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: Conditionally Making a Sound.
Ken knows how to create conditional formats in Excel. What he really wants to do, however, is have Excel make an audible sound (a beep or whatever) if the conditions are met.
There is no way to do this without resorting to using macros. If you just want to make a beep sound, you can use something like this:
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: 
Function BeepMe() As String
Beep
BeepMe = ""
End Function
All this user-defined function does is to play a sound (which will vary depending on the system you are using) and then return an empty string. You can use the function in your worksheet in this manner:
=IF(A12>300,BeepMe(),"")
If you want to play some sound other than the default system beep, you'll need to use the Windows API PlaySound function. The following code creates a user-defined function that will play the default "tada" sound so prevalent in Windows.
Private Declare Function PlaySound Lib "winmm.dll" _
Alias "PlaySoundA" (ByVal lpszName As String, _
ByVal hModule As Long, ByVal dwFlags As Long) As Long
Const SND_SYNC = &H0
Const SND_ASYNC = &H1
Const SND_FILENAME = &H20000
Function SoundMe() As String
Call PlaySound("c:\windows\media\tada.wav", _
0, SND_ASYNC Or SND_FILENAME)
SoundMe = ""
End Function
This function can be called the same as the previous example:
=IF(A12>300,SoundMe(),"")
If you want to play a different WAV file, simply change the file specification in the SoundMe function.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (7658) 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: Conditionally Making a Sound.
Program Successfully in Excel! John Walkenbach's name is synonymous with excellence in deciphering complex technical topics. With this comprehensive guide, "Mr. Spreadsheet" shows how to maximize your Excel experience using professional spreadsheet application development tips from his own personal bookshelf. Check out Excel 2013 Power Programming with VBA today!
There are many ways that Excel allows you to highlight information in a cell. This tip examines a way to highlight values ...
Discover MoreConditional formatting can be used to draw attention to all sorts of data based upon the criteria you specify. Here's how ...
Discover MoreYou can use conditional formatting to add shading to various cells in your worksheet. This tip shows how you can shade ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2019-02-12 02:44:34
Shehzad
will you tell me, if i don't want to refer system location(c://windows/,,,), can i upload sound clip on excel,
so where i use that excel sheets it plays sound that is saved in excel
2018-04-23 09:53:04
Ehem
Hi,
i want to ask, how to adding a new string with another sounds?
Thank you
2017-12-06 05:39:46
Fahad
' Good day below Macro work With Extinction .wav , but not work with .m4a or other extonction.
#If Win64 Then
Private Declare PtrSafe Function PlaySound Lib "winmm.dll" _
Alias "PlaySoundA" (ByVal lpszName As String, _
ByVal hModule As LongPtr, ByVal dwFlags As Long) As Boolean
#Else
Private Declare Function PlaySound Lib "winmm.dll" _
Alias "PlaySoundA" (ByVal lpszName As String, _
ByVal hModule As Long, ByVal dwFlags As Long) As Boolean
#End If
Const SND_SYNC = &H0
Const SND_ASYNC = &H1
Const SND_FILENAME = &H20000
Function SoundMe(StrSNDPath As String) As String
'Updateby Extendoffice 20161223
Call PlaySound(StrSNDPath, 0, SND_ASYNC Or SND_FILENAME)
SoundMe = ""
End Function
Sub Play()
Call SoundMe("C:\Users\Fahad\Desktop\scroll.wav") ' works
Call SoundMe("C:\Users\Fahad\Desktop\scroll.m4a") ' Not work
End Sub
2017-09-04 15:04:32
bhaskar Reddy
Hi
thanks for your valuable information.
I am able to apply the code but when I close and open the same file the sound is not coming as before.
can you please tell what I have to do.
2016-12-03 10:22:53
Kevin
Hi,
I'm trying to create a AED trainer (Automatic External Defibrillator trainer) using a userform in Excel
I'm really struggling with getting a custom sound to play from a userform command button.
i.e. Press power (hear a powering up sound, PowerUp.wav)
I have a 64bit Window and office environment.
Thanks for any help you can give
2016-11-13 00:59:04
Guns
HLi, you only to copy paste these lines :
Function SoundMe() As String
Call PlaySound("c:windowsmediatada.wav", _
0, SND_ASYNC Or SND_FILENAME)
SoundMe = ""
End Function
Change the name : SoundMe to SoundMe1, SoundMe2, etc as you like. And for each function, you call playsound from different file.
2015-03-03 05:56:30
HLi
I want play three different sounds(for example: A1<50 or A1=50 or A1 >50). How i can do this?
2014-07-23 08:28:01
Aru
Well this is helpful
I want the code which makes it work for a complete column.It should check constraints of the values of each cell in the column and respond the sounds accordingly
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 © 2021 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments