Excel controls vs vba controls

[cmpcwil2]

Sorry posted this in Excel General before by mistake!

I am new to VBA so just finding my feet, can anyone help me with the
differences between an excel control (i.e. one from the form toolbox)
lets say a checkBox and a vba checkBox?
From trying the two controls the I have noticed is that you cannot
capture the change event of the VBA checkbox in the code module, it has
to be done via the sheet (i.e. checkbox on sheet1, code goes in change
event on sheet1) the control is placed on, is this correct? What would
you do if you have three sheets with the same controls just different
data, do you really have to code the control 3 times?

The excel control however you can code a module to capture the change
event but cannot reference the checkbox directly as in
activesheet.checkbox1.value, is this correct?

I am trying to decide which is the best 'toolbox' to use for a vba app,
trying to ensure the code is not tied to a specific sheet. Not sure if
this is possible using these controls?

 

[Bob Phillips]

Control toolbox controls are event driven, and can respond to a number of
events, and have more programmable properties. These events are coded in the
sheet code module that the control exists within.

Forms controls just have a single macro assigned to them which fires when
the control is clicked, and have fewer programmable properties. The macro
would be in a standard code module.


Control toolbox controls are more flexible, forms controls are usually
easier for the less experienced user, and are part of Excel, so maybe work
better in Excel


--
HTH

Bob Phillips

(remove nothere from email address if mailing direct)

 

[Guest]

Your assessment are generally correct except the last one about referencing.
You can reference it direclty if you enclose it's name in brackets.

activesheet.[checkbox1].value

of course the default names usually contain spaces

activesheet.[check box 1].value

You can use techniques like those shown by John Walkenbach for attaching a
single event to multiple ActiveX (control toolbox) controls:

http://www.j-walk.com/ss/excel/tips/tip44.htm

Generally, the activeX controls have more events, are more configurable and
are the only controls (of the two) that work on userforms

Forms controls are integral to Excel, so they are highly compatible, but
only have the click event and have few properties which can be manipulated.
(however, the textbox control from the drawing toolbar supports rich text
formatting). the work on the old dialog sheets as well.

I don't see it as an either/or decision, but using the right control at the
time. (and of course there are many times when either control could get the
job done)

 

[cmpcwil2]

Thanks for the info, very helpful!