Some Excel users perform the same tasks repetitively and identically in the same order. Excel offers these users the ability to record a list of actions to be performed and execute them just once when the need arises. Macros are the right tools for this task. So what is an Excel macro? And how do you create one? This article will help the reader learn much more about Excel macros.
What is an Excel macro?
An Excel macro is a script written by a user in the Visual Basic Editor programming language that will perform one or more tasks automatically. The macro is used to automate repetitive operations, thus making those that might seem tedious easier. A macro can be assigned to an object, such as a toolbar button, an Excel chart, or a control. Executing it will require a click on the object. A macro can be activated, deactivated, or even deleted after it has been created and used, depending on the need.
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How do you create a macro?
You do not need to be a programmer to create a macro. That said, it is possible to create one without any development knowledge. There are two ways to develop a macro. You can do it by recording a series of actions. This involves using the macro recorder tool, which automatically writes a macro based on the manipulations you perform. In the “Tools” menu, click on “Macro,” then on “New Macro.” In the dialog box to record a macro, fill in the fields presented. Then click OK. There are two commands: “Stop Recording” and “Pause Recording.” From this moment on, all the tasks you perform on a worksheet or a chart will be automatically recorded. If you wish not to record one or more actions, you will use the “Pause Recording” command, which you can resume later. Then at the end of your work, you click on “Stop Recording.” The macro you have created can be executed on all similar worksheets as the previous one and yield the expected results.
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