Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Writing a Macro from Scratch.

Writing a Macro from Scratch

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated March 26, 2020)

2

Many of the tips used in ExcelTips rely upon macros in order to run. Some readers may not know how to enter a macro from scratch in Excel. There are actually two ways you can create macros. First you can record a macro, which is appropriate when you want to record a series of steps you perform quite often. The second method of creating a macro, writing one from scratch, is much more powerful. To create a macro from scratch, follow these steps:

  1. Choose the Macro option from the Tools menu, then choose Macros from the resulting submenu. Excel displays the Macro dialog box.
  2. In the Macros In box (at the bottom of the dialog box), select where you want your new macro stored.
  3. In the Macro Name box, type a descriptive name you want assigned to the macro you are writing.
  4. Click on Create. Visual Basic for Applications will start up and you can write your macro. (You can also paste macro code from other sources, such as ExcelTips.)
  5. When you are through, close the macro window by selecting the Close and Return to Microsoft Excel option from the File menu, or press Alt+Q.

If you are still using Excel 95, the easiest way to create a macro from scratch is to first record a "dummy" macro, and then edit that macro to create your final "from scratch" macro.

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 (2712) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Writing a Macro from Scratch.

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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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 four less than 7?

2015-03-14 20:15:18

Indio

I need to be able to read the data in the WAV files of less of 700 ms (at 44.1 kHz sampling rate) and perform Fourier analysis etc. Has anyone done this or have any code which i can implement to do this?

2015-03-14 12:17:14

Chuck

Hi Allen,
Your ExcelTips has been a source of very valuable information that has made my job considerably easier over the past several years. I would like to share the method I use to create a "from scratch" macro. Simply hold down Ctrl and F11 and Excel generates a new macro sheet. Note: I am using Excel 2003.

Thanks, and keep up the good work.

Chuck

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