In the “Error Alert” tab of the data validation dialog box , uncheck “Show error alert after invalid data is entered.” You then get the data validation list, but no error if the user enters a value not on the list. I had never noticed this before doing this project.

It seems that you have data validation on Qty cells but I can enter any data in those cells. How did you do it?

Richard

Charlene, I’ve been looking at your code. That was a lot of work! I originally tried using userforms for the same reason you did, to provide the user as much guidance as possible, but I gave up for a similar reason to what you mentioned, I couldn’t show the chosen products all at once in a way that also allowed the user to select new products. I had a lot of frustrating learning experiences with multicolumn combobboxes in listbox mode…

I found your code well organized and easy to read. I did have a few thoughs…

1) I think you could remove the validation from the spindown. As it is now, you can’t go back down from a blank item, because it tries to validate that blank item. I commented out from “If ValidItem” through “StoreItem”. Since you don’t allow the user to go up more than one item past the last filled item I think this works. Also, on the spinner, I think you could make your validation shorter by using the Max and Min properties. (I do think that ideally, you’d want the user to be able to return to a previous item by entering the number in the textbox, which means tying it to the spinner, which means more brain damage. I know j-walk has good info on that in his programming book.)

2) You might consider using a dynamic range for the products list. If you’re not familiar, the range will expand and contract as entries are made. It uses CountA in the range name definition. I used one for my “product_entry” range and I saw that Ken used at least once too.

3) I think you could use the With, End With statements to shorten up some of the code where your referring to an object more than once in a row. It’s more efficient, plus I think it improves readability.

I hope you don’t mind that I commented a lot on yours. I just found your code interesting. Also, I’d welcome detailed comments on mine (I hope!). That’s part of what excited me about this idea of j-walk’s, although I’m not really sure what level of comments/criticism is appropriate.

It just occurred to me reading your post, that “Ignore Blanks” may have another meaning: one not of blanks in the list; but of blanks in the validated cell? hehehe I laugh at myself…

Thanks for the paradigm shift

doco

I’m still not sure what use the setting is, but that’s what I observe.

Also, j-walk, while I’m here, I want to say that I like your trick of bouncing back and forth between the Item and Quantity. A nice touch.

Am I missing something (I usually do ) )

doco