missing tab on Forms toolbar control (xl2000/sp2)

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I have a workbook which has some drop down lists which were created from the Forms toolbar. I now want to edit the data which displays in the list but I can no longer get to the ‘Control’ tab which contains the two RefEdit boxes to let me set the data source and other info.

1. I go into edit mode
2. Right-click on combo box, select ‘Format Control’
3. There are only four tabs: Size, Protection, Properties, Web.

The ‘Control’ tab is missing. I can only get it to appear if I create a new combo box. Neither the sheet or the workbook are protected, where did this tab go?

Deb

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Deb,

Sounds like you got the Active X version somehow.
When you right-click the control, if the pop-up menu does NOT have an “Assign Macro…” item then its an Active X control.

Regards,

Jim Cone

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True, about the ‘Assign Macro’ option for Forms. I only use the ActiveX controls for other reasons but was helping someone else. There are no macros assigned to this control, it gets its data items from the ‘Control’ tab on the properties. This list box is definitely a Forms item because when I click on it, the string [=EMBED(“Forms.ComboBox.1″,””)] appears in the formula bar.

When I right-click on the combobox, however, I only get these items (‘assign macros’ isn’t one of them).

Cut, Copy, Paste, Properties, View Code, CommandBox Object, Grouping,Order, Format Control.

When I click Properties, it displays an empty box. So the question is why is it empty. The worksheet and workbook are not protected. The workbook does have VBA code (and the project is protected), however this combobox does not have code behind it. The data contained in the drop down list was built from the Control tab (which is the tab that no longer exists when I select ‘Format Control’)

Where’d it go?
Deb

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The ComboBox yo uare using seems to be from the Control Toolbar (ActiveX Controls). To set the properties of such a control there is an item on the Controls toolbar which enables you view and set the properties, and is very similar to the properties Window of VBA.

Hope that helps.

Andrew C

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Deb,

There are two different sets of controls available for use on an Excel spreadsheet.
1.) Those created by using View|Toolbars|Forms
2.) Those created by using View|Toolbars|Control Toolbox …(active x controls)

———————————————————————————
Active x controls do not have a ‘control tab’.
Active x controls are used by writng VBA code.
You cannot assign a macro to them.
There is an entry in the formula bar (similar to your description) when clicked,
————————————————————————
Controls from the ‘Forms’ toolbar have a ‘control tab’
Their name shows in the ‘name box’.
You can assign a macro to them.
They are much easier to use on worksheets but not as versatile.
—————————————————————————————

My suggestion is to delete the problem control(s) and start over using the controls from the “Forms” toolbar.
For more information see “Active x” then “Using ActiveX controls on sheets” in (Excel XP help) or
“Using ActiveX controls on sheets” (Excel 97 vba help).

Regards,

Jim Cone

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