Macro

Create a macro
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Excel > Macros
Create a macro
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To automate repetitive tasks, you can quickly record a macro (macro: An action or a set of actions that you can use to
automate tasks. Macros are recorded in the Visual Basic for Applications programming language.) in Microsoft Office Excel.
You can also create a macro by using the Visual Basic Editor (Visual Basic Editor: An environment in which you write new
and edit existing Visual Basic for Applications code and procedures. The Visual Basic Editor contains a complete
debugging toolset for finding syntax, run-time, and logic problems in your code.) in Microsoft Visual Basic to write your own
macro script, or to copy all or part of a macro to a new macro. After you create a macro, you can assign it to an object
(such as a toolbar button, graphic, or control) so that you can run it by clicking the object. If you no longer need to use a
macro, you can delete it.
What do you want to do?

Record a macro
Create a macro by using Microsoft Visual Basic
Copy part of a macro to create another macro
Assign a macro to an object, graphic, or control
Delete a macro
Record a macro
When you record a macro, all steps that are needed to complete the actions that you want to record are recorded by the
macro recorder. Navigation on the Ribbon is not included in the recorded steps.
1.
If the Developer tab is not available, do the following to display it:
1.
Click the Microsoft Office Button
, and then click Excel Options.
2.
In the Popular category, under Top options for working with Excel, select the Show Developer
tab in the Ribbon check box, and then click OK.
2.
To set the security level temporarily to enable all macros, do the following:
1.
On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Macro Security.
ms-help://MS.EXCEL.12.1033/EXCEL/content/HP10014111.htm
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Create a macro
2.
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Under Macro Settings, click Enable all macros (not recommended, potentially dangerous code
can run), and then click OK.
NOTE
To help prevent potentially dangerous code from running, we recommend that you return to any of the
settings that disable all macros after you finish working with macros.
3.
On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Record Macro.
4.
In the Macro name box, enter a name for the macro.

NOTE
The first character of the macro name must be a letter. Following characters can be letters, numbers,
or underscore characters. Spaces are not allowed in a macro name; an underscore character works well as a
word separator. If you use a macro name that is also a cell reference, you may get an error message that the
macro name is not valid.
5.
To assign a CTRL combination shortcut key (shortcut key: A function key or key combination, such as F5 or
CTRL+A, that you use to carry out a menu command. In contrast, an access key is a key combination, such as
ALT+F, that moves the focus to a menu, command, or control.) to run the macro, in the Shortcut key box, type
any lowercase letter or uppercase letter that you want to use.
NOTE
The shortcut key will override any equivalent default Excel shortcut key while the workbook that
contains the macro is open. For a list of CTRL combination shortcut keys that are already assigned in Excel,
see Excel shortcut and function keys.
6.
In the Store macro in list, select the workbook in which you want to store the macro.
TIP If you want a macro to be available whenever you use Excel, select Personal Macro Workbook. When
you select Personal Macro Workbook, Excel creates a hidden personal macro workbook (Personal.xlsb) if it
doesn't already exist, and saves the macro in this workbook. In Microsoft Windows XP, this workbook is saved
in the C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart folder so that it can be
loaded automatically whenever Excel starts. In Microsoft Windows Vista, this workbook is saved in the
C:\Users\user name\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart folder. If you want a macro in the personal macro
workbook to be run automatically in another workbook, you must also save that workbook in the XLStart folder
so that both workbooks are opened when Excel starts.
7.
To include a description of the macro, in the Description box, type the text that you want.
8.
Click OK to start recording.
9.
Perform the actions that you want to record.
10.
On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Stop Recording

TIP You can also click Stop Recording
on the left side of the status bar.
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Create a macro
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Create a macro by using Microsoft Visual Basic

1.
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NOTE
3.
On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Visual Basic.
4.
If needed, on the Insert menu, click Module.

NOTE
Modules are automatically created for all sheets in the workbook.
5.
In the code window of the module, type or copy the macro code that you want to use.
6.
To run the macro from the module window, press F5.
7.
On the File menu, click Close and Return to Microsoft Excel when you finish writing the macro.
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Copy part of a macro to create another macro

1.
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Create a macro
2.
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2.
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2.
NOTE
3.
Open the workbook that contains the macro that you want to copy.
4.
On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Macros.
5.
In the Macro name box, click the name of the macro that you want to copy.
6.
Click Edit.
7.
In the code window of the Visual Basic Editor, select the lines of the macro that you want to copy.
TIP To copy the entire macro, include the Sub and End Sub lines in the selection.
8.
On the Edit menu, click Copy.

TIP You can also right-click and then click Copy on the shortcut menu, or you can press CTRL+C.
9.
10.
In the Procedure box of the code window, click the module where you want to place the code.
On the Edit menu, click Paste.
TIP You can also right-click and then click Paste on the shortcut menu, or you can press CTRL+V.
TIP You cannot edit your Personal Macro Workbook file (Personal.xlsb) because it is a hidden workbook that is always
open. You must first unhide it by using the Unhide command. You can also open it in the Visual Basic Editor by pressing
ALT+F11.
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Assign a macro to an object, graphic, or control
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Create a macro
1.
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On a worksheet, right-click the object, graphic, or control to which you want to assign an existing macro, and
then click Assign Macro on the shortcut menu.
2.
In the Macro name box, click the macro that you want to assign.
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Delete a macro
1.
Open the workbook that contains the macro that you want to delete.
2.
On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Macros.
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3.
In the Macros in list, select This Workbook.
4.
In the Macro name box, click the name of the macro that you want to delete.
5.
Click Delete.
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See Also
Enable or disable macros in Office documents

Overview of macro security
03/01/2015

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Create a macro

Excel > Macros

What do you want to do?

If the Developer tab is not available, do the following to display it:

Click the Microsoft Office Button

, and then click Excel Options.

On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Macro Security.

On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Record Macro.

In the Macro name box, enter a name for the macro.

Click OK to start recording.

Perform the actions that you want to record.

On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Stop Recording

on the left side of the status bar.

Create a macro by using Microsoft Visual Basic

If the Developer tab is not available, do the following to display it:

Click the Microsoft Office Button

, and then click Excel Options.

On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Macro Security.

On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Visual Basic.

If needed, on the Insert menu, click Module.

Modules are automatically created for all sheets in the workbook.

To run the macro from the module window, press F5.

Copy part of a macro to create another macro

If the Developer tab is not available, do the following to display it:

Click the Microsoft Office Button

, and then click Excel Options.

On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Macro Security.

On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Macros.

On the Edit menu, click Copy.

Assign a macro to an object, graphic, or control

On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Macros.

If the Developer tab is not available, do the following to display it:

Click the Microsoft Office Button

, and then click Excel Options.

In the Macros in list, select This Workbook.

Enable or disable macros in Office documents

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