[excel] Excel data validation with suggestions/autocomplete

Apologies for my low level of Excel understanding, maybe what I am looking to do is not possible.

I have a list of 120 entries that I want to use as data validation. But instead of people having to scroll down the 120 options it would be great if they can start typing and see the options that could match what they are willing to write. Kind of like in autocomplete, I have found this tip.

I would like to have more options when the typing starts.

For example this would be a part of the list:

Awareness  
Education  
Budget  
Budget Planning  
Enterprise Budget 

When typing "B" I would like the three last options to appear and to click one of them. I don't know if there is a way of include vlookup in here...

Ideally the perfect thing would be to have several "tags" in one cell, but I fear that is absolutely impossible with excel.

Thank you very much for any input and sorry if I haven't explained myself properly.

I adapted the answer by ChrisB. Like in his example a temporary combobox is made visible when a cell is clicked. Additionally:

1. List of Combobox items is updated as user types, only matching items are displayed
2. if any item from combobox is selected, filtering is skipped as it makes sense and because of this error

Option Explicit_x000D_
_x000D_
Private Const DATA_RANGE = "A1:A16"_x000D_
Private Const DROPDOWN_RANGE = "F2:F10"_x000D_
Private Const HELP_COLUMN = "$G"_x000D_
_x000D_
_x000D_
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal target As Range)_x000D_
    Dim xWs As Worksheet_x000D_
    Set xWs = Application.ActiveSheet_x000D_
    _x000D_
    On Error Resume Next_x000D_
    _x000D_
    With Me.TempCombo_x000D_
        .LinkedCell = vbNullString_x000D_
        .Visible = False_x000D_
    End With_x000D_
    _x000D_
    If target.Cells.count > 1 Then_x000D_
        Exit Sub_x000D_
    End If_x000D_
    _x000D_
    Dim isect As Range_x000D_
    Set isect = Application.Intersect(target, Range(DROPDOWN_RANGE))_x000D_
    If isect Is Nothing Then_x000D_
       Exit Sub_x000D_
    End If_x000D_
       _x000D_
    With Me.TempCombo_x000D_
        .Visible = True_x000D_
        .Left = target.Left - 1_x000D_
        .Top = target.Top - 1_x000D_
        .Width = target.Width + 5_x000D_
        .Height = target.Height + 5_x000D_
        .LinkedCell = target.Address_x000D_
_x000D_
    End With_x000D_
_x000D_
    Me.TempCombo.Activate_x000D_
    Me.TempCombo.DropDown_x000D_
End Sub_x000D_
_x000D_
Private Sub TempCombo_Change()_x000D_
    If Me.TempCombo.Visible = False Then_x000D_
        Exit Sub_x000D_
    End If_x000D_
    _x000D_
    Dim currentValue As String_x000D_
    currentValue = Range(Me.TempCombo.LinkedCell).Value_x000D_
    _x000D_
    If Trim(currentValue & vbNullString) = vbNullString Then_x000D_
        Me.TempCombo.ListFillRange = "=" & DATA_RANGE_x000D_
    Else_x000D_
        If Me.TempCombo.ListIndex = -1 Then_x000D_
             Dim listCount As Integer_x000D_
             listCount = write_matching_items(currentValue)_x000D_
             Me.TempCombo.ListFillRange = "=" & HELP_COLUMN & "1:" & HELP_COLUMN & listCount_x000D_
             Me.TempCombo.DropDown_x000D_
        End If_x000D_
_x000D_
    End If_x000D_
End Sub_x000D_
_x000D_
_x000D_
Private Function write_matching_items(currentValue As String) As Integer_x000D_
    Dim xWs As Worksheet_x000D_
    Set xWs = Application.ActiveSheet_x000D_
_x000D_
    Dim cell As Range_x000D_
    Dim c As Range_x000D_
    Dim firstAddress As Variant_x000D_
    Dim count As Integer_x000D_
    count = 0_x000D_
    xWs.Range(HELP_COLUMN & ":" & HELP_COLUMN).Delete_x000D_
    With xWs.Range(DATA_RANGE)_x000D_
        Set c = .Find(currentValue, LookIn:=xlValues)_x000D_
        If Not c Is Nothing Then_x000D_
            firstAddress = c.Address_x000D_
            Do_x000D_
              Set cell = xWs.Range(HELP_COLUMN & "$" & (count + 1))_x000D_
              cell.Value = c.Value_x000D_
              count = count + 1_x000D_
             _x000D_
              Set c = .FindNext(c)_x000D_
              If c Is Nothing Then_x000D_
                GoTo DoneFinding_x000D_
              End If_x000D_
           Loop While c.Address <> firstAddress_x000D_
        End If_x000D_
DoneFinding:_x000D_
    End With_x000D_
    _x000D_
    write_matching_items = count_x000D_
_x000D_
End Function_x000D_
_x000D_
Private Sub TempCombo_KeyDown( __x000D_
                ByVal KeyCode As MSForms.ReturnInteger, __x000D_
                ByVal Shift As Integer)_x000D_
_x000D_
    Select Case KeyCode_x000D_
        Case 9  ' Tab key_x000D_
            Application.ActiveCell.Offset(0, 1).Activate_x000D_
        Case 13 ' Pause key_x000D_
            Application.ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Activate_x000D_
    End Select_x000D_
End Sub

Notes:

1. ComboBoxe's MatchEntry must be set to 2 - fmMatchEntryNone. Don't forget to set ComboBox name to TempCombo
2. I am using listFillRange to set ComboBox options. The range must be continuous, so, matching items are stored in a help column.
3. I have tried accomplishing the same with ComboBox.addItem, but it turned out to be hard to repaint list box as user types

If you don't want to go down the VBA path, there is this trick from a previous question.

Excel 2010: how to use autocomplete in validation list

It does add some annoying bulk to the top of your sheets, and potential maintenance (should you need more options, adding names of people from a staff list, new projects etc.) but works all the same.

There's a messy workaround at http://www.ozgrid.com/Excel/autocomplete-validation.htm that basically works like this:

1. Enable "Autocomplete for Cell Values" on Tools - Options > Edit;
2. Recreate the list of valid items on the cell immediately above the one with the validation criteria;
3. Hide the lines with the list of valid items.

Why not use a Pivot?

Sample Table Filter Pivot

This is a solution how to make autocomplete drop down list with VBA :

Firstly you need to insert a combo box into the worksheet and change its properties, and then running the VBA code to enable the autocomplete.

1. Get into the worksheet which contains the drop down list you want it to be autocompleted.

2. Before inserting the Combo box, you need to enable the Developer tab in the ribbon.

a). In Excel 2010 and 2013, click File > Options. And in the Options dialog box, click Customize Ribbon in the right pane, check the Developer box, then click the OK button.

b). In Outlook 2007, click Office button > Excel Options. In the Excel Options dialog box, click Popular in the right bar, then check the Show Developer tabin the Ribbon box, and finally click the OK button.

3. Then click Developer > Insert > Combo Box under ActiveX Controls.

4. Draw the combo box in current opened worksheet and right click it. Select Properties in the right-clicking menu.

5. Turn off the Design Mode with clicking Developer > Design Mode.

6. Right click on the current opened worksheet tab and click View Code.

7. Make sure that the current worksheet code editor is opened, and then copy and paste the below VBA code into it.

Code borrowed from extendoffice.com

Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
'Update by Extendoffice: 2018/9/21
    Dim xCombox As OLEObject
    Dim xStr As String
    Dim xWs As Worksheet
    Dim xArr



    Set xWs = Application.ActiveSheet
    On Error Resume Next
    Set xCombox = xWs.OLEObjects("TempCombo")
    With xCombox
        .ListFillRange = ""
        .LinkedCell = ""
        .Visible = False
    End With
    If Target.Validation.Type = 3 Then
        Target.Validation.InCellDropdown = False
        Cancel = True
        xStr = Target.Validation.Formula1
        xStr = Right(xStr, Len(xStr) - 1)
        If xStr = "" Then Exit Sub
        With xCombox
            .Visible = True
            .Left = Target.Left
            .Top = Target.Top
            .Width = Target.Width + 5
            .Height = Target.Height + 5
            .ListFillRange = xStr
            If .ListFillRange = "" Then
                xArr = Split(xStr, ",")
                Me.TempCombo.List = xArr
            End If
            .LinkedCell = Target.Address
        End With
        xCombox.Activate
        Me.TempCombo.DropDown
    End If
End Sub

Private Sub TempCombo_KeyDown(ByVal KeyCode As MSForms.ReturnInteger, ByVal Shift As Integer)
    Select Case KeyCode
        Case 9
            Application.ActiveCell.Offset(0, 1).Activate
        Case 13
            Application.ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Activate
    End Select
End Sub

9. Click File > Close and Return to Microsoft Excel to close the Microsoft Visual Basic for Application window.

10. Now, just click the cell with drop down list, you can see the drop-down list is displayed as a combo box, then type the first letter into the box, the corresponding word will be completed automatically.

Note: This VBA code is not applied to merged cells.

Source : How To Autocomplete When Typing In Excel Drop Down List?

None of the above mentioned solution worked. The one that seemed to work only provide the functionality for just one cell

Recently I had to enter a lot of names and without suggestions, it was a huge pain. I was fortunate enough to have this excel autocomplete add-in to enable the autocompletion. The down side is that you need to enable macro (but you can always turn it off later)

ExtendOffice.com offers a VBA solution that worked for me in Excel 2016. Here's my description of the steps. I included additional details to make it easier. I also modified the VBA code slightly. If this doesn't work for you, retry the steps or check out the instructions on the ExtendOffice page.

1. Add data validation to a cell (or range of cells). Allow = List. Source = [the range with the values you want for the auto-complete / drop-down]. Click OK. You should now have a drop-down but with a weak auto-complete feature.

   

2. With a cell containing your newly added data validation, insert an ActiveX combo box (NOT a form control combo box). This is done from the Developer ribbon. If you don't have the Developer ribbon you will need to add it from the Excel options menu.

   

3. From the Developer tab in the Controls section, click "Design Mode". Select the combo box you just inserted. Then in the same ribbon section click "Properties". In the Properties window, change the name of the combo box to "TempComboBox".

   

4. Press ALT + F11 to go to the Visual Basic Editor. On the left-hand side, double click the worksheet with your data validation to open the code for that sheet. Copy and paste the following code onto the sheet. NOTE: I modified the code slightly so that it works even with Option Explicit enabled at the top of the sheet.

   Option Explicit
   
   Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal target As Range)
   'Update by Extendoffice: 2018/9/21
   ' Update by Chris Brackett 2018-11-30
   
   Dim xWs As Worksheet
   Set xWs = Application.ActiveSheet
   
   On Error Resume Next
   
   Dim xCombox As OLEObject
   Set xCombox = xWs.OLEObjects("TempCombo")
   
   ' Added this to auto select all text when activating the combox box.
   xCombox.SetFocus
   
   With xCombox
       .ListFillRange = vbNullString
       .LinkedCell = vbNullString
       .Visible = False
   End With
   
   
   Dim xStr As String
   Dim xArr
   
   
   If target.Validation.Type = xlValidateList Then
       ' The target cell contains Data Validation.
   
       target.Validation.InCellDropdown = False
   
   
       ' Cancel the "SelectionChange" event.
       Dim Cancel As Boolean
       Cancel = True
   
   
       xStr = target.Validation.Formula1
       xStr = Right(xStr, Len(xStr) - 1)
   
       If xStr = vbNullString Then Exit Sub
   
       With xCombox
           .Visible = True
           .Left = target.Left
           .Top = target.Top
           .Width = target.Width + 5
           .Height = target.Height + 5
           .ListFillRange = xStr
   
           If .ListFillRange = vbNullString Then
               xArr = Split(xStr, ",")
               Me.TempCombo.List = xArr
           End If
   
           .LinkedCell = target.Address
   
       End With
   
       xCombox.Activate
       Me.TempCombo.DropDown
   
   End If
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub TempCombo_KeyDown( _
                   ByVal KeyCode As MSForms.ReturnInteger, _
                   ByVal Shift As Integer)
       Select Case KeyCode
           Case 9  ' Tab key
               Application.ActiveCell.Offset(0, 1).Activate
           Case 13 ' Pause key
               Application.ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Activate
       End Select
   End Sub
   

5. Make sure the the "Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library" is referenced. In the Visual Basic Editor, go to Tools > References, check the box next to that library (if not already checked) and click OK. To verify that it worked, go to Debug > Compile VBA Project.

6. Finally, save your project and click in a cell with the data validation you added. You should see a combo box with a drop-down list of suggestions that updates with each letter you type.