Q: I have several combo boxes on a spreadsheet that just seem to want to work if the spreadsheet to draw them open – if not open, they do not work. Google led me to others in this run, but no solutions. I do not know if it is even possible with Excel. Its been hinted that the use of Access for the external source would be a better option, but since 1) I have no access and 2) I do not know access at all Anyway, Ill try to get it done with of just Excel.
Another related question – relative file paths vs. absolute file paths. I think this does not work, but . say the data file is on x: Documents data.xls data files, and file with the combo boxes to pull out x: Documents worksheet.xls worksheets. It seems like you can use something like . / Datafiles / data.xls to refer to the file containing the data I want in the combo boxes, but I thought maybe I was just screws the syntax somewhere. Relative filenames are possible, or they absolutely must?
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Re:Data Validation from an external source (http://www.contextures.com/xlDataVal05.html)
Looks like the simple way of doing it still requires you to leave the file with the data open. I'll be back when I find another option.
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Re:Originally posted by: guy
are you using data validation to make your combo boxes? I would think a combination of vlookups (to get the data from the other sheet/file) and data validation-list would do the trick.
First off, let me apologize in advance if I screw up some of the terminology… I'm new to the more-advanced functions of excel (although this stuff is probably actually pretty far from advanced).
Anyway, no, I'm not usind data validation, primarily because I couldn't figure out how to get the list source from a different file. I'm using the control toolbox, so they're combo box objects (not sure on the terminolgy here). Anyway, I'm going to mess around a little bit with using data validation and see if I can get it working… I haven't looked at this stuff since Thursday, when I first started learning and messing with it, so I have to get it loaded back into my memory, so to speak. I'll post back when/if I make any progress.
Still wondering about the absolute/relative file path issue.
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Re:are you using data validation to make your combo boxes? I would think a combination of vlookups (to get the data from the other sheet/file) and data validation-list would do the trick.
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Re:actually i've been wondering about that also. post back if you find anything.
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Re:There's code towards the bottom of this site that can supposedly get it done, but I've done about 15 minutes worth of work with VB in my life, so I'm not exactly sure how to apply it to my situation.
http://j-walk.com/ss/excel/eee/eee009.txt
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