
The word macro is short for macroinstruction. Macros are blocks of code, which assist with automating tasks. We cover creating macros in great detail in our advanced Excel training course. VBA does however, come in handy if you would like to write complex macros or edit existing macros. Now it may seem contradictory, but you do not need to learn Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to record simple macros in Excel.
CREATE EXCEL MACRO HOW TO
Experiment with the language, and you’ll learn how to build a full-featured application, all from within your spreadsheet.Creating a simple macro in Excel is not a daunting task.
CREATE EXCEL MACRO FULL
For the most flexibility, use ActiveX controls, which allow you to employ the full range of the Visual Basic programming language. Additional Optionsįor a quick and easy button, use Quick Access toolbar buttons or form control buttons. The ActiveX control takes a little longer than the form control to set up however, once finished, any instructions in the “ Click” subroutine will run when the user clicks the button. Be sure that the listbox in the upper right-hand corner shows “ Click.”.This will bring up the Visual Basic editor.Right-click the “Say_Hello” button and choose “ View Code.”.The third option, an ActiveX control button, is more powerful than a form control button because it harnesses the full range of the Visual Basic language.
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With your new “Say_Hello” button is in place, feel free right-click it, choose “ Properties,” and modify the font, size, position, and other attributes. Click the name of the macro that you wish to run when the user presses the “Say_Hello” button, then choose “OK.” If you haven’t yet created the macro, you can create it now with the “New” button or you can record one with the “ Record…” button.When you release your mouse button, a macro dialog box will appear.Click and drag a rectangle for the “Say_Hello” button.Choose “ Insert | Button (Form Control).”.More flexible than the Quick Access toolbar, a form control button can go anywhere in your workbook, and you control the position, size, text, and style.

Your “Say_Hello” button can’t appear anywhere except in the Quick Access Toolbar, and it can do nothing but run a macro. Your “Say_Hello” button now appears on the Quick Access toolbar.Īlthough this is the easiest method, it is also the least flexible.
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But, once you have a macro, how do you access it? If you’ve ever repeated the same actions multiple times in a spreadsheet, you’ll benefit from recording a macro to automate those tasks.
