How to write macros in Excel

How to write macros in Excel.

Repeating the same actions over and over again is not only boring, but it can also be a waste of time and reduce your productivity. This is especially true for novice Excel users who may not realize that common tasks can be easily automated by recording a macro. But what is an Excel macro?

Excel macros automate many of the common tasks you perform, from inserting formulas to formatting data. You don’t need to be a programmer to create them, as Excel can record your actions as you perform them. If you want to know how to record a macro in Excel, you will need to follow these steps.

How to Record a Macro in Excel

What Is an Excel Macro?

An Excel macro is a recorded set of instructions created manually in VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) or automatically recorded using the Excel Macro Recorder. A macro allows you to save any number of common actions, such as deleting empty columns, changing text formatting, or inserting new formulas into a workbook.

These saved actions can then be launched with a single button press or with a dedicated keyboard shortcut. Each macro has a dedicated shortcut that you can use to quickly repeat an action.

If you use Excel to record a macro, you will reduce the time it takes to create or edit a spreadsheet, which will speed up your workflow.

How to Record a Macro in Excel

The easiest way to create a new macro in Microsoft Excel is to record it using the Macro Recorder tool, which you can use in Excel on Windows or Mac. Unfortunately, you cannot record a macro in Excel Online.

To record a new macro in Excel, open a new or existing workbook. On the Developer tab of the ribbon panel, click the Record Macro button. You can also press Alt + T + M + R on your keyboard.

In the Record Macro window, you can specify a name for the macro to define its purpose in the Macro Name field, and provide a description for other users in the Description field. You can also add a keyboard shortcut (like Ctrl + T) to assign a new macro to a keyboard shortcut.

The Save Macro To drop-down menu allows you to specify where you want the macro to be saved after recording it, such as This Book (to save it to an open workbook). , New workbook (to save it in a new workbook) or Personal Macro Workbook (so you can use it across multiple workbooks) After confirming your choice, click OK to start recording.

After you click OK, the Excel Macro Recorder will enter recording mode. Every action you take, from clicking a button to editing a cell, will be recorded. At this point, follow the steps you want to record as a macro, then click the Stop Recording button in the Developer tab when done.

Running, Editing or Deleting Existing Microsoft Excel Macros

Depending on the save location you selected in the Record Macro window, the recorded macro will be ready to run in your open workbook or in a newly opened workbook.

To run, edit, or delete a macro that you created, choose Developer> Macros from the ribbon.

The Macro Window will list the available macros to run in your open workbook. To run a macro, select it from the list, then click the Run button. Instead, you can also use the keyboard shortcut you chose when creating the macro.

To edit the recorded macro instead, click the Edit button. The Excel VBA Editor opens, allowing advanced users to edit VBA code and change how the macro runs. Newbies to VBA may find it easier to simply delete the macro and re-record it.

To remove a macro, select it from the list, then click the Remove button.

Excel will ask you to confirm that you want to delete the macro. Select Yes to confirm this. Once uninstalled, you will need to record the macro again by following the steps listed above.

Saving Excel Files with Recorded Macros

Excel workbooks are usually saved in the XLSX file format (or XLS for workbooks created in Excel 2007 and earlier). This file type supports most Excel data, but excludes any stored Excel macros.

To save an Excel file with recorded macros, you will need to use the XLSM file format instead.

To save the Excel file as a macro-enabled workbook, choose File> Save As> Browse. …

In the Save As window, select an Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook (* .xlsm) from the drop-down menu. Select a location to save the file, then click the Save button to save it.

When opening a macro-enabled Excel file on another PC or Mac, you may need to authorize Excel to run any enabled macros first. To do this, click the “Enable Macros” button.

Sharing Excel Files with Recorded Macros

Excel macros are useful, but they also include a potential security risk. If you open an Excel file containing macros from a source that you do not know or trust, you are allowing that file to run dangerous code on your computer.

Because of this, online email providers such as Gmail automatically prevent users from sending XLSM (Macro-Enabled Excel Workbooks) files to other users. If this happens, you can use file sharing services like Google Drive to share it online with others.

If you want to share your macro-enabled Excel file with another user nearby, you can also explore local file transfer methods to share it with another PC or Mac, or with other devices such as smartphones.

Macro-enabled Excel files can contain viruses or other malware, so if you open an Excel file that you don’t trust, you may need to run a malware scan to make sure your computer is not compromised. Or scan the file itself before opening it.

Advanced Excel Tips and Tricks

Recording a macro is just one trick in Excel that can save you time, but there are other Excel features that can make you more productive as well. Power users might be interested in using Excel to collect data on the web, while data analysts might be interested in learning how to use COUNTIFS, SUMIFS, and AVERAGE for advanced data analysis.

If you prefer to work in a team or are faced with a complex Excel formula, you can also collaborate on Excel spreadsheets using a shared workbook. However, you may find that Google Sheets is the best option for web collaboration as they have many of the same features and capabilities.

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