Help with Macros

A macro allows you to repeat keystrokes without having to retype them. For example, you could set up a macro in Excel to format a heading. Then, whenever you wanted to format cells that way, just highlight the cells and run the macro. The steps for creating such a macro in Excel 2003 are as follows:

Excel's security must be set to "Medium" for macros to be recorded. Security level is set at Tools/Macros/Security. Whenever you open a workbook, you will still be prompted to enable the macro, because it fears that the macro is malicious code, since it is a program within Excel. Here is a great video that shows you how to create a macro and add a button to run them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ycab4OiPug0

• To record the macro:
  • Highlight the cells you want to format as a heading.
  • Tools/Macro/Record New macro
  • Change the macro name from "macro1" to whatever you want.
  • If you want this to be able to be run this macro from a control key, enter the letter you want to be able to press with the control key to run this macro.
  • Press ok to accept the name and control key setting.
  • It will now record any keystrokes you type.
  • Set up the heading however you like - format borders, patterns, alignment, font.
  • Hit the stop button on the record macro box. It looks like the stop button on a DVD player.
• To run the macro on another sheet:
  • Highlight the cells you want to format as heading.
  • Tools/ Macro/ Macros
  • Highlight your macro
  • Press run
• To see the code you created in your macro:
  • Tools/ Macro/ Macros
  • Highlight your macro
  • Press edit
  • If you see that a specific selection was made, just delete that line so it wont only work on certain cells.

   

A good tutorial for creating macros in Excel 2003: http://computerwhizzard.50megs.com/excelminitutorial.html

A more complex, but good explanation of macros in Excel 2003: http://www.excel-vba.com/vba-7-excel-macro-recorder.htm

A tutorial for creating macros in Excel 2007: http://www.tutorialized.com/view/tutorial/Macros-%7BTutorial-for-beginners%7D/27280