How do I turn a validation list from a cell into a list with VBA - excel

Question

I have a sheet that I need to paste data to according to the validation lists in those sheets. In the sheet, there are many columns each with their own data validation list - some are written directly as "yes;no" others are references "='$$VALUES$$'!$IJ$1:$IJ$12".
What I need is to find a way to add each item in each list to an array. Using the code below I could find the references above.
Debug.Print Cells(2, 6).Validation.Formula1
Is there any elegant way to store the output as a list containing each valid input. My only idea so far is to first check which type of output I get, and then if it is the list form of "yes;no" then look for the number of ; and then split it item by item. And in case its the sheet range reference split it by sheet and range and convert that range to an array.

Answer 1

Something like this, will do it. I'd set a range rather than using activecell, and also check validation is present to reduce your errors.
Sub get_val_lists()
Dim arrOutput() As Variant
If Left(ActiveCell.Validation.Formula1, 1) <> "=" Then
arrOutput = Split(ActiveCell.Validation.Formula1, ",")
Else
arrOutput = Application.Transpose( _
Range(Mid(ActiveCell.Validation.Formula1, 2)).value)
End If
End Sub

Answer 2

I was a bit pressed for time so I ended up doing an inelegant solution myself. Posting it here in case somebody else runs into the same problem.
Sub ValidList()
Dim strFormula As String
Dim intLastSemi As Integer
Dim intCurSemi As Integer
Dim intSemi As Integer
Dim aryList() As Variant
Dim intLen As Integer
Dim blnCont As Boolean
Dim strSheet As String
Dim strRange As String
Dim intSplit As Integer
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim rng As Range
Dim e As Variant
Dim Row As Integer
Dim Col As Integer
'This is just an example, turning it into a fucntion based on row and col later
'so now my test validation list is just in A1
Row = 1
Col = 1
strFormula = Cells(Row, Col).Validation.Formula1
intLen = Len(strFormula)
If InStr(1, strFormula, "=") Then 'Sheet reference
intSplit = InStr(1, strFormula, "!")
strSheet = Right(Left(strFormula, intSplit - 1), intLen - intSplit - 3)
strRange = Right(strFormula, intLen - intSplit)
Set ws = Worksheets(strSheet)
Set rng = ws.Range(strRange)
aryList() = rng
ElseIf Not InStr(1, strFormula, ";") Then 'Hardcoded list
intSemi = 0
intLastSemi = 0
blnCont = True
While blnCont
intCurSemi = InStr(intLastSemi + 1, strFormula, ";")
If intCurSemi <> 0 Then
intSemi = intSemi + 1
ReDim Preserve aryList(intSemi)
aryList(intSemi) = Right(Left(strFormula, intCurSemi - 1), intCurSemi - intLastSemi - 1)
intLastSemi = intCurSemi
ElseIf intCurSemi = 0 Then
intSemi = intSemi + 1
ReDim Preserve aryList(intSemi)
aryList(intSemi) = Right((strFormula), intLen - intLastSemi)
blnCont = False
End If
Wend
End If
'For my attempt at passing the array to a function
'For Each e In aryList
' MsgBox e
'Next
'ReDim ValidList(UBound(aryList))
'ValidList = aryList
End Sub