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Excel Macros

Excel Macros | Microsoft Excel XP

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Learn step-by-step how to record, run, stop and delete Excel macros. Also learn how to assign an Excel macro to a button, menu or a shortcut key command.

If you perform a task repeatedly in Microsoft Excel, you can automate the task with a macro. A macro is a series of commands and functions that are stored in a Microsoft Visual Basic module and can be run whenever you need to perform the task.

For example, if you often enter long text strings in cells, you can create a macro to format those cells so that the text wraps.

No matter what you choose to do, Excel macros can make your daily tasks much easier!

Excel Office Helper What's on this page...
Create a Macro
...change the security level
Run a Macro
Edit a Macro
Delete a Macro

Assign a Macro to a Toolbar Button
Delete an Assigned Macro Toolbar Button
Assign a Macro to a Menu
Delete an Assigned Macro Menu

Create Excel Macros

When you record a macro, Excel stores information about each step you take as you perform a series of commands. You then run the macro to repeat, or "play back", the commands. If you make a mistake when you record the macro, corrections you make are also recorded. Visual Basic stores each macro in a new module attached to a workbook.

Excel Office Helper
Change the Security Level!

Before recording a macro, you need to change the Security Level of the workbook.

1. Choose ToolsOptions from the menu bar.

2. Click the Security tab.

3. From the Macro Security option, click the Macro Security button.

4. Click the Security Level tab, and then select the security level you want to use.

5. Click OK and then click OK again.

To start recording Excel macros, follow these steps:

1. Choose "Tools" ► "Macro" ► "Record New Macro" from the menu bar.

The Record Macro dialog box opens.
   
  Excel Macros: Record Macro dialog box
   
2. In the "Macro Name" text box, type a name for the macro which you are about to start recording.
   
Excel Office Helper
CAUTION
:

The first character of the macro name must be a letter.

Other characters can be letters, numbers, or underscore characters.

Spaces are not allowed in a macro name.

Do not use a macro name that is also a cell reference or you can get an error message that the macro name is not valid.
   
3. If you want to run the macro by pressing a keyboard shortcut key, enter a letter in the Shortcut key box.

You can use CTRL+ letter (for lowercase letters) or CTRL+SHIFT+ letter (for uppercase letters), where letter is any letter key on the keyboard.

The shortcut key letter you use cannot be a number or special character such as @ or #.
   
Excel Office Helper
CAUTION!

The shortcut key will override any equivalent default Microsoft Excel shortcut keys while the workbook that contains the macro is open.
   
4. From the Store macro in box, select the location where you want to store the macro.

If you want a macro to be available whenever you use Excel, select Personal Macro Workbook.
   
5. From the Description box, type in a description of the macro if you want to include it.
   
6. Click OK.
   
Excel Office Helper The Stop Recording toolbar appears, and in the Status bar at the bottom-right the words "Ready Recording" are displayed.

Excel Macros: Stop Recording toolbar Stop Recording toolbar

If you want the macro to run relative to the position of the active cell, record it using relative cell references.

On the
Stop Recording toolbar, click the Relative Reference button so that it is selected. Excel will continue to record macros with relative references until you quit Excel or until you click the Relative Reference button again, so that it is not selected.

Excel Macro: Relative Reference button Relative Reference button
   
7. Start performing the actions you want to include in your macro.
   
8. To stop recording your macro, click the "Stop Recording" button to stop the macro.
  Excel Macros: Stop Recording button Stop Recording button
 
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See also... Run a Macro | Edit a Macro | Delete a Macro
Assign a toolbar button to a Macro | Assign a menu to a Macro
 
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