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How to prevent copy and paste over cell with drop down list in Excel?

For a cell with data validation drop down list, when copy content from another cell and paste to it, the drop down list will be gone and replaced with the new pasting content. In some cases, you want to prevent copy and paste other content over the cell with drop down list, what would you do to deal with it? In this article, you will get a VBA method of dealing with this problem.

Prevent copy and paste over cell with drop down list in Excel


Prevent copy and paste over cell with drop down list in Excel

1. Open the worksheet with the drop down list cell you want to prevent copy and paste.

2. Press Alt + F11 keys simultaneously to open the Microsoft Visual Basic Applications window.

3. In the Microsoft Visual Basic Applications window, double click the current worksheet name in the left pane, then copy and paste the below VBA code into the Code editor. See screenshot:

VBA code: Prevent copy and paste over cell with drop down list

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
'Updated by Extendoffice 20200903
    Dim xValue As String
    Dim xCheck1 As String
    Dim xCheck2 As String
    Dim xRg As Range
    Dim xArrCheck1() As String
    Dim xArrCheck2() As String
    Dim xArrValue()
    Dim xCount, xJ As Integer
    Dim xBol As Boolean
'    If Target.Count > 1 Then
'        Exit Sub
'        End If
    xCount = Target.Count
    ReDim xArrCheck1(1 To xCount)
    ReDim xArrCheck2(1 To xCount)
    ReDim xArrValue(1 To xCount)
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    On Error Resume Next
    xJ = 1
    For Each xRg In Target
        xArrValue(xJ) = xRg.Value
         xArrCheck1(xJ) = xRg.Validation.InCellDropdown
        xJ = xJ + 1
    Next

    Application.Undo

    xJ = 1
    For Each xRg In Target
        xArrCheck2(xJ) = xRg.Validation.InCellDropdown
        xJ = xJ + 1
    Next

    xBol = False
    For xJ = 1 To xCount
        If xArrCheck2(xJ) <> xArrCheck1(xJ) Then
            xBol = True
            Exit For
        End If
    Next

    If xBol Then
       MsgBox "The selected cells containg data validation drop-down lists, no pasting allowed."
    Else
        xJ = 1
        For Each xRg In Target
            xRg.Value = xArrValue(xJ)
            xJ = xJ + 1
        Next

    End If

    Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub

4. Press Alt + Q keys to exit the Microsoft Visual Basic Applications window.

5. When you paste content to a cell with drop down list, a dialog box will pop up to remind you the pasting is no allowed. See screenshot:

Note: This VBA just work in single cell pasting. If you copy and paste in multiple cells, it won’t work.

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Related articles:

How to create drop down list with multiple checkboxes in Excel?
Many Excel users tend to create drop down list with multiple checkboxes in order to select multiple items from the list per time. Actually, you can’t create a list with multiple checkboxes with Data Validation. In this tutorial, we are going to show you two methods to create drop down list with multiple checkboxes in Excel. This tutorial provides the method to solve the problem.

Create drop down list from another workbook in Excel
It is quite easy to create a data validation drop down list among worksheets within a workbook. But if the list data you need for the data validation locates in another workbook, what would you do? In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a drop fown list from another workbook in Excel in details.

Create a searchable drop down list in Excel
For a drop down list with numerous values, finding a proper one is not an easy work. Previously we have introduced a method of auto completing drop down list when enter the first letter into the drop down box. Besides the autocomplete function, you can also make the drop down list searchable for enhancing the working efficiency in finding proper values in the drop down list. For making drop down list searchable, try the method in this tutorial.

Auto populate other cells when selecting values in Excel drop down list
Let’s say you have created a drop down list based on the values in cell range B8:B14. When you selecting any value in the drop down list, you want the corresponding values in cell range C8:C14 be automatically populated in a selected cell. For solving the problem, the methods in this tutorial will do you a favor.

More tutorials for drop down list...

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Comments (12)
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This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
I works BUT after you put the code you cannot UNDO anything. Not a single step back is allowed.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
No, I did not figure it out. I didn't try to resolve after a while.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
did you manage to resolve the issue of copying and pasting into multiple cells? Thanks in advance!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi Dilip, are you able to fix the issue of allowing data using paste values
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi Dilip, are you able to fix the issue of allowing data using paste values..i am also facing the same issue..help me on this please
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Thank you very much !! works fine for me !!! copying into a single cell is restricted. but if i copy a list of cells and paste.., the paste is accepted. let me see if i can tune this up ..thanks anyways
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Jepson, did you manage to resolve the issue of copying and pasting into multiple cells? Thanks in advance!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range) Dim xValue As String Dim xCheck1 As String Dim xCheck2 As String If Target.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub End If Application.EnableEvents = False xValue = Target.Value On Error Resume Next xCheck1 = Target.Validation.InCellDropdown On Error GoTo 0 Application.Undo On Error Resume Next xCheck2 = Target.Validation.InCellDropdown On Error GoTo 0 If xCheck1 = xCheck2 Then Target = xValue Else MsgBox "No pasting allowed!" End If Application.EnableEvents = True End Sub This Macro not work when copy from different workbook or worksheet then so please tell me how to avoid these things also
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, above mention vba code is not run.kindly resolve.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, While I running this macro I got this debug error "Application.Undo". Pls resolve this ASAP
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
This works but when I paste value this is allowing data which is not from the drop down list. Any way to restrict any value which is not from the list.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi Dilip, Did you able to resolve the issue, i too having similar issue. I have to allow copy,paste only for drop down values in the data validation cell other i have to restrict. Can you share your solution. Thanks Rao
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