Comments on: How to make Excel drop down list with multiple selections

By default, Excel data validation only allows users to select one item from a predefined list of options. But fear not, as there is a solution. By using VBA, you can create drop-down lists with multiple selections. Continue reading →

Comments page 8. Total comments: 705

  1. Codes are working fine but for protected sheet I am able to make a single entry only. Multiple entry is not possible with it when sheets are protected. I have applied your code for password protected sheet but it is not working.

  2. The multiselect with removal does not remove the first entry. It will remove all other entries but does not return to blank.

  3. Hello, Is there a way to ensure your drop down list is always in alphabetical order and not click order?

    1. I sort the source to be A-Z, then drop down list appear in A-Z order as well.

    2. Hi! A drop-down list creates a text string in a cell. You need a special macro to sort the words in this text string.

  4. How do I make a field on the drop down where they can enter text as and "other" option?

  5. I'm trying to use your code to enable multi-selection functionality in protected sheet, but I don't know where to put this code in the VBA (I'm also using your code for "Multi-selection dropdown with item removal") Can you please provide me with the exact location where this code should be placed?

    1. Hi! This has been discussed many times in the comments of this article. Add the code after the "Multiple selection drop down with item removal" code or whatever code you use.

      1. Thanks so much for your quick response! I went through the old comment around this topic but doesn't seem like they received any solutions. I did try put the code for "Enable multi-selection functionality in protected sheet" after my main code "Multi-selection dropdown with item removal". it's still doesn't work. It's giving me single select of the latest one I selected. Please see below my code and any help will be greatly appreciated.

        Option Explicit
        Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Destination As Range)

        Dim rngDropdown As Range
        Dim oldValue As String
        Dim newValue As String
        Dim DelimiterType As String
        DelimiterType = vbCrLf
        Dim DelimiterCount As Integer
        Dim TargetType As Integer
        Dim i As Integer
        Dim arr() As String

        If Destination.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub
        On Error Resume Next

        Set rngDropdown = Cells.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeAllValidation)
        On Error GoTo exitError

        If rngDropdown Is Nothing Then GoTo exitError
        If Destination.Column 8 And Destination.Column 10 And Destination.Column 12 And Destination.Column 14 And Destination.Column 16 And Destination.Column 18 And Destination.Column 20 And Destination.Column 22 And Destination.Column 24 And Destination.Column 26 Then GoTo exitError

        TargetType = 0
        TargetType = Destination.Validation.Type
        If TargetType = 3 Then ' is validation type is "list"
        Application.ScreenUpdating = False
        Application.EnableEvents = False
        newValue = Destination.Value
        Application.Undo
        oldValue = Destination.Value
        Destination.Value = newValue
        If oldValue "" Then
        If newValue "" Then
        If oldValue = newValue Or oldValue = newValue & Replace(DelimiterType, " ", "") Or oldValue = newValue & DelimiterType Then ' leave the value if there is only one in the list
        oldValue = Replace(oldValue, DelimiterType, "")
        oldValue = Replace(oldValue, Replace(DelimiterType, " ", ""), "")
        Destination.Value = oldValue
        ElseIf InStr(1, oldValue, DelimiterType & newValue) Or InStr(1, oldValue, newValue & DelimiterType) Or InStr(1, oldValue, DelimiterType & newValue & DelimiterType) Then
        arr = Split(oldValue, DelimiterType)
        If Not IsError(Application.Match(newValue, arr, 0)) = 0 Then
        Destination.Value = oldValue & DelimiterType & newValue
        Else:
        Destination.Value = ""
        For i = 0 To UBound(arr)
        If arr(i) newValue Then
        Destination.Value = Destination.Value & arr(i) & DelimiterType
        End If
        Next i
        Destination.Value = Left(Destination.Value, Len(Destination.Value) - Len(DelimiterType))
        End If
        ElseIf InStr(1, oldValue, newValue & Replace(DelimiterType, " ", "")) Then
        oldValue = Replace(oldValue, newValue, "")
        Destination.Value = oldValue
        Else
        Destination.Value = oldValue & DelimiterType & newValue
        End If
        Destination.Value = Replace(Destination.Value, Replace(DelimiterType, " ", "") & Replace(DelimiterType, " ", ""), Replace(DelimiterType, " ", "")) ' remove extra commas and spaces
        Destination.Value = Replace(Destination.Value, DelimiterType & Replace(DelimiterType, " ", ""), Replace(DelimiterType, " ", ""))
        If Destination.Value "" Then
        If Right(Destination.Value, 2) = DelimiterType Then ' remove delimiter at the end
        Destination.Value = Left(Destination.Value, Len(Destination.Value) - 2)
        End If
        End If
        If InStr(1, Destination.Value, DelimiterType) = 1 Then ' remove delimiter as first characters
        Destination.Value = Replace(Destination.Value, DelimiterType, "", 1, 1)
        End If
        If InStr(1, Destination.Value, Replace(DelimiterType, " ", "")) = 1 Then
        Destination.Value = Replace(Destination.Value, Replace(DelimiterType, " ", ""), "", 1, 1)
        End If
        DelimiterCount = 0
        For i = 1 To Len(Destination.Value)
        If InStr(i, Destination.Value, Replace(DelimiterType, " ", "")) Then
        DelimiterCount = DelimiterCount + 1
        End If
        Next i
        If DelimiterCount = 1 Then ' remove delimiter if last character
        Destination.Value = Replace(Destination.Value, DelimiterType, "")
        Destination.Value = Replace(Destination.Value, Replace(DelimiterType, " ", ""), "")
        End If
        End If
        End If
        Application.EnableEvents = True
        Application.ScreenUpdating = True
        End If

        exitError:
        Application.EnableEvents = True
        End Sub

        Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
        ActiveSheet.Unprotect Password:="DVonly"
        On Error GoTo exitError2

        If Target.Validation.Type = 3 Then
        Else
        ActiveSheet.Protect Password:="DVonly"
        End If

        Done:
        Exit Sub

        exitError2:
        ActiveSheet.Protect Password:="DVonly"
        End Sub

        1. Hi! There are no errors in the code. But I can't look in your workbook and your Excel to find the cause of the problem. Try installing the code in a new workbook or downloading the sample file from the link at the end of the article.

          1. I created a brand new file and copied the Multi-selection dropdown with item removal code and added If Not Destination.Column = 4 Then GoTo exitError before the "TargetType = 0" line. This worked as expected. I added the How to enable multi-selection functionality in protected sheet code at the end. The new file has "password" as the password. When I click on the drop down, the file changes to the sheet with the Table for the drop down and changes the Table to a list, not adding the second selection to the drop down.

            1. Hi! Unfortunately, I did not have a replication of your problem in my workbook. Please note that the code to enable the multi-select functionality in the protected sheet should be added at the end of your code, after the main code.

  6. Is there any way to apply multiple dropdown feature on web excel ? Like on "OneDrive"

  7. An honestly wonderful bit of code you put together. I am curious if it is possible to limit the selection to a particular range? I have tried adding each cell of the range, but the list gets excessively long (B11:C50). Neither column nor row limitation work perfectly as it negatively impacts other parts of the worksheet.

    Hopefully I am overlooking something simple. Regardless, thanks for your VBA (Very Beautiful Algorithm).

    1. Hello! Replace the following line of code to restrict the execution of the multiple selections macro to a range of cells

      If Intersect(Destination, rngDropdown) Is Nothing Then
      на
      If Intersect(ActiveCell, Range("B11:C50")) Is Nothing Or Intersect(Destination, rngDropdown) Is Nothing Then

      I hope my advice will help you solve your task.

  8. Hi, this is great.

    I used your code for Multi-selection dropdown with item removal for a specific cell option and got it working as I wanted. However, for some reason, it broke some of the macros I had in that worksheet. All the sudden my macros started giving me "variable not defined error" in multiple instances. Deleting your code fixed the issue.

    I have your code at the very top in Sheet1 followed by over 20 macros triggered by buttons

    After spending some time digging for answers the problem relies in the fact that your code requires the "option explicit" line. This forces me to define every single variable in my macros.

    is there any workaround other than defining every single variable in my >20 macros?

    Any suggestion is welcome.
    Thanks

    1. Hi! If the "option explicit" option appears in the module, you must explicitly declare all variables using Dim, Private, Public, ReDim, or Static instructions. You can try removing this option, but I don't guarantee the code will work correctly.

    2. Ok found a workaround (i think). i have to cut and paste the macros from the buttons into separate modules and then assign those modules back to the buttons.

      Cheers

  9. Is there a way to show the dropdown symbol in excel cell using VBA (for multi selection dropdown handled thru VBA code)?

    1. Hi! Excel has a special method of identification for cells with a drop-down list. The code for multiple selections works in all cells with a drop-down list. Unless you specify a specific range. You could try writing VBA code to get what you want, but we don't provide that help on this blog.

  10. Thanks for the instructions! Now I want to send this Excel file to colleagues. Tried it, and from some email addresses it bounced back. I am presuming because of the macros in the Excel file which could be seen as a security risk. I tried creating a xlsx, but it loses the multiselection functionality. Is there any way to preserve the multiselection functionality in a document format that won't be perceived as a security risk?

  11. Brilliant work!

    (One other tutorial I looked at required specifying the call with the drop-down. Ugh.)

    Thank you, Alexander.

    -- Jon

  12. Thanks for this tutorial. It was very helpful.
    I have created a pivot a table and I will like my multi-selections to appear individually as column headers. Can this be achieved?

  13. I simply cannot discern where, within the code that appears in the "VBA code to select multiple items in dropdown list" table, that the suggested code for introducing column flexibility (below) should be inserted! Please advise. Thanks.

    Multi-select drop-down for specific columns
    To allow selecting multiple items in a certain column, add this code:

    If Not Destination.Column = 4 Then GoTo exitError

    1. Hi! Pay attention above to the beginning of paragraph: How to create multi-select dropdown for specific columns, rows, cells. It says where to insert this code.

  14. Hello, thank you for this useful website.

    I have questions please,
    I tried making a drop down with multiple selections for my data, but when I insert the formula =INDIRECT("Table1[Items]")
    I get an error message saying (the source currently evaluate to error !)
    I don't why?

    Another question: I cannot see from where the name "Table1" in the above formula came?

    Thank you

  15. Hi,

    Thanks for the information. Its really help. I'm trying to use the code in protected sheet but fail to do so.

    Questions:- How im going to make the code valid for more then one table list in one sheet. Cause i tried many times but its not gonna work on your code above. Please help me regarding this. i have use these code fo yours: Multi-selection dropdown with item removal & Enable multi-selection functionality in protected sheet at my Excell. Thanks in advance.

    1. Hi! Unfortunately, your problem is not very clear. The code works for all dropdown lists on the sheet. If you want to limit its use, I recommend you to read carefully the paragraph: Multi-select dropdown for specific columns, rows, cells. Or explain it in more detail.

      1. Thanks for your feedback. I already follow step by step, to enable the dropdown list, that can be use and pick multiple and its work perfectly using this code: Multi-selection dropdown with item removal. Unfortunately, after I implement the code that can Enable multi-selection functionality in protected sheet at my Excell, the dropdown list can't be select as before. it only pick one instead of more than one items in one cell. if i delete this code : Enable multi-selection functionality in protected sheet at my Excell, its back to normal. Cause i need to protect the sheet at several cell and remain unprotected at several cell to user for key in the input. If you have other solution on this issues please help. Thanks in advance. Really appreciate.

        1. Hi! The code you are given works with a protected worksheet. This method of protection is described here: How to protect Excel sheet. This protects the entire sheet, not individual cells.
          There is also a lot of discussion of this problem in the comments below. For example, here.

          1. Thanks for reply. As i understand on your comment, it is valid for the different dropdown list (one or more set of validation) or it's only valid for one list(table) of dropdown only in one worksheet. And for your information, i already go through the other comment but there is no solid answer for the issue yet.

            1. If you look carefully, you'll read in the second paragraph of the article: "The code enables multiple selections in all drop down lists on a particular sheet. You do not need to specify the target cell or range reference in the code".
              In the example file, you can see how multiple selections works for 5 dropdown lists on one sheet.

        2. added input issue:-

          - I have more than one list of dropdown in one sheet. I already try add the other list of dropdown into your practice example excel and its won't work if I add the Enable multi-selection functionality in protected sheet at my Excell, So the conclusion, its fail to pick more than one items, if the sheet content more than one dropdown list in protected sheet.

          1. A worksheet can have any number of dropdown lists with multi-selection functionality. I cannot see what you are doing. Try to carefully follow the recommendations from the article above.

  16. I am not an expert in excel. Your VBA code helped me a lot. But still am facing problem with the "protection".

    Can u explain where to insert the protection code along with the existing code.

    I did copy, paste with the existing code, but it doesn't work. do you have some pictures or videos to share.

    Thank you.

    1. Hi! You can see a sample code in this paragraph above: How to enable multi-selection functionality in protected sheet.

      1. Hi,

        I've tried to the copy paste of the code that was recommended in the paragraph above, but it didn't work. I saw other people had the some issue. Could you please give an example of the complete code including both the Multi Selection functionality as well as the code to Unprotect and protect so we could evaluate what we're not doing properly?
        Or even include this type of example in the excel spreadsheet you provided as an example?

        Thank you in advance

        1. Hi!
          1. Add the code you need to the worksheet. For example, Multi-select drop down without duplicates.
          2. AFTER THIS CODE, add the code for working on the protected sheet from the paragraph: Enable multi-selection functionality in protected sheet.
          3. That's all.

  17. Hi,
    Thanks for the code it works great. I would like to have it applied to a range of cells that are in a table like all the ones that are in "Column1" but nowhere else, how could I do that please?
    Thanks in advance!

    1. Hi! I kindly ask you to take a closer look at the following paragraph of the article above: How to create multi-select dropdown for specific columns, rows, cells.

      1. Thanks for the article, it was very helpful.

        How would I adjust the code for multi-selection dropdown with item removal to display the selected options in alphabetical order?

        Ideally would want to have the same result if <1 option is selected, regardless of selection order.

        1. Hi! To sort text in a cell alphabetically, you need a separate macro. Unfortunately, we do not plan to do this.

  18. The multi-select code with and without removal does not work. I have read and implemented the instructions 6 times and only one item can be selected. I have saved the sheet as a macro enabled excel file. I have created the list using the table and the "INDIRECT" line of code. I have created the developer tab and added the VBA code exactly as it is shown in the article. But only one item can be selected.

    1. Hi! Unfortunately this information is not enough to understand the cause of the problem. I can't see how you added the code to your worksheet. Try using the sample file linked at the end of the article.

    2. You may want to add a step to your list. I had to close out of the spreadsheet entirely and re-open it for the macro to be enabled.

      This code is a tremendous help. Thanks!

  19. Worked perfectly, thanks!

  20. So helpful!!! Thank you!

  21. Hello,

    Thanks so much for this code - it's great! One challenge I have though is that when you use the code to enable removal of previously selected items it doesn't quite work for me. Let's say I have 2 items that can be selected - QWE; RTY and am using the custom delimiter: " | "

    If I select QWE, then RTY, they are now both added to the list like this : "QWE | RTY"
    If I re-select RTY, it is now removed from the list like this: "QWE"
    If I re-select QWE a second time, it is added to the list a second time, NOT removed, like this "QWE | QWE"
    If I re-select QWE again a third time, they are both now removed and there is nothing left in the list.

    The case where an item is added twice only happens when you try and remove the first item in the list. My best guess is that this because the first instance automatically doesn't have a de-limiter, so perhaps the code for removal is looking for a de-limiter, doesn't see it, then s then adds the item again with one? Then when you select a third time, it picks them both up due to the de-limiter?

    I'm not sure, I'm not great with code but would appreciate if you're able to provide any other advice on this. this is the only VB I have in this document.

    Thanks!

    1. Hi! We have made changes in the code. Reinstall the code Multi-selection dropdown with item removal. Thank you for your comment!

  22. Hi,
    code was working greatly, but I have now new company notebook, suddenly code stopped working. I have downloaded your practice sheet, and it does not work as well.
    No errors, dropdown list allows only one selection.
    Excel version: Microsoft® Excel® for Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2310 Build 16.0.16924.20054) 64-bit
    Any suggestions ?

      1. Hi.
        I understand the basics for macros to run.
        OFF COURSE all macros are enabled, folders trusted.

        Anyway it doesnt work. I was trying altering the code.
        I deleted this section at the end and it worked for a while. Then again stopped working.
        Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
        End Sub

        Looks to me like option explicit doesnt run properly.

        1. Hi. On the old computer the code worked, on the new computer it does not work. Conclusion: your new computer software is the problem, not the macro code. Unfortunately, I am not able to solve this problem for you.

  23. Hi Thank you for this code - it works but I wanted to take it a step further. I am using the code which places the selected items on a new line (so DelimiterType = vbCrLf), but I also want to add a comma to the previous line.

    I have tried "DelimiterType = & ", " vbCrLf" - but this creates an issue because it allows an item to be selected twice, then after selecting that item a couple more times, only then do all instances get deleted.

    Can you advise how to add a comma to the end of the previous line?

    Thank you.

    Gemma

    2. Actually, I've just recopied the code and used "DelimiterType = "," & vbCrLf" and it seems to be working now.

      Thank you

      Gemma

  24. Hi, thank you this code was very helpful. I am using the code which allows duplicates to be selected and I would like to count how many times each word is mentioned (including duplicates within cells). Do you know if there is a way to do this? I have tried the COUNTIF and SUMPRODUCT functions but cannot find a way to count the duplicates also - it counts a maximum of 1 per cell. Thanks.

  25. Hi. Thanks for the comprehensive explanation. I have used the VBA successfully and created the multi selection list for all my worksheets - it works great! Once i have collected my data, is there any way to calculate/summarise how many of each selection within a drop down list have been selected. i.e. if i and counting fruit and have selected "apples" ten times (or 1000) and selected "pears" 37 times, how can i get excel to calculate that without me having to count each individual selection.

  26. Hi Alexander,
    Thank you for the VBA. I am successfully using the code for the multi-select with removal and have added the part to do the selection on specific columns on one sheet. However, when I attempt to use the same code on other sheets in the same workbook (I have updated to point to the relevant columns in the new sheets) it does not work.

    Is there something that I'm doing wrong or can this only be used on one sheet in a workbook? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

    1. Hi! As the article above states, the code must be placed on each worksheet on which you want to make multiple selections from the drop-down list.

  27. Hi Alexander I have your code working, but as soon as I close and reopen the file, the code won't work anymore, do you have any suggestions for me please? I check and nothing has changed, I have copied it to a new workbook and the exact same thing happens, it works until I close, then when I reopen, it will only let me select one item per cell. I did not add specified columns to the code, and my worksheet has about 10 list tables, so not sure if it's too much information? I am also very new to VB, so I could be doing something without realising I'm erring. Data tables are on a separate worksheet and the code is only on the worksheet I have the data validation on.

  28. Hi - thanks for this code - it works really well, except (as many have said) when I try to add the code for a protected sheet.
    Could you perhaps show EXACTLY where this code is meant to go?
    Should it be split and replace areas of the primary code? Tagged on at the end? It really isn't clear how to make this work.

    Many thanks

    1. Hi! Pay attention to the following paragraph of the article above: How to enable multi-selection functionality in protected sheet. No changes need to be made to the primary code.

      1. Hi and thanks for the prompt reply. I still can't figure it out though and have tried it on both the sample sheet and my own, using office 365 Excel
        I have appended the extra code following the primary code and I have set a password in the extra code. This is what happens:
        I set the multi picker cells to be editable when the sheet is locked. At this point the sheet is unlocked.
        I select an item in one of the multi picker cells. The sheet is then locked by the code.
        This cell is then reverted to a single option pick list but is editable.
        If I step on to another multi picker cell, the sheet unlocks.
        As soon as I make a selection in this cell, the sheet is locked again.

        None of the cells allow multi selection when the sheet is protected.

        I know you have responded to this on several occasions but it really isn't clear where this extra code actually goes, to make this work or why it isn't dong for so many.

        Many thanks

        1. Hi! I think you understand that I can't check the code in your workbook. We have already discussed a similar problem in the comments above. I cannot reproduce your issue. Try deleting all the code and installing it again. I hope this will help.

  29. Hi!

    Thanks for sharing this. I tried the code, and it works for examples given above.

    However, I would like to use the multiple selected items as input for a function (e.g. FILTER function).

    Let's say I have a dataset for several years, and want to do a report with the filter function, filtering data for selected years, but giving the user the ability to select one or more years from a dropdown list.

    Is there a way to do this?

    Thank you in advance for your help. :)

    1. Hi! The macro allows you to create a text string of multiple items in a single cell. But I cannot advise you how to use this text in the FILTER function. Each criterion of the FILTER function must be written separately.

  30. After selection of multiple items, I want to add the input data. what should I do?

  31. Hi - thanks for the code. When I use this I get the multi-select list working fine - however Excel is showing the standard 'data validation' error on the cell, as a concatenated version of selections isn't valid according to the original list defined in the data validation tab.
    Is there any way to get Excel to not show up the issue?
    Further, I cant use the formula bar to edit the result (i.e. manually delete an entry selected), because again, it's not valid based on the original formula list provided.
    Any help would be appreciated!

    1. Hi! Sorry, I do not fully understand the task. Please clarify your specific problem or provide additional information to understand what you need. I can only say that the macro does not affect the work of the dropdown list in any way.

    2. Also, the password protection seems to be a bit funny! The code seems to turn protection on before I have, and then the list doesn't work anymore?

      1. I fixed the first by protecting the sheet - and the second I used different code.
        Sub Example()
        ActiveSheet.Unprotect
        Program logic...
        ActiveSheet.Protect
        End Sub

        Around the sub I copied. Thanks :)

  32. first of all thank you very much, The code is really good and works great ! 😊
    I saw that people wrote that they have a problem when the sheet is protected. I also had a problem exactly like this, that the multipicklist worked fine, but as soon as I make the sheet protected, the multipicklist becomes a normal picklist. And even when I added your code for the protect it didn't help. I investigated your sample file which continues to work fine even when the sheet is protected, And I tried to understand what is the difference between us. I think that I came to a conclusion as to what is causing the problem:
    When a different cell with a different validation is defined in the sheet, it prevents the multipicklist from working when the sheet is protected. I you will add to your sheet another validation in other cell, you will probably see the problem.
    I really don't understand VBA, I would appreciate if you have an idea what can be changed in the code so that it works even when there are several different validations in the sheet.
    Thank you very much !!

    1. Hi! If I understood the problem correctly, you can only use one macro per worksheet. It is written about it in the article. All macro variants are in the article. You can add the code for the protected worksheet to any macro, as described above. I hope I have answered your question.

      1. Thanks for the replay.
        I m using only one macro on the sheet.
        But I have two cells with different validations. Only one of them needs to be a multipicklist and uses your macro, the other validation is a number validation and doesn't have a list at all.
        When I protect the sheet and add your code for protecting, the multipicklist becomes a regular picklist. It doesn't run the code correctly.
        I tried to debug (As I said before, I don't know VBA, but I am programming in other languages). when I select a value from the list, I see that on the line "If rngDropdown Is Nothing Then GoTo exitError " it falls and goes to exitError without doing all the other important lines.
        I would appreciate your help please. Thanks.

        1. Hi! I downloaded the sample file at the end of the article and added the code for the protected sheet. I did not get any errors. Try reinstalling the macro code.

          1. Your code works great, I didn't say it didn't.
            But I meant that if you add another validation in another cell (like a validation on a number) and then you will see the problem.
            In any case, my problem was solved in another way, the client asked to remove his field from the file 😀.

            1. As I said, I added another validation in another cell (validation on a number) but I didn't see any problems. There is some problem in your file and maybe reinstalling the code would solve it.

              1. The code works great on protected sheets if i use the codes on your sample sheet, but if I modify the code to make specific columns have the multi-selection option, the code not work and turn to single selection only.
                Please you need to change the code on your sample sheet and add this line code for example (If Destination.Column 16 And Destination.Column 17 And Destination.Column 18 And Destination.Column 19 And Destination.Column 20 And Destination.Column 21 And Destination.Column 22 And Destination.Column 23 And Destination.Column 24 And Destination.Column 29 Then GoTo exitError) to see the problem.

  33. Hi,

    Amazing work. I have successfully implemented the code. However, when I transfer the file through e-mail, and then download it again, the multi-selection dropdown doesn't seem to work any more. Would you happen to know a solution to this problem?

    1. I have resolved this issue, it was due to the excel being a read-only file. I saved it as another file and it worked.
      Thanks again.

  34. Hi,

    Further to my previous question, how can I apply this code to only certain columns, as I have some columns that should only allow a single selection, where there are three columns ranges("A3:A5000, P3:P5000, AL3:AL5000") which should allow multi-select?

  35. Hi,

    Thanks for the great share.

    I have multi-select dropdowns in a number of columns which works as per your post. However, if this is applied to column A the macro does not seem to work as it does for all other columns. I have tested the dropdown without the VBA and it works for single selections. All dropdowns are setup exactly the same, just pointing to different sources. Any idea what might be causing this?

    1. Hi! The code works for the dropdown list in column A just as it works for the other columns. You may have set a limitation for some columns, as described in the article above.

  36. Thank you for this code. It has been really helpful. If I want to be able to scroll through the drop down menu rather than using the arrow buttons to go through the list, how would I do that?

  37. Hi there! This is a fantastic feature but I’m having a hard time thinking through the best way to create a pivot table based on the individual components. For example, I don’t want to know the count of “Bread, Eggs, Butter” I want to know how many times Eggs are on the list and for what dish. I know I can do =countif(range, “*”&”Eggs”&”*”) for the count but I’m not able to do that in a pivot table to do additional analytics. I appreciate any guidance you’re able to provide! Thanks!

    1. Hi! I don't really understand what your question has to do with the article above. If you want to count how many times a specific word occurs in a range of text cells, use the SUMPRODUCT function and these guidelines: How to find substring in Excel. For example,

      =SUMPRODUCT(--ISNUMBER(SEARCH("eggs",B1:B10)))

      In a pivot table, you can't get any analytics on a part of a text string. You need to split the text into individual cells.

  38. This worked perfectly when I first tried it out, many thanks! However, when I got an update of MS Office, the code does not work for 64 bit - any way this could be converted easily?

    Thanks!

      1. I'll try, thanks!

  39. Thank you this is perfect!!

  40. Thank you for your help! I inserted the primary code into my spreadsheet and it worked as described. However, when I tried to add in the additional code to enable a multi-select dropdown functionality in a protected worksheet, I would get the following error: Compile error: Ambiguous name detected: Worksheet_SelectionChange
    It would specifically highlight the first line of the added code which followed the primary code. I tried both protecting the sheet and workbook individually and together, and each time I would get the error. The last group in the primary code has the same "Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange (ByVal Target As Range)" language. I tried replacing that with the additional code, but that only resulted in the multi-select dropdown no longer functional. I have updated the password options as instructed.
    I don't see this in the practice workbook, and I'm not sure how to fix. Any help you can provide would be much appreciated. Thanks!

    1. Hi! Check your code carefully. Private Sub Worksheet_Change occurs there twice. Delete the unnecessary code.

      1. Sorry, the primary code I used was for the "Multi-selection dropdown with item removal" option. So that only has one occurrence of "Private Sub Worksheet_Change". The ending version is "Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange". I combined this version of the primary code with the "multi-select dropdown functionality in a protected worksheet", leaving 2 occurrences of "Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange".

  41. I am trying to create a shared document for work using the Multi-selection dropdown with item removal and it works great however it doesn't cross over to the online version (which all my colleagues would see).

    It still lets me select from the list, the most basic form of it works, but the mutli selection and item removal doesn't seem to be translating over.

    Any idea how I can fix this?

  42. Hi, thanks for the code. Selecting multiple options works smoothly, but if by mistake I select a wrong item in the list, how can I remove it? nothing seems todo the trick. thanks in advance

    1. Hi! To remove the wrong item from a cell, you can use the code: Multi-selection dropdown with item removal. Or you can manually correct the data in the cell because the dropdown list creates a text string. You can edit it in the formula bar.

    2. my bad, apologies, I used the wrong code snippet. all works perfectly

  43. Hello,
    This code works beautifully, until I upload my spreadsheet to onedrive so that I can share it with colleagues, it then loses the option to select multiple options from the drop down list and only allows you to choose one, Is there a way to change the VBA code for a share point excel spreadsheet, Or is there another way to add a multiple selection list for one that opens on chrome ? Any help would be appreciated

    1. Hi! Remember that VBA only works in the desktop version of Excel. VBA macros and functions do not work in Excel Online.

  44. Hello,

    This is all great information!! So far is working perfectly! I do have a question, Is there any code that could eliminate your selection from the drop down box in the next row? For example, If I have multiple people using the excel spreadsheet and we have 2 rows with employee names in the drop down list, 1 person picks 3 names from the list and the next person in the next row needs to see what names they cannot pick.

  45. Thank you very much for providing this code, it works just how it's suppost to! I used the dropdown with multiple selections in separate lines code and realized, that the code does not keep the entries in the order of the drop-down menu. For instance: If you select Apricot and then Bread crumps, it will show it in the right sequence.If you de-select Apricot, it correctly only shows Bread crumps. However if you then select Apricot again, the result will be displayed at Bread crumps, Apricot. Is there a way to keep the selections in the order of the drop-down?

    1. Hello! Since the drop-down list creates a text string in the cell, you need to write special VBA code to sort the words in the text string within the cell.

  46. I am having a problem getting the code to work that allows the multi select in a protected workbook. Any suggestions? I’m not getting a specific error, the multi select functionality still doesn’t work when the additional code is added and it is updated with my password. Thanks!

    1. Hi! Unfortunately, this information is not enough to understand your task. Carefully follow the recommendations from the article above. You can use the sample file. See the link at the end of the article. Or explain your problem in detail. What do you want to do and what code are you using.

  47. The drop down list with multi- selection is great.

    Is there any code that could eliminate your selection from the drop down box and repopulate it in the next cell over when it is clicked?

  48. Hello,

    Thanks so much for these codes. It works perfectly. Would it be possible to enhance the code to provide user with long description in the drop down list, but returns the short abbreviation in the worksheet? For example, when entering a state, user types in "A" and the drop down shows "Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas". If user selects "Alaska", the worksheet would record "AL".

    Best Regards.

  49. Hi
    Thanks for the code. It works perfectly and it saved a lot of our time.
    Just wondering if it is possible to have different text colour for each phrase in one cell.
    Let say in your example, whenever 'Milk' is selected, it shows with a red text colour and the rest item are shown black. Is this something possible?
    BTW, I already tried the cell rule but it will change the text colour for entire cell not one item.
    Many thanks

  50. First, thank you for sharing this code. I'm excited to see it in use with my current worksheet. However, I have a question first: where do we insert this code? You wrote, "insert the VBA code at the back end of the target worksheet" without details for what that means.

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