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: Mouse Click Event in VBA.
Supriyo asked if there is a mouse event handler in VBA. He wants a value inserted in a cell when that cell is clicked on.
The standard way to do this is with the SelectionChange event. Every time the selection changes in the worksheet, the event is triggered. The event doesn't just trigger when a cell is clicked on, but also if someone presses a cursor control key that results in a different cell being selected.
As an example, let's say that you wanted cell B5 to contain the value 10 whenever that cell is selected. To implement that, you could use the following:
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: 
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
If Not Intersect(Target, Range("B5")) Is Nothing Then _
Range("B5").Value = 10
End Sub
This code is added to one of the sheet objects in the Project Explorer area of the VB Editor. Double-click the worksheet you want the event handler to apply to, and then add the macro to the resulting code window.
When the SelectionChange event is triggered, the target (the cell range being selected) is passed to the handler. The macro then checks to see if the target range contains cell B5, and if it does, stuffs the value 10 into cell B5. If you want to make sure that the macro only stuffs information into B5 if only B5 (the single cell) is selected, you can use this version of the macro:
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
If Target.Address = Range("B5").Address Then _
Range("B5").Value = 10
End Sub
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3070) 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: Mouse Click Event in VBA.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 2013 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access) with VBA programming, using it for writing macros, automating Office applications, and creating custom applications. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2013 today!
Macros are often used to process the data stored in a worksheet. Some of these processing needs can be pretty specific to ...
Discover MoreTroubleshooting an Excel macro when it causes the entire computer to freeze can be a tedious affair. This tip provides some ...
Discover MoreWhen processing a worksheet with a macro, it may be helpful to periodically recalculate the worksheet. Wouldn't it be nice if ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2016-10-04 14:21:13
Mark
@Sumit
Looks like your date is entered as a string using a single quote at the front (ie 'dd-mmm-yy instead of dd-mmm-yy). Remove the single quote from the cell content and make sure cell is formatted as a date value. Should work then.
Cheers
2016-10-03 22:58:09
Very helpful. Experimenting with it. Trying to accomplish something similar.
Need to select a random cell, for example
A8,A8,& A8, copy there contents to G7, H7, & I7, then delete Row 8.
The kicker is I need this to happen on any cell I click.
I need to be able to click say
A21:C21 and have the contents moved to G20:I20 then row 21 deleted. This should happen on any cell I select.
2016-05-31 09:44:03
Nick
This is very helpful however I would like to include two outcomes. If I include another Range("B6").Value = 11
in the statement as below, it doesn't matter which cell I click on, the second statement will happen (ie B6=11).
How can I correct this please? Thanks for your help.
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
If Target.Address = Range("B5").Address Then _
Range("B5").Value = 10
Range ("B6").Value = 11
End Sub
2016-02-24 15:20:24
Scott Derenne
I want to semi-automate changing the data label on a point on an imbedded chart to "est." (estimated). I recorded a macro for doing this, but can't figure out how to trap the mouse click event to select the data point. Any previous tips on this?
2016-01-08 09:06:48
Michael (Micky) Avidan
@Jeff Kanoza,
The merged area's address is, always, the address of the most upper-left cell.
--------------------------
Michael (Micky) Avidan
“Microsoft® Answers" - Wiki author & Forums Moderator
“Microsoft®” MVP – Excel (2009-2016)
ISRAEL
2016-01-07 15:13:33
Jeff Kanoza
I merged 9 cells together, and want to catch the mouse click in the merged area. The above code works fine for a single cell, but doesn't work once I merge them. Any help?
Thanks,
Jeff
2014-11-03 14:32:29
mark
This works:
[code snippet]
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
Target = Format(Date, "dd-mmm-yy")
End Sub
[code snippet]
2014-11-02 13:59:34
Sumit
Hi All,
I am facing problem regarding text format to date, in my existing report date is coming ('03-Nov-14) but i want its should be (03-Nov-14).
Please help what is the vba code for above changes?
thanks and Reards
Sumit
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.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2017 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments