Contextures Blog

Many moons ago, Dave Peterson created a sample Excel worksheet data entry form and kindly shared it on the Contextures website.

In Dave’s original form, users could add records on the data entry sheet, and click a button to go to the database sheet, where they could review or edit the order records.

Continue reading “New Improved Excel Data Entry Form”

Last July, I posted sample Excel VBA code to navigate to the next or previous worksheet.

• If you’re on the second sheet, you can click the Next button to go to the third sheet.
• Or, click the Back button to go to the first sheet.

Check for Hidden Sheets

In the comments for that blog post, Ron de Bruin suggested modifying the two navigation macros, so they test if the target sheet is hidden, before selecting it.

Finally, only 14 months later, the revised code is ready. As you know, quality work takes time! 😉

Excel Worksheet Navigation Code

Here’s the Excel VBA code for the two macros — GoSheetBack and GoSheetNext.

• If the next sheet is hidden, the code keeps going until it finds the next visible sheet.
• If the macro code reaches the end of the sheet tabs in either direction, it jumps to the other end, and continues from there.

'==========================
Sub GoSheetNext()
Dim wb As Workbook
Dim lSheets As Long
Dim lSheet As Long
Dim lMove As Long
Dim lNext As Long
Set wb = ActiveWorkbook
lSheets = wb.Sheets.Count
lSheet = ActiveSheet.Index
lMove = 1
With wb
  For lMove = 1 To lSheets - 1
    lNext = lSheet + lMove
    If lNext > lSheets Then
      lMove = 0
      lNext = 1
      lSheet = 1
    End If
    If .Sheets(lNext).Visible = True Then
      .Sheets(lNext).Select
      Exit For
    End If
  Next lMove
End With
End Sub
'==========================
Sub GoSheetBack()
Dim wb As Workbook
Dim lSheets As Long
Dim lSheet As Long
Dim lMove As Long
Dim lNext As Long
Set wb = ActiveWorkbook
lSheets = wb.Sheets.Count
lSheet = ActiveSheet.Index
lMove = 1
With wb
  For lMove = 1 To lSheets - 1
    lNext = lSheet - lMove
    If lNext < 1 Then
      lMove = 0
      lNext = lSheets
      lSheet = lSheets
    End If
    If .Sheets(lNext).Visible = True Then
      .Sheets(lNext).Select
      Exit For
    End If
  Next lMove
End With
End Sub
'==========================

Download the Sample File

To see the detailed instructions, and to download the sample Navigation code workbook, please go to the Excel VBA Worksheet Macro Buttons page on the Contextures website.

Watch the Excel Video

To see the steps for creating the navigation macro buttons, you can watch this Excel video.

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Way back in April, I wrote about the Excel VBA code to automatically add new items to a Data Validation drop down. It’s an easy way to update a list as you work, so the latest items are always available for users.

Last week, someone wrote and asked how to modify that code, so only a specific user could add new items. Everyone else should see a message that says they aren’t permitted to add items.

This technique isn’t foolproof, and anyone who’s determined to circumvent it would be able to. But, it’s a good way to remind people that they can’t update the list without permission.

Identify the User

One way to find out who’s trying to add a new item, is to check the user name that’s entered in the Microsoft Office application.

After you install Office, you can personalize it in Excel Options, in the Popular category, by entering your name in the User Name box.

In Excel VBA, you can create variables to capture that user name, and the name of the authorized user:

    Dim strAuth As String
    Dim strUser As String
    strAuth = "Debra Dalgleish"
    strUser = Application.UserName

Block Non-Authorized Users

After you figure out who the user is, you can block them from doing something. In this workbook, we want to block all but one user from adding new items.

    If strUser <> strAuth Then
        MsgBox "You do not have authority to add Work Order numbers. " _
            & vbCrLf _
            & vbCrLf _
            & "Please check with Administrator before continuing."
        GoTo exitHandler

Remove the Added Item

The above code will block people from adding the new item to the data validation drop down, but doesn’t prevent them from typing the new item in the data validation cell. With another line of code, you can undo the invalid entry that they made.

        Application.Undo
        GoTo exitHandler

Disable Events

Because the code might make a change on the worksheet, you’ll have to turn off the EnableEvents property. That will prevent the Worksheet_Change code from running again, while it’s in the middle of running the first time.

At the top of the procedure, add the line to turn off the EnableEvents property.

    Application.EnableEvents = False

In the exitHandler, remember to turn EnableEvents back on.

    Application.EnableEvents = True

Full Code and Sample File

If you’re interested in seeing the full code, or downloading the sample file, please visit the Contextures website, and read Excel Data Validation – Add New Items – Specific User.

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