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: Maximum Length Limit for a Macro.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 15, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Vasant has written a very long macro in Excel—over 1,400 lines. When he tries to run the macro, Excel refuses to run it and says that it is too long.
Excel apparently has a limit on VBA code such that you cannot have more than 64K of compiled code in a single procedure. The solution to this problem is to chop up your long macro into shorter procedures. For instance, you might divide your monster macro into, say, a dozen smaller macros. You can make the smaller macros Private instead of Public (so they don't show up in the Macros list in Excel), and then call them sequentially from a "controller" macro.
When you separate your code into individual procedures, make sure that each separate procedure has all loops and logic self contained. Also make sure that any variables used in more than one procedure are declared as global variables so they are accessible by all the procedures.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3174) 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: Maximum Length Limit for a Macro.
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!
It is often helpful to get user input within a macro. Here's a quick way to present some options and get the user's response.
Discover MorePart of the power of VBA is being able to control when some of your code executes and when it doesn't. A primary way to ...
Discover MoreWhen developing a macro that others may use, you might want to test it out to make sure it works properly if an ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
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 © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
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:
Comments