Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 14, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
One of the ways that Excel allows you to create interactive worksheets is by adding combo boxes to them. The combo box allows a user to select from a pre-determined number of options, and thereby make data entry more consistent.
When you insert a combo box, it uses a pre-defined typeface and font size. After seeing the size used, you may wonder if there is a way to change to a larger font size, particularly so the combo box is easier to read on worksheet printouts.
Excel provides two different combo boxes you can use in your forms. One is on the Forms toolbar, and the other in the Control Toolbox. The combo box available from the Forms toolbar is easier to use than the one in the Control Toolbox, but it is not as versatile. Setting the font size for the combo box is one example of why this is true. If you want to change the font size in the combo box, you should use the one available from the Control Toolbox.
To display the Control Toolbox, choose Toolbars from the View menu, then choose Control Toolbox. With your combo box placed on your worksheet, you can change the font size used in the control by clicking on the combo box, then clicking on the Properties tool in the Control Toolbox. In the resulting Properties dialog box, you can select the font and change it to suit your needs.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2555) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Professional Development Guidance! Four world-class developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. The authors show how to consistently make the right design decisions and make the most of Excel's powerful features. Check out Professional Excel Development today!
When you create custom formats for your data, Excel provides quite a few ways you can make that data look just as you ...
Discover MoreYou may want Excel to format your dates using a pattern it doesn't normally use—such as using periods instead of ...
Discover MoreIf you ever get to a situation where you can no longer format cells in a workbook, you'll realize just how important the ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments