XL: How to Use the DataEntryMode Property

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

This article contains information about using the DataEntryMode property in Microsoft Excel and includes a sample Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro.

MORE INFORMATION

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   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

In data entry mode, you can move the active cell and select cell ranges only in the data entry area. Pressing the arrow keys, the TAB key, or SHIFT+TAB moves the active cell from one unlocked cell to the next unlocked cell. When you reach the end of a column, the active cell moves to the first or last unlocked cell in the next or previous column. Pressing the HOME or END keys moves the active cell to the first or last cell in the data entry area. You cannot select entire rows or columns or click a cell that is outside the data entry area to select it.

The only commands that are available while you are in data entry mode are commands that are normally available in protected worksheets.

Example 1

The following macro starts data entry mode:

   Sub Test1()

      Application.DataEntryMode = xlOn

   End Sub

NOTE: When you run the macro, the data entry area is the current selection.

Example 2

The following example starts data entry mode for the cell range A1:B10 and allows you to enter data:

   Sub Test2()

      Range("A1:B10").Select
      Selection.Locked = False
      Application.OnKey "^d", "Test3"
      Application.DataEntryMode = xlOn

   End Sub

   Sub Test3()

      Application.DataEntryMode = xlOff

   End Sub

You can also assign the macro Test3 to a button on the worksheet. When you click the button, data entry mode is ended.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q101567
   TITLE     : XL: Macros to Disable Keyboard Input

REFERENCES

Microsoft Excel "Function Reference," version 4.0, pages 132-133