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: Finding Workbooks Containing Macros.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 18, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Richard's company, like many others, uses Excel quite a bit. In fact, they have thousands and thousands of Excel workbooks that they have collected over the years. Richard needs a way to find out which of those workbooks have VBA macros in them, without the need to open and inspect each workbook individually. He wonders if there is an easy way to do this.
The easiest way to do this is to use the search capabilities of Windows (outside of Excel) and search for any file that contains the text "End Sub" or "End Function". That will quickly identify any potential candidate workbooks, as any VBA procedure must use one of these two statements at its end. There are also some third-party search utilities that can easily look inside Excel files to determine if the "End Sub" or "End Function" text is there.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (12465) 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: Finding Workbooks Containing Macros.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
When programming macros, variables are used extensively. At some point you might want to exchange the values held by two ...
Discover MoreMacros are often used to process information in a worksheet. You may need your macro to change the values stored in ...
Discover MoreWhen creating a macro, one of the ways you can communicate with users is through the use of a message box. This tip ...
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 © 2026 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