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Placeholder Text in cells to be changed by User

Anonymous
2017-01-04T20:19:23+00:00

I have dozens of cells that I've entered gray-text into... like "placeholder" text that I'd like the user to be able to select the answer from a drop-down list.  I have no problem creating the drop-down list.  But when I make a selection from the drop-down list, the selected text also turns light gray (as I have formatted the cells/columns).

It looks like to accomplish this with VBA I need VBA code for each cell?  I have literally hundreds of cells, but only three main themes; Material, Model# and Connection Type.  I have Material, Model# and Connection Type in a light gray.  I was hoping that once the user made their selection from the drop-down list, that the text would be the normal black/bold text and no longer the light gray text.

I know that it may be easier to simply delete all of the light-gray text and enter a Comment for those cells... I just really like the look of the light-gray text in the form.  The User immediately knows what items they need to update.

Any input?  I have looked online for days trying to find a solution.  Looking for input and advice!  Thanks!

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-01-05T21:00:58+00:00

    Below is the form I'm working on... should have included it yesterday!  Each of the small cells has a drop-down list for selecting the appropriate answer.  I like the light gray text... but when the user selects a choice from the drop-down, the selected text is also light gray.  I tried playing with the Conditional Formatting but couldn't really get what I was after.  I will try the Worksheet_Change_Event next.  Thanks!  Tim 

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-01-04T20:58:58+00:00

    Thanks for your reply Bernard!!  I'll give them a try!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-01-04T20:44:41+00:00

    You could use a Worksheet_Change event subroutine; see

    https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff839775.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

    But here is another idea. I set up a worksheet as on screenshot, I used Conditional Formatting to make the text grey when the cell contained Material? (or Model?). When the user pick an item from the dropdown, the text no longer equals the 'placeholder text' so the font reverts to the default.

    best wishes

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