Inserting a Voice Annotation in Your Worksheet

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 21, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

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

Selecting Just the Word

Double-click on a word and Word selects it, plus some. It also selects any trailing spaces after the word. Here's a ...

Discover More

Changing Default Search Settings

Excel provides some great tools for finding information in a worksheet or a workbook. Changing the default settings used ...

Discover More

Checking for an Entry in a Cell

You may be looking for a way to have a formula determine if a particular cell has anything in it. Here's how you can find ...

Discover More

Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!

More ExcelTips (menu)

Making Revisions

You've turned on Highlight Changes, but how do you know what has been changed? This tip explains how Excel displays those ...

Discover More

AutoFilling from a Custom List

AutoFill can be a real timesaver if you often work with set lists of data. You can define your own custom lists and then ...

Discover More

Using List Box Controls

List boxes can be a great tool for getting input from users of your worksheets. This tip describes what list boxes are ...

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}] (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 two more than 7?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

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 SITES
 

Copyright © 2024 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.