Did you know that Excel has been around since 1985?
During that time, it’s cemented its place as the most popular spreadsheet in the world, and with good reason. Excel is a deceptively powerful piece of software, and many of us barely scrape the surface of its capabilities.
One way to get more out of Excel is to learn how to use macros. Macros are a simple way to take your Excel spreadsheets to the next level.
Read on to learn how to write macros in Excel.
What Are Macros?
A macro is just a set of instructions for performing actions in Excel. Once a macro is set up, you can run that set of instructions with the click of a mouse or a keyboard shortcut. You can run your macro as many times as you want.
If you perform a lot of repetitive actions in Excel, then a macro is perfect. All you need to do is create the macro, and it will do all of the heavy lifting for you.
Recording Macros in Excel
Microsoft has made creating macros a piece of cake. All you need to do is set up macro recording and then perform the actions you want included in your macro. Excel will then automatically create a macro from this recording.
Before you start recording your macro, make sure that everything is prepared for you to record the exact actions that you want. You should make sure any formulas in your spreadsheet are working correctly, and all cell references are correctly anchored. Correct ROW anchoring in calculations is important if you want your formulas to function correctly.
When you’re ready to record your macro, ensure that the Developer tab is visible. Once you’re on the Developer tab, click on Record Macro. Enter a name for your macro and a shortcut key if you want one, then click OK to start the macro recording.
Perform the actions you want included in your macro, and then click on Stop Recording in the Developer tab. Your macro will now save.
Running Macros in Excel
Once your macro is saved, all you need to do is run it.
If you created a keyboard shortcut when you first created your macro, then simply hit that shortcut, and your macro should run.
If you didn’t create a keyboard shortcut, then click on Macros in the Developer tab, select the macro you want to run, and click Run.
You can even create a button in your spreadsheet and assign your macro to it for quick activation.
Now You Know How to Write Macros in Excel
Once you know how to write macros in Excel, the world is your oyster. Macros add a whole new level of control and adaptability to your spreadsheets. You’ll be surprised how much macros can make a difference to your productivity, and the more you learn about Excel, the more powerful it becomes.
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