XL: Visual Basic Macro to Dynamically Populate a List Box

ID: Q141568


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0


SUMMARY

The following macro dynamically populates a list box with a group of sub categories based on the contents of the first list box.

The following macros can be used to display a general category in one list box and then dynamically populate the second list box with items related to that general category in a second list box.


MORE INFORMATION

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http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp
To dynamically populate a list box, follow these steps:

  1. Open a new workbook by clicking New on the File menu.


  2. Create a dialog sheet with two list boxes. Name one list box 5 and the other list box 6.


  3. On Sheet1, enter the following data in cells A1:A4:
    A1: Alabama
    A2: Arizona
    A3: Arkansas
    A4: Texas


  4. On Sheet2, enter the following information in cells A1:D4:
    
          A1: Alabama 1   B1: Arizona 1   C1: Arkansas 1   D1: Texas 1
          A2: Alabama 2   B2: Arizona 2   C2: Arkansas 2   D2: Texas 2
          A3: Alabama 3   B3: Arizona 3   C3: Arkansas 3   D3: Texas 3
          A4: Alabama 4   B4: Arizona 4   C4: Arkansas 4   D4: Texas 4 


  5. After you enter the data on sheet 2, give each column of data a defined name based on the name of the respective state entered on Sheet1. For example, select the range A1:A4 on Sheet2, and point to Name on the Insert menu, and click Define. Give the range the defined name "Alabama."


  6. Insert a new module sheet and type the following:
    
          ' This procedure fills the first list box with names of the states
          ' as entered on Sheet1.
    
          Sub Fill_FirstListbox()
    
             ' Fill the first list box.
             DialogSheets("dialog1").ListBoxes("list box 5").ListFillRange _
              ="sheet1!a1:a" & Worksheets("sheet1").Range("a1").End(xlDown).Row
    
             ' Display the dialog sheet.
             DialogSheets("dialog1").Show
    
          End Sub
    
          ' Macro to populate the second list box.
    
          Sub statemaps()
    
             ' Activate the worksheet containing the data for the second
             ' list box.
             Worksheets("sheet2").Activate
    
             ' The following line returns the value of the selected item in the
             ' first list box.
    
             x = DialogSheets("dialog1").ListBoxes("list box 5") _
               .List(DialogSheets("dialog1").ListBoxes("list box 5").ListIndex)
    
             ' Select the range based on the first list box.
             Range(x).Select
    
             ' Assign the selected range address to a variable.
             y = Selection.Address
    
             ' Fill the second list box.
             DialogSheets("dialog1").ListBoxes("list box 6"). _
               ListFillRange = "sheet2!" & Range(y).Address
    
          End Sub 


  7. Assign the macro statemaps() to list box 5. To do this, click list box 5 on the dialog sheet, click Assign Macro on the Tools menu. Click statemaps() in the dialog box that appears.



REFERENCES

"Visual Basic User's Guide," version 5.0, pages 219-239

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide," version 5.0, pages 142-143

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbcode kbprg PgmHowto
Version : MACINTOSH:5.0; WINDOWS:5.0,7.0; winnt:5.0
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: November 9, 1999
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