How to Disable and Change Backcolor of Textboxes in a VBA Userform Based on Combo Box Selection

Learn how to dynamically disable textboxes and change their background color in a VBA Userform based on selected options from a Combo Box.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/78023604/ asked by the user 'Yodelayheewho' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/19275962/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/78023827/ provided by the user 'Tim Williams' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/478884/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: VBA Userform disable and change backcolor of textboxes based on combo box selection

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/licensing
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Mastering VBA Userform: Disable Textboxes Based on Combo Box Selection

In the world of Excel automation using VBA, Userforms provide an interactive way for users to enter data. However, sometimes users encounter challenges when they want to control the properties of various elements based on simple dropdown selections. In this post, we’ll explore a common problem: how to disable and change the backcolor of textboxes based on selections made in a Combo Box.

The Problem

Suppose you’re working with a Userform containing a Combo Box that allows users to select between different types of orders, namely Service, Repair, or System. Your requirement is as follows:

When Service or Repair is selected, you want multiple textboxes to be disabled and have their background color changed to gray.

When System is selected, you want the textboxes to be reinstated to their original enabled state and background color.

Many users struggle with correct syntax and how to manipulate multiple controls effectively when using VBA. In this specific case, error messages like invalid qualifier on "arr" indicate that multiple controls need to be addressed correctly.

The Solution

To achieve the desired functionality, we’ll need to make use of a loop to iterate over the controls. Below is a structured way to implement this solution.

Step 1: Setup the Event

We will use the cboOrderType_Change() event, which triggers every time a selection is made in the Combo Box. This event is where we will implement the logic to handle the changes.

Step 2: Create an Array of Controls

Instead of trying to set properties on a collection directly, we’ll create an array to hold all the textboxes and other controls we want to modify.

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Use a Select Case Statement

Utilizing a Select Case statement helps in handling different selections more elegantly:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 4: Loop Through the Controls

Now, we loop through the array of controls to set their properties accordingly:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Full Working Example

Combining everything together, the complete code in the cboOrderType_Change() event will look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By following this approach, you can manage the Userform controls based on dropdown selections effectively. This not only enhances user experience but also keeps the form organized and relevant to the user’s needs. Experiment with different selections and control properties, and soon you’ll be creating dynamic Userforms like a pro!

If you have any other questions about VBA or Userforms, feel free to ask. Happy coding!

Видео How to Disable and Change Backcolor of Textboxes in a VBA Userform Based on Combo Box Selection канала vlogize