behavior then feel free to amend the code, and if you need help for that I’ll help if I can.

How it works:
  • In any cell that has data validation (with List type) pressing ALT+RIGHT will open a Userform with a combobox.
  • Type some keywords to search, separated by a space, e.g "ma la"
  • The list will be narrowed down as you type.
  • The search ignores the keywords order, so the keyword "ma la" would match "Maryland" and "Alabama".
  • You can use up-down arrow to select an item, then hit ENTER, the selected item will be inserted into the cell, and the userform will be closed.
  • You can also use single-click to select an item, then DOUBLE-CLICK inside the box, the selected item will be inserted into the cell, and the userform will be closed.
  • To leave the combobox without inserting its value to the activecell: hit TAB or ESC
  • Numeric values in the list will be treated as text.
  • In the Status Bar you can see how many unique items are found & displayed.
  • You don't need VBA (except if you want to use additional feature as I explain below), so you can save your workbook as .xlsx.
Additional feature :
If you want, you can also activate the userform by double-clicking a cell, but you need VBA to do that. Here’s how:
Copy-paste this code into Thisworkbook code window of your workbook:
VBA Code:
Private Sub Workbook_SheetBeforeDoubleClick(ByVal Sh As Object, ByVal Target As Range, Cancel As Boolean)
If TypeName(Selection) = "Range" Then
    Dim v
    On Error Resume Next
        v = ActiveCell.Validation.Type
    On Error GoTo 0
    'if activecell has data validation type 3
    'run "Search deList" add-in by doubke-clicking a cell
    If v = 3 Then Cancel = True: Application.Run ("toShow__dheeDAV")
End If
End Sub
Now, in every sheet, double-clicking any cell that has data validation (with List type) will open the Userform.

Image:

image Search deList.jpg


How to use it:
  1. Install the add-in. This article explains how to install an add-in: How to install or uninstall an Excel Add-in - Excel Off The Grid
  2. Open any workbook that has data validation (with list type).
  3. In any cell that has data validation, pressing ALT+RIGHT will open a Userform with a combobox.
  4. Play with it & see how it works.
NOTES:
  • This add-in also works on dependent data validation.
  • It works on large list (I tested it on 100K rows of data).
  • One caveat of using macro is when macro changes/writes something on sheet it will delete Undo Stack, so at that time you can't use UNDO. In this case it happens every time the combobox value is inserted into the active cell.

Search_deList_v1 add-in:
Search_deList_v1

=========================================================================================

Update, 2022-Nov-18:
Search deList v.2.1 + manual.zip, it works on Excel 2007 or later:

Search deList v.365.1 + manual.zip, it works on Excel 365 or later

This new version has some additional features, some of them:
Several ways to search, like using AND or OR or LIKE operator , with or without keyword order.
Sort the list by original order or ascending order.
Widen or shorten the combobox width at run time.
Insert multiple entries into the cell.

=======================================================================================

Regards,
Akuini
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You are welcome :) and yes, I will keep digging and let you know in case I encounter other issues.
 
Upvote 0

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Dear mr @Akuini
as per post #24 I want the item column to appear when I have selected the code in the combobox .
is there a best solution?
thanks

VBA Code:
Private Sub ComboBox1_Enter()
Dim x, vb, ary
Dim c As Range, g As Range
Dim cf As String, msg As String
Dim i As Long, h As Long

cf = ActiveCell.Validation.Formula1

't = Timer
msg = "Can't get the range as the list source from data validation formula." & vbLf & "Please, check the formula:" _
            & vbLf & cf
       
        wFlag = False

        On Error Resume Next
        Set c = Evaluate(cf)
        On Error GoTo 0
       
        On Error GoTo skip
       
    If UCase(Left(cf, 5)) = "=CCTA" Then 'if the name range start with "CCTA"
             If Not c Is Nothing Then
            
                Dim obj As New DataObject
                Dim tx As String, z As String
                Dim va, arz, k As Long
            
            If c.Parent.FilterMode = True Then
                    ActiveSheet.ShowAllData
            End If
             Set d = CreateObject("scripting.dictionary"): d.CompareMode = vbTextCompare

                If UCase(Left(cf, 7)) = "=CCTA_X" Then

                    ReDim va(1 To c.Cells.Count, 1 To 2)

                    If cf = "=CCTA_X1" Then
                        Set c = c.Resize(, 2)
                    ElseIf cf = "=CCTA_X2" Then
                        Set c = c.Offset(, -1).Resize(, 2)
                    End If
                   
                    Do
                    c.Copy
                      DoEvents
                    obj.GetFromClipboard
                    tx = obj.GetText
                    Loop Until tx <> Empty

                    tx = vbTab & Replace(tx, vbCrLf, vbTab)
                    arz = Split(tx, vbTab)
                   
                    If cf = "=CCTA_X1" Then
                        For i = 1 To UBound(arz) - 2 Step 2
                            k = k + 1
                            va(k, 1) = CStr(arz(i))
                            va(k, 2) = arz(i + 1)
                        Next
                    ElseIf cf = "=CCTA_X2" Then
                        For i = 1 To UBound(arz) - 2 Step 2
                            k = k + 1
                            va(k, 1) = CStr(arz(i + 1))
                            va(k, 2) = arz(i)
                        Next
                    End If
                   

                    For i = 1 To UBound(va, 1)
                        d(va(i, 1) & " " & ChrW(8213) & " " & va(i, 2)) = Empty 'convert number to text, 1D  array, Lbound = 0
                    Next

                Else
                    Do
                    c.Copy
                      DoEvents
                    obj.GetFromClipboard
                    tx = obj.GetText
                    Loop Until tx <> Empty

                    obj.GetFromClipboard
                    tx = obj.GetText
                   
                    For Each x In Split(tx, vbCrLf)
                        d(CStr(x)) = Empty 'convert number to text, 1D  array, Lbound = 0
                    Next
                End If
             End If
               
    Else
        If Not c Is Nothing Then
        c.AutoFilter
            vb = c.Value
            If Not IsArray(vb) Then
                    ReDim vb(0 To 0): vb(0) = c.Value
            End If
        Else 'if formula doesn't return a range
            If Left(cf, 1) = "=" Then GoTo skip  'if the formula doesn't return a range
            vb = (Split(cf, Application.International(xlListSeparator))) 'if the list is a string
        End If
        
         Set d = CreateObject("scripting.dictionary"): d.CompareMode = vbTextCompare
            For Each x In vb
                d(CStr(x)) = Empty 'convert number to text, 1D  array, Lbound = 0
            Next
           
    End If
           
           
'            vList becomes unique, sorted & has no blank
            If d.Exists("") Then d.Remove ""
            vList = d.keys '1D array, Lbound = 0
            d.RemoveAll
            If UBound(vList) > 0 Then Call QuickSort(vList, LBound(vList), UBound(vList))
       
    With ComboBox1
       
        .MatchEntry = fmMatchEntryNone
        .Value = ""
        .List = toList(vList)

    End With

'Application.StatusBar = Timer - t
Exit Sub
skip:
On Error GoTo 0
       MsgBox msg: wFlag = True

End Sub
Sub insertValue(tx As String)
Dim c As Range, cf As String

'insert combobox value into the active cell
    If IsNumeric(Application.Match(tx, vList, 0)) Or tx = "" Then
        Application.EnableEvents = False
            If UCase(Left(ActiveCell.Validation.Formula1, 5)) = "=CCTA" Then
                cf = ActiveCell.Validation.Formula1
                If UCase(Left(cf, 7)) = "=CCTA_X" Then
                    tx = Split(ComboBox1.Value, " " & ChrW(8213) & " ")(0)
                End If
                tx = "'" & tx
            End If

            ActiveCell = tx
            Application.EnableEvents = True
            Unload Me
    Else
            MsgBox "Wrong input", vbCritical
    End If
End Sub
 
Upvote 0
I don't understand what you mean. Can you give me an example?
Dear Mr. Akuini,
below I give an example, so I use a formula to pop up in the column of the item so I want without a formula with me selecting the item in the code in the combobox then automatically the item appears in the column "ITEM"

create searchable data validation..xlsx
AB
1CODEITEM
2*001TEST R *001
3222.....TEST R 222.....
40002TEST R 0002
5-113TEST R -113
SEARCH
Cell Formulas
RangeFormula
B2:B5B2=IF(A2="","",INDEX(MASTERVALIDATION,MATCH(TRUE,EXACT(A2,MASTERVALIDATION[CODE]),0),1))
Press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to enter array formulas.
Cells with Data Validation
CellAllowCriteria
A2:A5List=CCTA_X2




Thanks
 
Upvote 0
@roykana
1. Data-validation in col B, is that dependent data-validation?
2. You didn't show me the data source (in MASTERVALIDATION). Could you upload a sample workbook (without sensitive data) to a sharing site like dropbox.com or google drive?
And then share the link here.
 
Upvote 0
@roykana
1. Data-validation in col B, is that dependent data-validation?
2. You didn't show me the data source (in MASTERVALIDATION). Could you upload a sample workbook (without sensitive data) to a sharing site like dropbox.com or google drive?
And then share the link here.
@Akuini
thanks reply from you.
@roykana
1. Data-validation in col B, is that dependent data-validation?
yes, it depends on the validation data
2. You didn't show me the data source (in MASTERVALIDATION). Could you upload a sample workbook (without sensitive data) to a sharing site like dropbox.com or google drive?
And then share the link here.
according to your request this link that sample files are shared in the google drive link
link sample file

thanks
 
Upvote 0
@roykana
Sorry for the late reply.
Data in col ITEM, are they always "TEST R " & col CODE?
So why not just using a simple formula in col B, like:
="TEST R "&A2

or if that's not the case then you can use this UDF:
VBA Code:
Function toItem(c As Range) As String
Dim f As Range

Set f = Sheets("MASTERVALIDATION").ListObjects("MASTERVALIDATION").ListColumns(2).DataBodyRange.Find(What:=c.Text, LookIn:=xlValues, lookAt:=xlWhole, SearchOrder:=xlByRows, SearchDirection:=xlNext, MatchCase:=False, SearchFormat:=False)
    If Not f Is Nothing Then
        toItem = f.Offset(, -1).Value
    End If
End Function
but you need to save the workbook as .xlsm
 
Upvote 0
@roykana
Sorry for the late reply.
Data in col ITEM, are they always "TEST R " & col CODE?
So why not just using a simple formula in col B, like:
="TEST R "&A2
@Akuini
Thank you for your reply
and sorry I replied late. it's just an example so it didn't originally come from the word "TEST"
or if that's not the case then you can use this UDF:
VBA Code:
Function toItem(c As Range) As String
Dim f As Range

Set f = Sheets("MASTERVALIDATION").ListObjects("MASTERVALIDATION").ListColumns(2).DataBodyRange.Find(What:=c.Text, LookIn:=xlValues, lookAt:=xlWhole, SearchOrder:=xlByRows, SearchDirection:=xlNext, MatchCase:=False, SearchFormat:=False)
    If Not f Is Nothing Then
        toItem = f.Offset(, -1).Value
    End If
End Function
but you need to save the workbook as .xlsm
is there any other solution besides udf because the record there are hundreds of thousands so it doesn't make it very slow?

thanks
 
Upvote 0
Hi,

You shared this file with me a few days ago and it's working great except when the list has more 33441. If I enter a value which is in the dropdown but is below row 33441, then it gives me "Wrong input" error. Any idea why that could happen?
 
Upvote 0
Hello @Akuini , I just found your post and your very helpful add-in. I'm wondering if it's possible to make the combo box wider? The text strings in my list are fairly long and I'm unable to see the full text string. Twice as wide would be amazing.

Unfortunately I don't have really anything in the way of coding skills so please take that into account with your response. Hoping you will see this, thanks in advance!

Craig
 
Upvote 0

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