Hints - Microsoft Excel - Make the Dropdown List Temporarily Wider

The Data Validation dropdown is the width of the cell that it's in, to a minimum of about 3/4". You could use a SelectionChange event to temporarily widen the column when it's active, then make it narrower when you select a cell in another column. 

For example, with Data Validation cells in column D:

To add this code to the worksheet:

Make the Dropdown List Appear Larger

In a Data Validation dropdown list, you can't change the font or font size. 

To make the text appear larger, you can use an event procedure (three examples are shown below) to increase the zoom setting when the cell is selected. (Note: this can be a bit jumpy) 

Or, you can use code to display a combobox. 

Zoom in when specific cell is selected

If cell A2 has a data validation list, the following code will change the zoom setting to 120% when that cell is selected. 

Zoom in when specific cells are selected

If several cells have a data validation list, the following code will change the zoom setting to 120% when any of those cells are selected. In this example, cells A1, B3 and D9 have data validation.

Zoom in when any cell with a data validation list is selected

The following code will change the zoom setting to 120% when any cell with a data validation list is selected.

Microsoft Accredited IT Training Provider

Microsoft Certified Training Materials

IT Training Courses delivered by Microsoft Accredited Facilitators

Microsoft MOS Test Centre London