I just modified it so that if an Instance of Excel is already running to use that. If XL is running already, this executes very quickly!

[VBA]Public Function ddIndex(CC As ContentControl, RangeText As String) As Long
'Returns the location of a given DropDown Content Control's Selection within
'it's list of Dropdown List entries

Dim XL As Object
'Dim bStartedXL As Boolean
Dim arrDD() As Variant

ReDim arrDD(1 To CC.DropdownListEntries.Count)

For d = 1 To CC.DropdownListEntries.Count
arrDD(d) = CC.DropdownListEntries.Item(d).Text
Next d


On Error Resume Next
Set XL = GetObject(, "Excel.application")
If XL Is Nothing Then
set XL = CreateObject("Excel.application")
'bStartedXL = True
End If
On Error GoTo 0



ddIndex = XL.Application.match(RangeText, arrDD, 0)

Set XL = Nothing

End Function[/VBA]