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How to Display Worksheet Data When Hovering Over an Excel Cell

WPS Editor Sep 25, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to display specific data from a separate list as a custom tooltip when hovering over a cell in a fixture matrix.

How to Display Worksheet Data When Hovering Over an Excel Cell

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing an Excel matrix (e.g., team fixtures) and needing to quickly see related details, like week numbers, from another sheet without clicking away from the current view.
Observed behavior: Excel does not natively support displaying dynamic source data in a custom tooltip when hovering over a cell; this functionality requires custom scripting.

Before you start

Because Excel does not have a native dynamic hover feature, the most effective solution requires VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). Ensure your workbook is saved as an Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (.xlsm) before proceeding.

Solution 1Recommended

Use VBA to Generate Dynamic Cell Comments

Since native dynamic tooltips aren't available, you can use a VBA script to pull data from another sheet and update the cell's comment, which naturally appears on hover.

This method utilizes VBA macros to cross-reference data from your secondary worksheet and automatically update the comments or notes of your target matrix cells. When you hover your mouse over these cells, the standard Excel comment box will display your related week number or source data.

Open the VBA Editor

Press 'Alt + F11' on your keyboard to open the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) window.

Insert a New Module

Click 'Insert' from the top menu and select 'Module' to create a blank script window for your code.

Write the Macro

Write a VBA script designed to read your fixture list and assign the corresponding week number to the target cell's '.Comment.Text' property.

Execute the Script

Run the macro to populate the comments across your matrix. Once populated, hovering over the cells will reveal the desired data.

Use VBA to Generate Dynamic Cell Comments

Need specific VBA code?: Because spreadsheet layouts like fixture matrices vary significantly, it is highly recommended to provide examples of your specific worksheets and ask a focused VBA programming question on Stack Overflow to get tailored code.

Solution 2

Use Data Validation for On-Click Input Messages

If you prefer not to use VBA programming, you can display custom static messages when a user selects (clicks) a cell as an alternative to hovering.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I link a cell comment to another cell's value without using VBA?

No, Excel does not natively allow comments or notes to dynamically reference formulas or other cells. You must manually type the text into the comment or use VBA to update the comment automatically based on another cell's value.

Do cell hyperlinks display data on hover?

Yes, when you insert a hyperlink into an Excel cell, you can configure a custom 'ScreenTip'. This specific text appears when you hover over the cell. However, this text remains static and cannot automatically pull live data from other sheets without macros.

What is the difference between hovering and selecting a cell in Excel?

Hovering means resting your mouse cursor over a cell without clicking it, which normally displays existing comments, notes, or hyperlink ScreenTips. Selecting a cell requires actually clicking it, which can trigger Data Validation input messages or active VBA SelectionChange scripts.

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