Silently VBA add new Excel worksheet without screen update - excel

Question

I'm adding a new worksheet to my workbook with
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
SheetExists = False
For Each WS In Worksheets
If WS.Name = "BLANK" Then
SheetExists = True
End If
Next WS
If Not SheetExists Then
Sheets.Add
ActiveSheet.Name = "BLANK"
End If
Is there any way to sheets.add silently without bringing focus to or activating the new added sheet? I just want to stay on the sheet (ie. Sheet1) that is currently active and add the new sheet in the background.
Thanks

Answer 1

At first, things look simple but there are a few things to consider:
There could be more sheets selected before running the code
The selected sheet(s) could be Chart sheet(s)
The Workbook can be protected
You might not want to set Application.ScreenUpdating = True at the end of the method because you might be running this from within another method that still needs it off
Restoring selection can only happen if the proper window is activated
You could use this method:
Sub AddWorksheet(ByVal targetBook As Workbook, ByVal sheetname As String)
Const methodName As String = "AddWorksheet"
'Do input checks
If targetBook Is Nothing Then
Err.Raise 91, methodName, "Target Book not set"
ElseIf sheetname = vbNullString Then
Err.Raise 5, methodName, "Sheet name cannot be blank"
ElseIf Len(sheetname) > 31 Then
Err.Raise 5, methodName, "Sheet name cannot exceed 31 characters"
Else
Dim arrForbiddenChars() As Variant
Dim forbiddenChar As Variant
arrForbiddenChars = Array(":", "\", "/", "?", "*", "[", "]")
For Each forbiddenChar In arrForbiddenChars
If InStr(1, sheetname, forbiddenChar) > 0 Then
Err.Raise 5, methodName, "Sheet name cannot contain characters: : \ / ? * [ or ]"
End If
Next forbiddenChar
End If
Dim alreadyExists As Boolean
'Check if a sheet already exists with the desired name
On Error Resume Next
alreadyExists = Not (targetBook.Sheets(sheetname) Is Nothing)
On Error GoTo 0
If alreadyExists Then
MsgBox "A sheet named <" & sheetname & "> already exists!", vbInformation, "Cancelled" 'Can remove
Exit Sub
End If
'Check if Workbook is protected
If targetBook.ProtectStructure Then
'Maybe write code to ask for password and then unprotect
'
'
'Or simply exit
MsgBox "Workbook is protected. Cannot add sheet", vbInformation, "Cancelled"
Exit Sub
End If
Dim bookActiveWindow As Window
Dim appActiveWindow As Window
Dim selectedSheets As Sheets
Dim screenUpdate As Boolean
Dim newWSheet As Worksheet
'Store state
Set bookActiveWindow = targetBook.Windows(1)
Set appActiveWindow = Application.ActiveWindow 'Can be different from the target book window
Set selectedSheets = bookActiveWindow.selectedSheets
screenUpdate = Application.ScreenUpdating
'Do main logic
screenUpdate = False
If bookActiveWindow.Hwnd <> Application.ActiveWindow.Hwnd Then
bookActiveWindow.Activate
End If
If selectedSheets.Count > 1 Then selectedSheets(1).Select Replace:=True
Set newWSheet = targetBook.Worksheets.Add
newWSheet.Name = sheetname
'Restore state
selectedSheets.Select Replace:=True
If appActiveWindow.Hwnd <> Application.ActiveWindow.Hwnd Then
appActiveWindow.Activate
End If
Application.ScreenUpdating = screenUpdate
End Sub
If you want the book containing the code then you can call with:
Sub Test()
AddWorksheet ThisWorkbook, "BLANK"
End Sub
or, if you want the currently active book (assuming you are running this from an add-in) then you can call with:
Sub Test()
AddWorksheet ActiveWorkbook, "BLANK"
End Sub
or any other book depending on your needs.

Answer 2

Just remember who was active:
Sub ytrewq()
Dim wsh As Worksheet, SheetsExist As Boolean
Set wsh = ActiveSheet
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
SheetExists = False
For Each ws In Worksheets
If ws.Name = "BLANK" Then
SheetExists = True
End If
Next ws
If Not SheetExists Then
Sheets.Add
ActiveSheet.Name = "BLANK"
End If
wsh.Activate
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
End Sub