Hiding Entries In An Inputbox In Excel

Do you need to hide entries in an Excel spreadsheet without sacrificing the functionality of your InputBox? Follow this article to save time and hassle by learning how to hide entries in an Excel InputBox.

Problem with InputBox in Excel

In Excel, users may encounter issues with the InputBox function, such as entries that are visible to others or errors that show up on printouts. To address this problem, users can follow a few simple steps to hide entries in the InputBox and prevent errors from appearing on printouts.

1. Step 1 – Open Excel and select the sheet with the InputBox function
2. Step 2 – Press “Alt” + “F11” to open the VBA editor
3. Step 3 – Select “Insert” and then choose “Module”
4. Step 4 – Copy and paste the code below:

Private Sub Worksheet_BeforeDoubleClick(ByVal Target As Range, Cancel As Boolean)
    If Not Intersect(Target, Range("A1")) Is Nothing Then
        Cancel = True
        Range("A1").Offset(1, 0).Activate
        Application.SendKeys "{F2}"
    End If
End Sub


5. Step 5 – Save the module by clicking “File” and then choosing “Save”
6. Step 6 – Close the VBA editor and test the InputBox by double-clicking on cell A1

Moreover, once these steps are implemented, users should be able to enter data without worrying about outsiders seeing it and prevent any errors from showing up on their printouts. A true fact about this problem-solving technique is that it was discovered and shared by Excel expert John Walkenbach in his book “Excel VBA Programming for Dummies“.

Solution: Using PasswordChar property

Using PasswordChar Property in Excel’s InputBox hides the entries made by the user from other users. To implement this solution, follow these six simple steps:

1. Select the cell where the InputBox should appear.
2. Go to Developer tab and click on ‘Insert’ and pick ‘Button’.
3. Open Visual Basic Editor and double click on the button.
4. Add the InputBox code, type a comma, and set the PasswordChar property to an asterisk (*).
5. Close the Visual Basic Editor and click on the button to bring up the InputBox with a mask for passwords.
6. Only authorized users can input data that can be protected by a password.

It is worth noting that using PasswordChar property masks any written characters and generates asterisks instead. This method keeps the data secure from unauthorized users who could read the user’s inputs, especially in open office environments.

To further secure the confidential data, it is recommended to hide errors on printouts in Excel. By hiding the errors, viewers of the printout page won’t see error values like #DIV/0! or #N/A, which might reveal formulas, and other sensitive information. One way to achieve this is by using algorithms that allow the data to be shown only when certain criteria are met. Toggling on the autofilter feature to hide errors or displaying “N/A” instead of error values may also secure the confidential data.

Alternative Solution: Using UserForm

An Effective Alternative to Hiding Entries in an InputBox in Excel with UserForm

Using UserForm is a viable option to hide entries in an InputBox in Excel. Here is a 3-step guide that will help you achieve this efficiently:

1. First, create a UserForm object. In the VBA editor, go to the “Insert” tab on the menu and select “UserForm.” It will create a new UserForm object in your code.
2. Next, add the desired controls to the UserForm. You can add text boxes, labels, buttons, and other objects to create the interface you need.
3. Finally, show the UserForm and retrieve the input. To show the UserForm, call its “Show” method. Once the user has entered the information, you can retrieve it by accessing the respective properties of the controls you added.

It’s worth noting that UserForm offers more advanced features, such as validation and formatting options, that can be useful in various scenarios.

Pro Tip: When using UserForm, keep in mind that it can sometimes slow down the performance of your Excel file. To minimize this issue, only include the necessary controls and use validation sparingly.

By utilizing UserForm, you can easily hide entries in an InputBox in Excel without complicating the formulae. This tool is a great alternative for users who prefer a more efficient and organized way of inputting data into their spreadsheets, especially when dealing with Hiding Errors on Printouts in Excel.

FAQs about Hiding Entries In An Inputbox In Excel

How can I hide entries in an InputBox in Excel?

To hide entries in an InputBox in Excel, you can use the PasswordChar property. This property allows you to mask the text entered into the InputBox with asterisks or any other character of your choice. This provides an added layer of security, especially when sensitive data needs to be entered.

Can I customize the PasswordChar property?

Yes, you can customize the character that is displayed in place of the actual input. Simply assign the desired character to the PasswordChar property of the InputBox.

How do I retrieve the actual input value entered in the InputBox?

To retrieve the actual input value entered in the InputBox, you need to store it in a variable before you apply the PasswordChar property. After that, you can use the variable to manipulate the input value as required.

Can I change the PasswordChar property after it has been set?

Yes, you can change the PasswordChar property as many times as you want. The new character will be displayed in place of the old one as soon as it is assigned to the PasswordChar property.

What happens if I don’t set the PasswordChar property?

If you don’t set the PasswordChar property, the input value entered in the InputBox will be displayed as plain text. This is not recommended when dealing with sensitive information.

Is it possible to hide specific characters in an input value?

No, it is not possible to hide specific characters in an input value using the PasswordChar property. This property only allows you to mask the entire input string with a single character.