Macros in Excel : Learn Excel VBA : Variables

This is continuation of my earlier posts on

   Macros in Excel : Learn Excel VBA : Objects 
   Macros in Excel : Learn Excel VBA : Methods
   Macros in Excel : Learn Excel VBA : Properties

It is not necessary to declare a variable in VBA, Visual Basic automatically creates storage for a variable on first use in the code. Automatically created variables are of type variant and can contain any type of data. It can be strings, boolean values, object , arrays or numbers.

Simple statement such as given below creates a variable and assigns value to it

 Myvariable = 28 

Similarly you can use different variables in calculation to create another variable for your VBA code. Following code will explain the use of Variables in Excel VBA

Sub Explain_Variables()

Var_A = 10
Range("A4").Select ' Value of Cell A4 is 5
Var_B = ActiveCell

Var_Total = Var_A + Var_B

Range("A5") = Var_Total

End Sub

This code explains that

1. Var_A is declared as constant number in the code itself.
2. Var_B is declared as value in ActiveCell i.e. Cell A4 in this case with Value as number 5.
3. We have used Var_A and Var_B to calculated Var_Total
4. We have used Var_Total to update the value in Cell A5, the result of this code is number 15 in Cell A5

Macros in Excel : Auto Open Macro / Auto Run Macro

Many times we want certain task to be executed when you open a particular file. This can be achieved by auto open macro or auto run macro. This is the macro which executes itself when you open a excel file.

There are two methods to do this

Method 1. Auto open macro in VBA Project Module

In this case you add your macro code to VBA project module and it gets executed when you open the file. When you go to your VBA editor, you select a module as highlighted in the picture and copy following code to have auto run macro.

Private Sub Auto_Open()

MsgBox "This is auto open macro in Module"

End Sub 

Method 2. Auto open macro in ThisWorkbook Section

In this method you add your code to Thisworkbook Section of your excel file. double click on highlighted potion in your VBA editor and paste following code

Private Sub Workbook_Open()

MsgBox "This is auto open macro in This workbook"

End Sub 

You can replace the message box line with your code / action you want your macro to do. I have used this as example to keep my macro code short for better understanding.

Auto open Macro , Excel auto open macro , Auto run macro , Auto open excel , VBA excel workbook open

Macros in Excel : Disable Right Click Menu

Many times we need to disable right click menu in our workbook. We can achieve this by using Marcos in Excel. You need to add the Macro code to This workbook section in your VBA project. When you go to your Visual Basic Editor you can see the ThisWorkbook on the left hand side of your VBA Project.

You need to double click on highlighed portion and copy the following code. Since these macros has Private word before Sub, no one will be able to see this macros from View Macro menu.

Private Sub Workbook_SheetBeforeRightClick(ByVal Sh As Object, ByVal Target As Range, Cancel As Boolean)
Cancel = True
MsgBox "Right click menu deactivated." & vbCrLf & _
"For this file:", 16, ""
End Sub

Macros in Excel : Disable Cut Copy Paste

Many times we need to disable Cut Copy and Paste in our workbook. You can achieve this by using Marcos in Excel. You need to add the Macro code to This workbook section in your VBA project. When you go to your Visual Basic Editor you can see the ThisWorkbook on the left hand side of your VBA Project.

You need to double click on highlighed portion and copy the following code. This code also disables the rightclick menu. Since these macros has Private word before Sub, no one will be able to see these macros from View Macro menu.

Private Sub Workbook_BeforeClose(Cancel As Boolean)
On Error Resume Next
With Application
.CellDragAndDrop = True
.OnKey "^c"
.OnKey "^v"
.OnKey "^x"
.OnKey "+{DEL}"
.OnKey "^{INSERT}"
.CutCopyMode = False
End With
Dim Ctrl As Office.CommandBarControl
For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=19) 'copy
    Ctrl.Enabled = True
Next Ctrl
For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=21) ' Cut
    Ctrl.Enabled = True
Next Ctrl
For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=22) ' Paste
    Ctrl.Enabled = True
Next Ctrl
For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=755) ' Paste Special
    Ctrl.Enabled = True
Next Ctrl

End Sub

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
    On Error Resume Next
    With Application
    .CutCopyMode = False
    .CellDragAndDrop = False
    .OnKey "^c", ""
    .OnKey "^v", ""
    .OnKey "^x", ""
    .OnKey "+{DEL}", ""
    .OnKey "^{INSERT}", ""
    End With
   
    Dim Ctrl As Office.CommandBarControl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=19) ' Copy
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=21) ' Cut
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=22) ' Paste
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=755) ' Paste Special
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
    
    End Sub

Private Sub Workbook_Activate()
    On Error Resume Next
    With Application
    .CutCopyMode = False
    .CellDragAndDrop = False
    .OnKey "^c", ""
    .OnKey "^v", ""
    .OnKey "^x", ""
    .OnKey "+{DEL}", ""
    .OnKey "^{INSERT}", ""
    End With
    Dim Ctrl As Office.CommandBarControl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=19) ' Copy
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=21) ' Cut
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=22) ' Paste
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=755) ' Paste Special
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
   
End Sub

Private Sub Workbook_SheetBeforeRightClick(ByVal Sh As Object, ByVal Target As Range, Cancel As Boolean)
Cancel = True
MsgBox "Right click menu deactivated." & vbCrLf & _
"For this file:", 16, ""
End Sub
Private Sub Workbook_SheetSelectionChange(ByVal Sh As Object, ByVal Target As Range)
     Application.CutCopyMode = False
End Sub
Private Sub Workbook_SheetActivate(ByVal Sh As Object)
    
    On Error Resume Next
    With Application
    .CutCopyMode = False
    .CellDragAndDrop = False
    .OnKey "^c", ""
    .OnKey "^v", ""
    .OnKey "^x", ""
    .OnKey "+{DEL}", ""
    .OnKey "^{INSERT}", ""
    End With
    Dim Ctrl As Office.CommandBarControl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=19) ' Copy
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=21) ' Cut
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=22) ' Paste
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
    For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=755) ' Paste Special
        Ctrl.Enabled = False
    Next Ctrl
    
End Sub
Private Sub Workbook_Deactivate()
On Error Resume Next
With Application
.CellDragAndDrop = True
.OnKey "^c"
.OnKey "^v"
.OnKey "^x"
.OnKey "+{DEL}"
.OnKey "^{INSERT}"
.CutCopyMode = False
End With
Dim Ctrl As Office.CommandBarControl
For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=19) ' Copy
    Ctrl.Enabled = True
Next Ctrl
For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=21) ' Cut
    Ctrl.Enabled = True
Next Ctrl
For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=22) ' Paste
    Ctrl.Enabled = True
Next Ctrl
For Each Ctrl In Application.CommandBars.FindControls(ID:=755) ' Paste Special
    Ctrl.Enabled = True
Next Ctrl

End Sub

Download file having disable cut copy paste Macro

Macros in Excel : Learn Excel VBA : Properties

This in continuation of my earlier post on

   Macros in Excel : Learn Excel VBA : Objects
   Macros in Excel : Learn Excel VBA : Methods

Each VBA object has its own properties that controls its appearance. When we talk about range as object typical properties are

   - ColumnWidth
   - RowHeight
   - Font
   - Text
   - Value
   - Formula
   - Borders

Syntax in your macro is

    Object.Property = Value

or

    Range("A1").RowHeight = 60 

or

    Range("A1").FormulaR1C1 = "=R[2]C+R[3]C" 

Following instruction will set the columon width to 25

    Range("A1").ColumnWidth = 25 

In case property is on left hand side of = sign it is updated with the new value mentioned on the right hand side of = sign

In case you have property on the right hand side of = sign it means you are reading value from that object. Following statement will set the column width of Cell A2 as 35 considering that Cell A1 has column widht of 25

 Range("A2").ColumnWidth = Range("A1").ColumnWidth + 10 

If you are new to Macros in Excel, Please go through my earlier posts on

1. Automating Tasks in Excel : Using Macros in Excel
2. Recording Excel Macros / Writing excel macros (VBA)

Custom Formating - Excel Number Format

Excel stores numbers as normal numbers only, however you can view them as you want based on how do you format the cells.



If you see there are pre defined number format options available when you choose cell format option, however you can use custom format option if available formats does not server your requirement.



There are four sections of format codes. The sections are separated by semicolons ";" First section defines the formats for positive numbers; Second section defines negative numbers; third section defines how to show zero values; and forth one define how to diplay text. If you specify only two sections, the first is used for positive numbers and zeros, and the second is used for negative numbers. If you specify only one section, all numbers use that format. If you want to skip a section, include the ending semicolon for that section.

# displays only significant digits and does not display insignificant zeros.

0 (zero) displays insignificant zeros if a number has fewer digits than there are zeros in the format.

? adds spaces for insignificant zeros on either side of the decimal point so that decimal points align.

? can also be used for fractions that have varying numbers of digits.

Special Symbol Shortcuts Using the ALT Key

There are some special symbols which we need to use many times but they are not available on the keyboard. We can type them using ALT key and numeric code for the particular symbol

Pls see the chart for numeric codes for various symbols. If you need to type £ you need to press ALT key and keep it pressed while typing 0163. Release ALT key once you have typed 0163. Immediately on release of ALT key you will see £ sign appearing on your screen. You can follow the same process for getting other symbols by typing the relevant numeric code.

Macros in Excel : Learn Excel VBA : Methods

This in continution of my earlier post on Macros in Excel : Learn Excel VBA : Objects

Visual Basic is an object oriented language. Objects have methods that perform action on them. In case range is the object you are working upon following methods would perform action on range object

    - Activate
    - Select
    - Cut
    - Copy
    - Clear
    - Delete
    - Paste 

Syntex of many Visual Basis statements is

    Objects.Methods 

Look at the following code to understand the use of methods in VBA

Sub Explain_Methods()
    Range("C4").Copy
    Range("C8").Select
    ActiveSheet.Paste
   
End Sub 

If you are new to Macros in Excel I suggest that you go through earlier posts on Macros
1. Automating Tasks in Excel : Using Macros in Excel
2. Recording Excel Macros / Writing excel macros (VBA)
3. Macros in Excel : Learn Excel VBA : Objects