XL97: Problems Using TripleState Property for OptionButton

ID: Q165495

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

If you view the properties list for an ActiveX OptionButton control, you will be able to set the TripleState property to either True or False. But, setting it to either True or False has no effect on the control's behavior.

CAUSE

The TripleState property is available for the OptionButton control, but it is essentially disabled for the control. Regardless of the setting of the TripleState property, through the user interface, you cannot set the OptionButton to a value other than True (selected) or False (not selected). This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.

RESOLUTION

The TripleState property is designed to work with the ActiveX CheckBox control. If you set the TripleState property of an ActiveX CheckBox control to True, then you can toggle the value of the CheckBox from True (selected), to False (cleared) to Null (dimmed).

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

If you set the TripleState property of an OptionButton to True, you can programmatically set the value of the OptionButton to Null. This will give you the same effect as setting the CheckBox control to Null (the OptionButton appears dimmed).

The following example macro demonstrates setting an OptionButton to Null.

Setting up the Control

1. Close and save any open workbooks, and then open a new workbook.

2. If the Control Toolbox is not visible, point to Toolbars on the View

   menu, and then click Control Toolbox.

3. Click the OptionButton control on the Control Toolbox toolbar, and then

   draw an OptionButton on Sheet1.

4. Click the Exit Design Mode button on the Control Toolbox toolbar.

Sample Macro Code

1. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Visual Basic Editor.

2. On the Insert menu click Module.

3. Enter the following code in the module.

   Sub Set_Option()

   Dim Choice As Integer
   Dim MyPrompt As String

   MyPrompt =  "Type 1 for Selected, 2 for Not Selected and 3 for Grayed"
   Choice = InputBox(MyPrompt)

   Select Case Choice

      Case 1
         Sheet1.OptionButton1.Value = True

      Case 2
         Sheet1.OptionButton1.Value = False

      Case 3
         Sheet1.OptionButton1.Value = Null

      End Select

   End Sub

Running the Macro

1. Activate Microsoft Excel (press ALT+F11).

2. Select any cell in Sheet1.

3. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.

4. Select Set_Option and click Run.

5. Enter either 1, 2, or 3 in the InputBox when prompted, and click OK.

The OptionButton will be set to the state that matches the number you entered in the InputBox (1 = ON, 2 = OFF, 3 = Grayed).

REFERENCES

For more information about OptionButton Controls, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

   option buttons

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Add buttons, check boxes, or other controls to a worksheet" topic.

Additional query words: XL97 active x

Keywords          : kbprg kbdta KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999