Running a Macro when a Workbook is Closed

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 10, 2025)

You can cause Excel to run a macro automatically whenever a particular workbook is closed. For instance, when the workbook is closed you might want to run a macro that asks the users if they want to perform some task, such as saving the day's data to another file.

In order to run a macro automatically when a workbook is closed, all you need to do is name the macro Auto_Close(). Thus, the following example macro is run automatically whenever the workbook containing it is closed:

Sub Auto_Close()
    Dim intStatusState As Integer

    intStatusState = Application.DisplayStatusBar
    Application.DisplayStatusBar = True
    Application.StatusBar = "Examining transactions."
    DetermineTransactions
    Application.StatusBar = "Posting transactions."
    PostTransactions
    Application.StatusBar = False
    Application.DisplayStatusBar = intStatusState
End Sub

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 (2354) 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. ...

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