Determining Mouse Cursor Coordinates On a Graphic

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 2, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


1

Gerald notes that when moving the mouse over a picture on a worksheet the mouse pointer is a cross. He wants to know how he can determine, using VBA, the coordinates of the cross when the mouse is clicked.

Excel doesn't allow you (even with VBA) to get the coordinates of the mouse pointer on a graphic inserted as a regular picture in the worksheet. If you insert the picture using an Image object in the Control toolbox, you have quite a bit more latitude. Indeed, you can use the MouseDown event handler to determine the coordinates, as shown here:

Private Sub Image1_MouseDown(ByVal Button As Integer, _
  ByVal Shift As Integer, ByVal X As Single, _
  ByVal Y As Single)
    MsgBox X & ", " & Y
End Sub

This code assumes that the image is named Image1. Similar code could be used to display the cursor coordinates in real time on the status bar:

Private Sub Image1_MouseMove(ByVal Button As Integer, _
  ByVal Shift As Integer, ByVal X As Single, _
  ByVal Y As Single)
    Application.StatusBar = Round(X, 0) & "," & Round(Y, 0)
End Sub

Either (or both) of these event handlers are obviously associated with Image1, so they need to be added to the code window for that object.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the ExcelTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3421) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Setting Up an Array with Fields

One of the more esoteric ways to display data is with an "array," which is like a miniature inline table. This tip ...

Discover More

Getting Excel Dates into Outlook's Calendar

If you want to move information from Excel into Outlook, how you do it can be a bit tricky. Here's an example of how you ...

Discover More

Finding an Optimal Table Height

Word can adjust the height of individual rows in a table based on the information you put in each row. This may not ...

Discover More

Program Successfully in Excel! This guide will provide you with all the information you need to automate any task in Excel and save time and effort. Learn how to extend Excel's functionality with VBA to create solutions not possible with the standard features. Includes latest information for Excel 2024 and Microsoft 365. Check out Mastering Excel VBA Programming today!

More ExcelTips (menu)

Adding a Macro to a Toolbar

A great way to customize Excel is to add your macros to a toolbar. That way you can run them quickly and easily.

Discover More

Selecting Columns in VBA when Cells are Merged

If you have a macro that selects different columns in a worksheet while processing information, you may get some ...

Discover More

Generating Unique, Sequential Names

Do you need to create a number of words or phrases where you only alter a few letters in each one? If the alterations ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 1 + 3?

2021-03-23 11:44:59

karmapala

Thank you very much for the tutorial, Sir.


This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.