Select the next item in a validation list VBA - excel

Question

I'm creating a simple form in excel that will run in a touch device. In some part of the form i have created a dropdown validation list. I need to go to the next and previous item in the validation list with a button.
The only way thay i found is using Application.Sendkeys to acces to the dropdown but is not working. Any thoughts?
sub Next_item click()
ActiveSheet.Range(cell_rng.Text).Select
Application.SendKeys ("%{Down}")
Application.SendKeys ("{Down}{Enter}")
End Sub

Answer 1

You might consider going to the source of the data validation and grabbing the next item rather than trying to manipulate the in-cell dropdown directly. For instance, if you data validation is a comma-separated list
you could use code like this to get the next value:
Public Sub NextItem()
Dim dv As Validation
Dim vaSplit As Variant
Dim i As Long
'Formula1 contains the comma sep list of values
Set dv = ActiveCell.Validation
vaSplit = Split(dv.Formula1, ",")
For i = LBound(vaSplit) To UBound(vaSplit)
'if you're at the currently selected one
If vaSplit(i) = ActiveCell.Value Then
'but not at the last one
If i < UBound(vaSplit) Then
'select the next one
ActiveCell.Value = vaSplit(i + 1)
Exit For
End If
End If
Next i
End Sub
And if your list comes from a simple range
you could use almost the same code
Public Sub NextItemRange()
Dim dv As Validation
Dim vaSplit As Variant
Dim i As Long
Set dv = ActiveCell.Validation
vaSplit = Range(dv.Formula1).Value
For i = LBound(vaSplit, 1) To UBound(vaSplit, 1)
If vaSplit(i, 1) = ActiveCell.Value Then
If i < UBound(vaSplit, 1) Then
ActiveCell.Value = vaSplit(i + 1, 1)
Exit For
End If
End If
Next i
End Sub
Dynamic ranges or tables might throw a wrench into it, but hopefully it's a start.