Microsoft KB Archive/105552

= Static and dynamic default buttons in dialog boxes in Excel =

Article ID: 105552

Article Last Modified on 11/17/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0c
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Excel 5.0 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q105552



SUMMARY
In Microsoft Excel custom dialog boxes, there are two types of default buttons: static and dynamic.



MORE INFORMATION
In custom dialog boxes in Microsoft Excel, you can set one button in a dialog box as the Default button. To set a button as the Default button:


 * 1) Select the button that you want to be the Default button.
 * 2) From the Format menu, choose Object.
 * 3) Select the Control tab.
 * 4) Select the Default check box.
 * 5) Choose OK to accept the change.

The Default button is also called the static default button. Pressing the ENTER key will activate the Default button only if no other button has the focus. Other buttons in the dialog box are called dynamic default buttons. Pressing the ENTER key will activate a dynamic default button only if that button currently has the focus.

If you have a dialog box that contains multiple controls, such as those listed here, pressing ENTER when a control has the focus will either activate the Default button or it will activate another button.

   If this control has the Focus   Pressing ENTER Activates this control -

DefaultButton                  DefaultButton Button2                        Button2 Button3                        Button3 EditBox1                       DefaultButton CheckBox1                      DefaultButton CheckBox2                      DefaultButton ListBox1                       DefaultButton DropDown1                      DefaultButton

In Microsoft Excel for Windows, Windows 95, and Windows NT, if you want a specific control to have the focus when you display a dialog box, you can set the Tab Order of the dialog box so that the control is at the top of the Tab Order. To access the Tab Order dialog box:


 * 1) From the Tools menu, choose Tab Order.
 * 2) Select the desired control from the Tab Order list.
 * 3) Choose the Move Up or Move Down button.
 * 4) Choose the OK button.

