VBA & Macro Problems

How to Create a Progressive Excel Filter While Typing on Mac

Algirdas Jasaitis Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to dynamically filter a large Excel table as they type a name or membership number on a Mac, avoiding unsupported ActiveX controls.

How to Create a Progressive Excel Filter While Typing on Mac

Product: Excel
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Searching and filtering large datasets dynamically based on partial text input without slowing down the spreadsheet.
Observed behavior: Formula-based filtering becomes too slow for large tables, and standard Windows solutions like ActiveX TextBox controls are unavailable on macOS.

Before you start

Before beginning, ensure your Excel file is saved as a Macro-Enabled Workbook (.xlsm) and that you have enabled the Developer tab in your ribbon to access the VBA editor.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Worksheet Cell and VBA Change Event

Utilize a standard spreadsheet cell for text input and a VBA macro to trigger the AutoFilter whenever the cell's content changes.

Since ActiveX text boxes are unavailable on Mac, the most efficient workaround is using a standard worksheet cell as your search box. By linking a Worksheet_Change event to this cell, the macro will automatically filter your data upon pressing Enter or moving away from the cell.

Designate a search cell

Choose a specific cell above your data table (for example, cell B2) to act as your text input field for searching names or membership numbers.

Open the VBA Editor

Navigate to the Developer tab and click Visual Basic, or press Option + F11 on your Mac keyboard to open the VBA editor.

Insert the Worksheet_Change macro

In the Project Explorer on the left, double-click the specific worksheet containing your data. Paste a Worksheet_Change macro that triggers an AutoFilter on your data range whenever Target.Address matches your search cell.

Enable partial text matching

In your macro's criteria, format the filter string with wildcards, such as Criteria1:="*" & Range("B2").Value & "*", to ensure it matches any part of the name or number.

Use a Worksheet Cell and VBA Change Event

Testing the Macro: Always test the macro on a small, reproducible version of your workbook first to ensure the column indices and range definitions are perfectly aligned before applying it to hundreds of rows.

Solution 2

Create a Search Button Linked to a VBA Macro

If you prefer not to trigger macros on every cell change, use a standard Form Control button to run the filter manually after typing your query.

Create Dynamic VBA Filters Easily with WPS Office

WPS Office natively supports VBA macros, allowing you to implement dynamic search and filter functions smoothly on large datasets. It provides a highly compatible and responsive environment for managing complex macro-enabled spreadsheets.

1. Open your data file in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your existing data table or workbook.
2. Access the VBA Editor: Navigate to the Developer tab in the top ribbon and click on 'VBA Editor' to manage your scripts.
3. Implement the filtering code: Double-click your active worksheet in the project window and paste your Worksheet_Change or AutoFilter macro.
4. Save as a macro-enabled workbook: Go to Menu > Save As, and choose the 'Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (*.xlsm)' format to ensure your progressive filter works perfectly.

Native, built-in support for VBA macros and developer toolsSeamlessly compatible with Microsoft Excel .xlsm and .xlsx formatsLightweight architecture handles large datasets and complex filters quicklyFamiliar user interface requiring zero learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I use ActiveX controls for filtering in Excel for Mac?

ActiveX is a proprietary Microsoft Windows technology integrated deeply into the Windows OS. It is fundamentally incompatible with and unsupported by macOS. Mac users must rely on standard Form Controls or worksheet-level VBA events instead.

How can I make my VBA filter search for partial text matches instead of exact ones?

To perform partial matches in VBA AutoFilter, you need to append asterisk wildcards to your criteria. For example, instead of writing Criteria1:=SearchTerm, you should write Criteria1:="*" & SearchTerm & "*".

Can I use the FILTER formula instead of VBA for a progressive search?

Yes, the dynamic array FILTER function can be used to extract data based on cell inputs. However, for extremely large datasets with hundreds of rows and numerous columns, complex formula arrays can severely impact spreadsheet performance compared to a VBA AutoFilter.

Excel & Data Problems