Inserting a Voice Annotation in Your Worksheet

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated January 9, 2019)

3

Rather than adding notes to the cells in your worksheets, you can imbed audio files that serve as audible annotations. In order to do this, your computer must have sound capabilities (either built-in or through an added sound board) which are supported by Windows, along with a microphone. Then you can follow these steps:

  1. Position the insertion point where you want the message inserted.
  2. Choose Object from the Insert menu. You will see the Object dialog box.
  3. Make sure the Create New tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

    4. Figure 1. The Create New tab of the Object dialog box.

  4. In the list of object types, look for a type of sound object. It may have a name such as Sound or Wave Sound. Select this option.
  5. Click on OK. The Sound Recorder (a Windows accessory) is displayed.
  6. Use the Sound Recorder to record your message.
  7. Close the Sound Recorder window.
  8. You may be asked if you want to update your workbook. If so, then click on Yes.
  9. An icon of a speaker appears in your workbook where the sound is inserted.

You can later listen to your message by simply double-clicking on the speaker icon.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2870) 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

Browsing by Heading

The Object Browser can be a great (albeit underused) way of navigating through your document. One handy way to move about ...

Discover More

Conditionally Displaying a Message Box

You can, from within your macros, easily display a message box containing a message of your choice. If you want to ...

Discover More

Entering Numbers in Excel

Enter information into a cell, and Excel needs to figure out what type of information it is. Here's how Excel interprets ...

Discover More

Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!

More ExcelTips (menu)

Using Revision Tracking

Want to keep track of the changes other people make to your workbook or even your own changes? Excel makes gathering this ...

Discover More

Watching Cell Values

Want to know what is happening in certain cells in your worksheet? Using the Watch Window is a great way to keep an eye ...

Discover More

Turning Off Speech Capabilities

Excel can talk to you, reading back whatever you enter into a cell. If you want to turn this capability off, you'll want ...

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.

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

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}] 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 4 + 1?

2019-10-07 17:08:34

J.masoudi

Hi Allen.
I need help. In an excel sheet, I want to scroll down in a row or column as I am saying "next" or any other voice command and the cell value be speeched by excel; noting that cell values are not written in english. (We can say each cell can contain a voice depending on the cell value. For example when the selected cell is A2 which contains 344, vice file A be played and when i said next, the cell A3 be selected and if it contains 540, vice file B be played.)

Thanks.
Masoudi.j

2019-08-30 11:59:23

vikram

Hi Allan,

AM using mack book air, and excel from the office 365 suite.

I want to record my audio / video via excel is that possible ?

2019-05-15 18:03:52

Michael Moore

I don't see any objects like this in my list (Excel 16). Do I need to add a reference library? If so, which one?

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.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR AUTHORS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2021 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.