I'm using Excel 2010 and adding a small VBA macro to a spreadsheet. (The purpose of the macro is to take the data on the active sheet and export it to a CSV file, but that's tangential to the question.) The macro determines the output path for the file using ThisWorkbook.Path. I also added a custom button to the Quick Access Toolbar to activate the macro.
After getting a working algorithm in place in my experimental spreadsheet (Test.xlsm, stored in one path), I made a copy of the spreadsheet in another path and renamed it to _Database.xlsm. Then I opened _Database.xlsm and ran the macro. To my surprise, the file was written to the original path, not the new one. And looking down at the Windows toolbar, I saw that Excel had opened the original file over in its original path as well.
After a lot of jiggering around with code tweaks, checking properties and such I finally found that I could prevent this by opening the copied spreadsheet, removing the Quick Access Toolbar button, re-adding it, and then saving the file. My questions are:
Why isn't the macro "independently portable" along with the spreadsheet? I.e. why does the copy maintain this kind of tie to the original sheet?
Is there a way I can create or modify the macro to make it portable in that sense?
If you want a toolbar/button to travel with a file (ie. not always link back to the original version) then you need to add it to the file itself, not to the QAT. The QAT only "knows" about the actual file you linked the button to.
It might be better to add the macro to your Personal Macro Workbook and then just have it operate on the ActiveWorkbook.
However, if you want to distribute it to other users, you can keep the macro in the "database" workbook and add a custom ribbon part. See: http://www.rondebruin.nl/win/s2/win001.htm
Related
I made a VB script that re-formats data exported to excel from a website so that it is compatible with a geocoder. As of now every export I have to go in, past the VB code run it and save the changes. I am wondering if there is a way to make the VB code available as a tool for all workbooks so it is just a matter of opening the xls file clicking a button and saving it?
To expand a little on BigBen's comment:
Open the Excel file with your code in. Open a new blank Workbook. Open up the VBA Editor (Alt-F11).
Drag the module which contains your code to the new workbook (in the left-hand navigator pane). You should see it add to this new Workbook.
Save you new workbook as MyFunctions (or whatever name you fancy) but choose the "Excel Add-in (*.xlam)" file type. You should see a new file appear in your folder as MyFunctions.xlam.
Back in Excel, from the File menu, choose Options (right at the bottom). And then Add-Ins from the left-hand list. At the bottom will be a drop-down box "Manage: Excel Add Ins". Hit Go...
You'll a list of the add-ins that your Excel knows about: some will be checked (that is they will be loaded at start-up) and some not.
Choose Browse, and navigate to wherever you saved MyFunctions.xlam. And double click on it. You may get a security warning (as your addin doesnt have a digital signature) but just go ahead and enable it (as you wrote the code: this is not blanket advice!). Close Excel (this remembers your choices).
When you next open Excel you should see your add-in file open in the VBA Editor, and your macros and UDFs available in whatever worksheet you are using.
I wanted to save all my VBA Project in a Excel workbook (or other type of file if possible) and then embbed it to run in another workbook. I've seen topics about it but only found ways to run the macros opening the first sheet.
I want to run a macro from a first workbook in a second one without opening the first workbook to do it. How can I do that?
Save the file with the macros as a xlam file and Excel can load them each time Excel opens.
You need to open File -> options -> add-ins.
At the bottom there is a button Go to (or something, I don't have English Excel on the current computer.)
Then add the file to the list by clicking Browse and finding the file you just saved as xlam file.
Two scenarios comes to mind:
1) You have a second macro for personal use and can save it locally (save in: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART). This will allow you to create quick-buttons for your macros, etc. These types of macros open with Excel and will be separate VBA Projects inside of the default VBA editor.
2) You have a network or drive that multiple users need to access, so each user has a macro in their file (.xlsm or .xlsb), where that internal macro reads Application.Run "filepath\workbookname.xlsb!macro", which also allows you to call a private subroutine (note that you could use Call, but Application.Run will ensure that even Private macros are able to be accessed). This shouldn't require the other workbook be open, though I have personally had one user whose computer always opens the other file, regardless.
Edit:
Third scenario (really 2b):
3) You have files where you want to regularly access another file... you will follow a similar approach to point 2 where you make a macro to Application.Run, though you can save that macro in your XLSTART folder... this will allow you to have a source macro location where others may also want to access and utilize. The source document would allow you to maintain 1 file for many users.
Your answers were great! Great to know about XLSTART folder from #Cyril, but based on #Andreas answer I found my path.
The "problems" with adding an Add-In as #Andreas said, are cause my VBA Project would be avaliable on the VB Editor to every workbook on that computer, and to run my macros I'd have to use Application.Run("workbook.xlam!Macro").
Then I found References, which I have the same features, including I can delete my .xlam file to remove my code, and don't have the problems I mentioned above.
Adding my VBA .xlam file as an reference, it'll be avaliable only to that specific workbook and I can run my macro just like it was on the same workbook.
For general knowledge:
ADDING A REFERENCE:
1- Save your project as an Excel Add-In (.xlam file)
2- Open your target workbook, go to the Visual Basic Editor
3- Go to Tools > References > Browse... find your .xlam file and make sure it's checked.
4- Done! Now you'll see the project on the editor and can run your macros just like it was on the same workbook.
I have a bunch of csv files that I create everyday and that I want to format nicely with colors and stuff.
So I wrote a macro that do all I want.
Now I'm looking for the most practical way to call that macro from Excel.
It looks like macros are stored in the spreadsheet and can't be "global" or "external".
So when I open a csv, I need to create a new macro, paste my vb code, and run it.
It would be great if I could add a button to Excel toolbar, or at least open a menu that will let me select the macro and run it.
It looks like one answer could be to create an excel add-in, but I'm not sure this is the right way to go.
Thanks a lot for your help
This will work with a so-called "Personal Macro Workbook". In Excel 2010, it will be called Personal.xlsb and reside somewhere in your users directory.
See http://office.microsoft.com/en-001/excel-help/copy-your-macros-to-a-personal-macro-workbook-HA102174076.aspx for details. This also applies with small variations to other versions of Excel.
Say I have an Excel sheet. I add some programs to it (VBA) to make my workflow smoother. Then, after some time, I need another sheet which is very similar to the old one - especially because I want to use the same VBA program in it.
Is there a way to move the program from my old sheet to the new one save from copying the old sheet?
If you export the modules to a .bas file you could then import that code to any Excel sheet you needed it in.
It would also allow some customisation, as any changes you make after you import the module in will not have any effect on the original.
I'm trying to get a simple VBA function to run in an excel (.xlsm) worksheet.
I created this function:
Function abc()
abc = 2
End Function
in Module2, and it worked.
But after I copied the spreadsheet to another system, it now just shows "#name" as if it can't find it. The function shows up on the available list of functions however.
This makes me think there is some kind of setting I need to enable, but I've enabled whatever I was prompted for. Any ideas?
I should've known it was in the trust center:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/change-macro-security-settings-in-excel-HP010096919.aspx
Basically, hit the ball and poke around until you find "trust" and "enable macros" and select the least secure options.
And then close and re-open the spreadsheet.
I think we may need more information. What version of Excel are you using? Is it different from the destination system version?
You'll want to make sure that Module2 was in the Workbook you copied into the other system. Excel 2007 stores macros on a personal workbook by default sometimes so you'll need to check the the code is actually inside of the .xlsm file.
If you're still stuck and need a quick fix just copy the code text into the new system's Excel workbook directly without making a .xlsm file (create new module in the other system then paste).
If you would like to learn how to put together add-ins you can get started here or here.