Overview of forms, Form controls, and ActiveX controls on a worksheet
Yes, it is true. You can create great forms with little or no need for Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code in Microsoft Office Excel. By using forms and the many controls and objects that you can add to them, you can significantly enhance data entry on your worksheets and improve the way your worksheets are displayed.
In this article
What is a form?
A form, whether printed or online, is a document designed with a standard structure and format that makes it easier to capture, organize, and edit information.
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Printed forms contain instructions, formatting, labels, and blank spaces for writing or typing data. You can use Excel and Excel templates to create printed forms.
For more information about Excel templates, see the See Also section.
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Online forms contain the same features as printed forms. In addition, online forms contain controls. Controls are objects that display data or make it easier for users to enter or edit data, perform an action, or make a selection. In general, controls make the form easier to use. Examples of common controls include list boxes, option buttons, and command buttons. Controls can also run assigned macros and respond to events, such as mouse clicks, by running Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code.
You can use Excel in several ways to create printed and online forms.
Types of Excel forms
There are several types of forms that you can create in Excel: data forms, worksheets that contain Form and ActiveX controls, and VBA UserForms. You can use each type of form by itself, or you can combine them in different ways to create a solution that's right for you.
Data form
A data form provides a convenient way to enter or display one complete row of information in a range or table without scrolling horizontally. You may find that using a data form can make data entry easier than moving from column to column when you have more columns of data than can be viewed on the screen. Use a data form when a simple form of text boxes that list the column headings as labels is sufficient and you don't need sophisticated or custom form features, such as a list box or spin button.
Excel can automatically generate a built-in data form for your range or table. The data form displays all column headers as labels in a single dialog box. Each label has an adjacent blank text box in which you can enter data for each column, up to a maximum of 32 columns. In a data form, you can enter new rows, find rows by navigating, or (based on cell contents) update rows and delete rows . If a cell contains a formula, the formula result is displayed in the data form, but you cannot change the formula by using the data form.
Worksheet with Form and ActiveX controls
A worksheet is a type of form that enables you to enter and view data on the grid, and there are several control-like features already built-in to Excel worksheets, such as comments and data validation. Cells resemble text boxes in that you can enter and format them in a variety of ways. Cells are often used as labels, and by adjusting cell height and width and merging cells, you can make a worksheet behave like a simple data entry form. Other control-like features, such as cell comments, hyperlinks, background images, data validation, conditional formatting, embedded charts, and AutoFilter can make a worksheet behave like an advanced form.
For added flexibility, you can add controls and other drawing objects to the drawing canvas of a worksheet, and combine and coordinate them with worksheet cells. For example, you can use a list box control to make it easier for a user to select from a list of items. Or, you can use a spin button control to make it easier for a user to enter a number.
Because controls and objects are stored on the drawing canvas, you can display or view controls and objects alongside associated text that is independent of row and column boundaries without changing the layout of a grid or table of data on your worksheet. Most of the time, many of these controls can also be linked to cells on the worksheet and do not require VBA code to make them work. You can set properties that determine whether a control floats freely or moves and resizes together with a cell. For example, you might have a check box that you want to move together with its underlying cell when the range is sorted. However, if you have a list box that you want to keep in a specific location at all times, you probably do not want it to move together with its underlying cell.
Excel has two types of controls: Form controls and ActiveX Controls. In addition to these sets of controls, you can also add objects from the Drawing tools, such as a AutoShapes, WordArt, SmartArt graphic, or text boxes.
The following sections describe these controls and drawing objects, and also explain how to work with these controls and objects in more detail.
Form controls
Form controls are the original controls that are compatible with earlier versions of Excel, starting with Excel version 5.0. Form controls are also designed for use on XLM macro sheets.
You use Form controls when you want to easily reference and interact with cell data without using VBA code, and when you want to add controls to chart sheets. For example, after you add a list box control to a worksheet and linking it to a cell, you can return a numeric value for the current position of the selected item in the control. You can then use that numeric value in conjunction with the INDEX function to select different items from the list.
You can also run macros by using Form controls. You can attach an existing macro to a control, or write or record a new macro. When a user of the form clicks the control, the control runs the macro.
However, these controls cannot be added to UserForms, used to control events, or modified to run Web scripts on Web pages.
Summary of form controls
| Button Name | Example | Description | |
| | Label | | Identifies the purpose of a cell or text box, or displays descriptive text (such as titles, captions, pictures) or brief instructions. |
| | Group box | | Groups related controls into one visual unit in a rectangle with an optional label. Typically, option buttons, check boxes, or closely related contents are grouped. |
| | Button | | Runs a macro that performs an action when a user clicks it. A button is also referred to as a push button. |
| | Check box | | Turns on or off a value that indicates an opposite and unambiguous choice. You can select more than one check box on a worksheet or in a group box. A check box can have one of three states: selected (turned on), cleared (turned off), and mixed, meaning a combination of on and off states (as in a multiple selection). |
| | Option button | | Allows a single choice within a limited set of mutually exclusive choices; an option button is usually contained in a group box or a frame. An option button can have one of three states: selected (turned on), cleared (turned off), and mixed, meaning a combination of on and off states (as in a multiple selection). An option button is also referred to as a radio button. |
| | List box | | Displays a list of one or more items of text from which a user can choose. Use a list box for displaying large numbers of choices that vary in number or content. There are three types of list boxes:
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| | Combo box | | Combines a text box with a list box to create a drop-down list box. A combo box is more compact than a list box but requires the user to click the down arrow to display the list of items. Use a combo box to enable a user to either type an entry or choose only one item from the list. The control displays the current value in the text box, regardless of how that value is entered. |
| | Scroll bar | | Scrolls through a range of values when you click the scroll arrows or drag the scroll box. In addition, you can move through a page (a preset interval) of values by clicking the area between the scroll box and either of the scroll arrows. Typically, a user can also type a text value directly into an associated cell or text box. |
| | Spin button | | Increases or decreases a value, such as a number increment, time, or date. To increase the value, click the up arrow; to decrease the value, click the down arrow. Typically, a user can also type a text value directly into an associated cell or text box. |
Note: The following controls are unavailable in Office Excel 2007 workbooks. These controls can be used in Excel version 5.0 dialog sheets only.
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Text Field
Combo List - Edit 
Run DialogActiveX controls
ActiveX controls can be used on worksheet forms, with or without the use of VBA code, and on VBA UserForms. In general, use ActiveX controls when you need more flexible design requirements than those provided by Form controls. ActiveX controls have extensive properties that you can use to customize their appearance, behavior, fonts, and other characteristics.
You can also control different events that occur when an ActiveX control is interacted with. For example, you can perform different actions, depending on which choice a user selects from a list box control, or you can query a database to refill a combo box with items when a user clicks a button. You can also write macros that respond to events associated with ActiveX controls. When a user of the form interacts with the control, your VBA code then runs to process any events that occur for that control.
Your computer also contains many ActiveX controls that were installed by Excel and other programs, such as Calendar Control 12.0 and Windows Media Player.
Important: Not all ActiveX controls can be used directly on worksheets; some can be used only on Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) UserForms. If you try to add any one of these particular ActiveX controls to a worksheet, Excel displays the message "Cannot insert object."
However, ActiveX controls cannot be added to chart sheets from the user interface or to XLM macro sheets. You also cannot assign a macro to run directly from an ActiveX control the same way you can from a Form control.
Summary of ActiveX controls
| Button Name | Example | Description | |
| | Check box | | Turns on or off a value that indicates an opposite and unambiguous choice. You can select more than one check box at a time on a worksheet or in a group box. A check box can have one of three states: selected (turned on), cleared (turned off), and mixed, meaning a combination of on and off states (as in a multiple selection). |
| | Text box | | Enables you to, in a rectangular box, view, type, or edit text or data that is bound to a cell. A text box can also be a static text field that presents read-only information. |
| | Command button | | Runs a macro that performs an action when a user clicks it. A command button is also referred to as a push button. |
| | Option button | | Allows a single choice within a limited set of mutually exclusive choices usually contained in a group box or frame. An option button can have one of three states: selected (turned on), cleared (turned off), and mixed, meaning a combination of on and off states (as in a multiple selection). An option button is also referred to as a radio button. |
| | List box | | Displays a list of one or more items of text from which a user can choose. Use a list box for displaying large numbers of choices that vary in number or content. There are three types of list boxes:
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| | Combo box | | Combines a text box with a list box to create a drop-down list box. A combo box is more compact than a list box, but requires the user to click the down arrow to display the list of items. Use to allow a user to either type an entry or choose only one item from the list. The control displays the current value in the text box, regardless of how that value is entered. |
| | Toggle button | | Indicates a state, such as Yes/No, or a mode, such as On/Off. The button alternates between an enabled and disabled state when it is clicked. |
| | Spin button | | Increases or decreases a value, such as a number increment, time, or date. To increase the value, click the up arrow; to decrease the value, click the down arrow. Typically, a user can also type a text value into an associated cell or text box. |
| | Scroll bar | | Scrolls through a range of values when you click the scroll arrows or drag the scroll box. In addition, you can move through a page (a preset interval) of values by clicking the area between the scroll box and either of the scroll arrows. Typically, a user can also type a text value directly into an associated cell or text box. |
| | Label | | Identifies the purpose of a cell or text box, displays descriptive text (such as titles, captions, pictures), or provides brief instructions. |
| | Image | | Embeds a picture, such as a bitmap, JPEG, or GIF. |
| Frame control | | A rectangular object with an optional label that groups related controls into one visual unit. Typically, option buttons, check boxes, or closely related contents are grouped in a frame control. Note: The ActiveX frame control is not available in the ActiveX Controls section of the Insert command. However, you can add the control from the More Controls dialog box by selecting Microsoft Forms 2.0 Frame. | |
| | More Controls | Displays a list of additional ActiveX controls available on your computer that you can add to a custom form, such as Calendar Control 12.0 and Windows Media Player. You can also register a custom control in this dialog box. |
Drawing Tool objects
You may also want to include SmartArt graphics, Shapes, WordArt, and text boxes on your form. You can resize, rotate, flip, color, and combine these objects to create even more complex shapes. When you type text directly in a Shape or text box object, the text becomes part of that object — if you rotate or flip the object, the text rotates or flips with it. Unlike ActiveX controls, you can assign different attributes, such as font size and font style, to individual words and characters in the object. You can also assign macros and add hyperlinks to these objects. You can even link text in a Shape or text box object to a worksheet cell and dynamically display updated values in those objects.
Working with controls and objects on the worksheet form
After adding forms and ActiveX to a worksheet form, you usually want to fine-tune and rearrange the controls in a variety of ways to create a well-designed, user friendly form. Common tasks include the following:
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Controlling the display of gridlines while you work with the controls, and deciding whether to display the gridlines to the user on the final worksheet form.
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Selecting and deselecting controls so that you can specify properties or make additional adjustments.
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Editing text in a control, such as the caption or label.
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Grouping, copying, moving, and aligning controls to organize the layout of the worksheet form.
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Resizing and formatting controls to obtain the appearance that you want.
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Positioning or sizing a control with a cell.
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Protecting controls and linked cells according to your specific data protection needs.
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Enabling or disabling the printing of controls when the worksheet form is printed.
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Deleting unused controls.
You can design a worksheet form with or without cell gridlines in the background. For example, you might want to turn off cell gridlines and then format all the cells with the same color or pattern, or even use a picture as a sheet background. To hide or show the gridlines, on the View tab, in the Show/Hide group, clear or select the Gridlines check box.
For more information, see the See Also section of this topic.
Determining the type of control that is on your worksheet
Because there are three different types of controls and objects that you can modify uniquely, you might not know for sure which type of control it is just by looking at it. To determine the type of control (Form or ActiveX), select and right-click the control, and then display the shortcut menu:
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If the shortcut menu contains the command Properties, the control is an ActiveX control, and you are in design mode.
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If the shortcut menu contains the command Assign Macro, the control is a Form control.
Tip: To display the correct shortcut menu for the group box Form control, make sure that you select the perimeter instead of the interior of the group box.
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If the shortcut menu contains the command Edit Text, the object is a Drawing object.
VBA UserForms
For maximum flexibility, you can create UserForms, which are custom dialog boxes, that usually include one or more ActiveX controls. You make UserForms available from VBA code that you create in the Visual Basic Editor. The high-level steps for creating a UserForm are as follows:
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Insert a UserForm into your workbook's VBAProject. You access a workbook's VBAProject by first displaying the Visual Basic Editor (press ALT+F11) and then, on the Insert menu, clicking UserForm.
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Write a procedure to display the UserForm.
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Add ActiveX controls.
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Modify properties for the ActiveX controls.
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Write event-handler procedures for the ActiveX controls.
By using UserForms, you can also utilize advanced form functionality,. For example, you can programmatically add a separate option button for each letter of the alphabet or you can add a check box for each item in a large list of dates and numbers.
Before creating a UserForm, consider using built-in dialog boxes available from Excel that might fit your needs. These built-in dialog boxes include the VBA InputBox and MsgBox functions, the Excel InputBox method, GetOpenFilename method, GetSaveAsFilename method, and the Dialogs object of the Application object, which contains all the built-in Excel dialog boxes.
For more information, see the help topic Find Help on using the Visual Basic Editor, and explore the Microsoft Office Excel Developer Center.
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