← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

Option buttons and combo boxes as form controls

A Developer tab control, such as an option button or combo box, that writes the user's choice into a linked cell so formulas and charts can react.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 65

Understanding Option buttons and combo boxes as form controls in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

What it does: H1 is the cell link holding the choice number. INDEX uses that number to pick the matching item from A2:A5. A group box keeps its option buttons together. Each button writes its own number (1, 2 or 3) into the one shared linked cell. Form controls live on the Developer tab. It is hidden by default, so you enable it first in File > Options > Customize Ribbon. If a control is stuck in design mode it can be selected but not used. Turn off Design Mode, then check the cell link and input range are set correctly.

Common mistakes: The formula must read the cell that the control writes to. The cell link is $B$1, so CHOOSE should use $B$1, not $B$2. The Developer tab is turned on in Options > Customize Ribbon, where you tick Developer. The Formulas settings do not add it.

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Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 413–424) and word search (Modules 413–451).

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Learning

Duo

Where do you find the option button and combo box form controls in Excel?

On the Home tab, next to the Font groupOn the Developer tab, once you have turned it on in Options

Matches

Cell link: H1 and =INDEX(B2:B5,J1)

↓

The formula reads J1, but the control writes its choice to H1, so the result never changes when the user picks something.

Applying

Meanings

Term

form control

Meaning

A Developer tab control, such as an option button or combo box, that writes the user's choice into a linked cell so formulas and charts can react.

Practice

=INDEX(B2:D2,1,MAX(1,F1))

Testing

Gaps

Customize Ribbon > tick

Check Answer

Spots

3Cell link: $B$1

4=CHOOSE($B$2,"Maths","Art")

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Quick Questions

1. Where do you find the option button and combo box form controls in Excel?

A. On the Home tab, next to the Font group

B. On the Developer tab, once you have turned it on in Options ✓

Form controls live on the Developer tab. It is hidden by default, so you enable it first in File > Options > Customize Ribbon.

2. What does the cell link of a form control do?

A. It stores the user's choice in a chosen cell ✓

B. It links the control to another workbook on the internet

The cell link is the cell where the control writes its result, so formulas and charts can read the choice.

3. A student clicks the 2nd option button in a group. What number appears in the linked cell?

A. 2 ✓

B. The text of the button's label

Option buttons write the number of the selected button (1, 2, 3...) into the linked cell, not the label text.

4. You have two sets of option buttons on one sheet, and each set should work on its own. What do you use?

A. A second Developer tab

B. A group box around each set of option buttons ✓

Option buttons inside the same group box work together, so only one can be chosen. Each group box needs its own set of buttons.

5. Which setting fills a combo box with a list of choices?

A. Input range, such as the cells A2:A5 ✓

B. Cell link, such as the cell E1

The input range holds the list shown in the drop-down. The cell link is where the chosen item's position is stored.

Match the Pairs

Cell link: $H$1 → The cell where a form control saves the number of the choice the user made

Input range: $A$2:$A$5 → The list of items that a combo box shows in its drop-down

A combo box stores the position of the chosen item in its linked cell. INDEX turns that number back into the item's name. → =INDEX($A$2:$A$5,$H$1)

Option buttons placed inside the same group box share one cell link, so only one can be selected at a time. → Group box > Option button 1, 2, 3 > Cell link $H$1

Cell link: H1 and =INDEX(B2:B5,J1) → The formula reads J1, but the control writes its choice to H1, so the result never changes when the user picks something.

Two sets of option buttons on one sheet, no group boxes → Without a group box around each set, all the buttons join one group, so picking in one set deselects the other and they share one cell link.

Key Term

form control

A Developer tab control, such as an option button or combo box, that writes the user's choice into a linked cell so formulas and charts can react.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Customize Ribbon > tick Developer Insert > Form Controls > Option Button

Hint: Type the name of the ribbon tab you must switch on to find form controls.

2. Combo box cell link: $H$1 =INDEX(B2:B9,$H$1)

Hint: Type the linked cell reference from the first line, where the combo box stores the position of the choice.

3. Draw a Group Box first, then draw the option buttons inside it

Hint: Type the control that groups option buttons so they work as one set of choices.

4. Format Control > Input range: A2:A6 Format Control > Cell link: H1

Hint: Type the setting that tells a combo box which cells hold the list of items to show.

5. Option button 1 is linked to H1 =IF(H1=1,"Maths","English")

Hint: Type the number the first option button writes into the linked cell when it is selected.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A Right-click > Format Control

B Click the Control tab

C Cell link: $B$1

D =CHOOSE($B$2,"Maths","Art")

Line D — The formula must read the cell that the control writes to. The cell link is $B$1, so CHOOSE should use $B$1, not $B$2.

Question 2

A Options > Formulas

B Tick Developer

C Click OK

D Developer tab appears

Line A — The Developer tab is turned on in Options > Customize Ribbon, where you tick Developer. The Formulas settings do not add it.

Question 3

A Home > Insert > Combo Box

B Input range: $E$2:$E$5

C Cell link: $B$1

Line A — Form controls such as the combo box are on the Developer tab. The Home tab does not have them, so it should be Developer > Insert > Combo Box.

Question 4

A Draw a Group Box

B Draw Option Button 1 inside

C Draw Option Button 2 outside

D Set one cell link: $B$1

Line C — Option buttons must be drawn inside the group box to belong to the same group. Drawn outside, button 2 would not work with button 1, so it should be 'inside'.

Question 5

A Cell link: $B$1

B Button 1 chosen: B1 is 1

C Button 2 chosen: B1 is 2

D =IF($B$1=1,"Cats","Dogs"

Line D — The IF formula is missing its closing bracket. It should end with ) so it reads =IF($B$1=1,"Cats","Dogs").

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