How to Record an Excel Macro

A macro automates a complex task. Excel macros can perform complicated series of actions or simply record commonly used commands. These instructions apply to Excel 97.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Excel Book
• Microsoft Excel

1. Open the Tools menu and select Macro, then select Record a Macro.

2. Fill in the blanks - the macro name, description, shortcut-key combination and worksheet where the macro will be available - in the Record Macro box that appears. The macro can be available from only one worksheet or from any worksheet.

3. Click on OK.

4. Notice that the word "recording" appears in the lower left of the Excel screen while recording is in progress.

5. Perform a series of keystrokes or mouse actions. The macro will record them. You can record any normal Excel action.

6. Open the Tools menu and choose Stop Recording to complete the macro.

7. Activate the macro by pressing the shortcut keys you have selected or by selecting the macro from a list on the Tools menu. The macro will then reproduce the series of keystrokes you recorded.

Tips & Warnings

• Record macros for any long series of keystrokes you use frequently.

[yalephd]

on 7/30/2009 I found this to be helpful, but I agree that it helped that I was familiar with Excel, as the instructions are very well-detailed.

[oldogbert]

on 7/25/2009 I apologize for the comment that you can use a symbol for a shortcut name in a macro. You can only use letters. My oops.

[oldogbert]

on 7/25/2009 Vinnymac,
Shortcut keys are the 'shortcut name' that you assign to the macro when you begin recording. The second step above, where it says fill in the macro name, description and SHORTCUT NAME is what they are referring to. The shortcut name is just a keystroke combination , like CTRL A that you use to start the macro once you have finished recording. It can be any letter or number or symbol key ( * or # or ^ etc.) that you put in when you do step 2 above.

So whatever key you assign as the shortcut name is the two keys you press to start the macro once you have finished recording the macro and saved it. It's a lot easier to playback a macro using your 2 shortcut key combination than to go through the menu to playback the macro. CTRL A is a lot easier to do then using the menu to find the macro.

[vinnymac]

on 4/3/2009 I followed all these steps, up to #7. They are so unclear, with this "shortcut keys" step. I don't know what they mean, and its very misleading. I wish someone could be more detailed in programs that are so complex. Especially for someone elderly like me.

[apere13]

on 4/3/2009 can you please elaborate on these "Keystrokes"?