Get position (in number) of selected item in dropdown list

Question

In a dropdown list I have a few items. Can I, when I select an item, get the position of that item in the list as a number?

Answer 1

If you are looking for the index of a Data Validation list, this is what I'd do:

Put the following code in the ThisWorkbook module:

Private Sub Workbook_SheetChange(ByVal Sh As Object, ByVal Target As Range)
Dim ValidationIndex As Long
Dim rngTest As Excel.Range

'assumes the data validation is in a cell named "rngTest"
On Error Resume Next
Set rngTest = Sh.Range("rngTest")
If rngTest Is Nothing Then
    Exit Sub
End If
On Error GoTo 0

If Not Intersect(ActiveCell, Sh.Range("rngTest")) Is Nothing Then
    ValidationIndex = GetValidationIndex
    MsgBox ValidationIndex
End If
End Sub

Put this function in the ThisWorkbook module also, or else in any regular module:

Function GetValidationIndex() As Long
'returns a 1-based index
Dim rngTest As Excel.Range
Dim varValidationString As Variant
Dim ErrNumber As Long
Dim i As Long

With ActiveCell.Validation
    If .Type = xlValidateList Then    '3
        On Error Resume Next
        Set rngTest = ActiveCell.Parent.Range(.Formula1)
        'I do this goofy thing with ErrNumber to keep my indenting and flow pretty
        ErrNumber = Err.Number
        On Error GoTo 0
        'if the Validation is defined as a range
        If ErrNumber = 0 Then
            GetValidationIndex = Application.WorksheetFunction.Match(ActiveCell.Value2, rngTest, 0)
            Exit Function
        'if the validation is defined by comma-separated values
        Else
            varValidationString = Split(.Formula1, ",")
            For i = LBound(varValidationString) To UBound(varValidationString)
                If varValidationString(i) = ActiveCell.Value2 Then
                    GetValidationIndex = i + 1
                    Exit Function
                End If
            Next i
        End If
    End If
End With
End Function