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.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 9, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
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.
Save Time and Supercharge Excel! Automate virtually any routine task and save yourself hours, days, maybe even weeks. Then, learn how to make Excel do things you thought were simply impossible! Mastering advanced Excel macros has never been easier. Check out Excel 2010 VBA and Macros today!
Conditional formatting can be a great way to highlight specific information in your worksheets. This tip explains the ...
Discover MoreConditional formatting is a great tool. You may need to use this tool to tell the difference between cells that are empty ...
Discover MoreConditional formatting can be used to draw attention to all sorts of data based upon the criteria you specify. Here's how ...
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.
Comments