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vba excel RibbonX: Stepwise-access to controls within a single group or tab

This is a request for pointers toward solutions, so I can chase or ask about details.

I have a two stage process (StepA; StepB), controlled respectively by Macros A and B. I'd like to run the macros from the Fluent ribbon, off two controls ButtonA and ButtonB, in the same Tab.

It is simple to have button A visible then the tab is active.
But I'd like button B ONLY to work (be visible/be enabled) when Button A has been clicked.

I control the Tab and ButtonA off getVisible and tag values
I have sought a means to control ButtonB off its control.ID, but there is no controls collection through which I might set ButtonB as visible (and hopefully render ButtonA invisible when step B is initiated). I dont need to collect 'pressed' data from the buttons

Can RibbonX buttons be controlled like this, or is there another 'dynamic' approach?

I have tried using a toggle button to deliver 'two stage' control. But was concerned that he user-driven processes that occur in step A, might somehow lift the focus from the toggle button before stepA was complete. Perhaps I should return to it..

... but finally, I've heard that windows task panes provide more dynamic properties and can replace dynamic userForms, and utilise their vba. Is this so?

PS I dont use visual studio..

Thanks, Kelvin

Rory Archibald

You will need a getVisible/getEnabled callback for the second button as well, and your first button will need to invalidate the second control (or the entire ribbon) in order for its callback to be called. In order to do that, you need an onLoad callback that stores a reference to the RibbonUI object.

Once you have that you could use a variable that macro A sets to True, then invalidates the control for B, whose callback simply checks the value of the variable set by A to see if button B should be enabled.

If you haven't already checked it out, Ron de Bruin's site has a lot of examples for the Ribbon: http://www.rondebruin.nl/win/s2/win001.htm

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Rory Archibald

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Roger

ASKER

Thanks.
I've been working from deBruin's files, and so have a reference to the RibbonUI object:

Sub RibbonOnLoad(ribbon As IRibbonUI)
Set Rib = ribbon
End Sub

and use Rib.Invalidate:
Sub RefreshRibbon(Tag As String)
MyTag = Tag
If Rib Is Nothing Then
MsgBox "Error, restart your workbook"
Else
Rib.Invalidate
End If
End Sub

You refer to: " use a variable that macro A sets to True, then invalidates the control for B, whose callback simply checks the value of the variable set by A"

The only variables I have used with getVisible/getEnabled callbacks are Tag values and control.Ids. I dont know how to enable the callBack in B to check the boolean variable created by macroA?

Thanks..

Roger

ASKER

Thanks for example, looking..

Roger

ASKER

rorya: EXCELLENT
Thanks for so rapidly showing me where the gap was!
Kelvin