How to create and record a macro in Microsoft Excel? Step-by-step guide

When working in this type of with It is very common for them to be carried out repetitive tasks, that is, that they must constantly entering the same commands to perform some features. Therefore, make use of macro Is fundamental for save time when working on them.

This tool known as macro It is nothing more than a series of instructions that They are responsible for recording and saving a sequence of commands so that they can be automatically executed by the user at certain times. In this way, this type of element becomes very helpful because it allows save time when working on these programs.

In the case of Microsoft software It has the capacity to Create and record simple macros at any timeThat's why we're going to explain a little more about what this is all about. function, its main benefits and how you can easily start recording themTo do this, carefully follow everything we will teach you below.

What is a macro and what are they used for in Microsoft Excel?

It is not a secret to anyone that Microsoft Excel is one of the programs database most used around the worldThis is because it offers a great variety of functions which allow tasks to be carried out very easily and professionally. This is how all users have the opportunity to create and record macros to make your work on it even easier.

This is how it is Excel function uses the Visual Basic For Applications (VBA) scripting language, which is also used by the other programs of the office suite as they are Word, Access, and PowerPointThis language allows for create macro so they can to be executed automatically at any time.

All of this has allowed users to record commands that are used frequently or even add new functions to the spreadsheetThus, it can be said that the main function of this tool is to allow automate repetitive tasksthus preventing users from having to repeat instructions or steps over and over again.

when working on Excel It is very common that at some times it is necessary to perform tasks over and over againTherefore, this function becomes very useful. But this is not the only function that They comply with the macrosThey also allow you to create your own functions, and create complete programmed applications, formsinteract with other programs, among many other activities.

Finally, it should be mentioned that this tool It allows you to automatically record all the instructions you deem necessary with ease.so you won't have to be an expert programmer to accomplish thisTo be able to use this functionality Excel undoubtedly It will make your work easier and save you the time you spend on it..

What are the benefits of using macros in Excel spreadsheets?

When using a tool of this type in a a spreadsheet program like Excel, This is because it offers a a large number of advantages for users.

This means that If you want to get the most out of this type of software You're going to have to start use macroswhich are going to become the right-hand person for each of your tasks in the program.

Accordingly, here are the main benefits that all this offers you:

It allows you to reduce the error rate.

One of the most important benefits What this offers you is that it helps you to eliminate the error rate in the programKeep in mind that every time you You manually enter a command into the spreadsheet increases the possibility that you can to make a mistake when writing it, Especially if it involves complex sequences.

This means that if you type the same command 10 times or more it is very possible that in Some of them might lead you to make a mistake. It is because of that Recording macros will help you eliminate all this risk., in as much as The only possible error that can occur here is that the person makes a mistake when creating it.

This means that if you create it correctly All It will work extremely well. which will eliminate any risk of mistake.

It allows you to reduce working time

It's no secret to anyone that you're going to save work time if you can add certain tasks automatically instead of having to insert them manually.

Note that Macros are created only once and can be used whenever you need them. All this will allow you save time on each of your Excel tasks.

It helps you increase the usefulness of Excel

One the main advantages of this program is it allows you program macros and develop new functions. This allows users to have the possibility of expanding the functions within the program.

In this way users can work more comfortably in Excel, either assigning quick access buttons to your own macros to the symbol bar.

Steps to create and record a macro to automate tasks in Excel

Taking all into account the benefits this offersNext, I will explain to you How can you start creating and recording a macro to automate each of your tasks in the program? Keep in mind that to create it you must activate the Visual Basic editor, which It is part of the developer tools and is not enabled by default.

Therefore, to carry out this procedure, you need to perform each of the steps that we will teach you below:

Add the Developer tab to the ribbon

• To do this, you must go to the tab of "Archive" and in the options menu that appears on your screen, select "Options".
• Now select “Customize the ribbon” which contains a list of all the main tabs, there you can see Developer (Developer or programmer).
• Here you must check the box and click on "To accept".

• Next, we'll look at the ribbon in the tab of "Programmer", The option should appear there. Macro and Visual Basic.

Create a workbook for your new macros

Once this is done, the next step will be create a book that serves as a basis for the recorded macros.

To do this, you must follow these steps:

• Here you must do click en macros located in the tab of "Programmer", A pop-up window will appear where you must Enter the name of the macro you want to create. Keep in mind that you can put it here the name you want.
• Once defined the nameYou must click on "To create".

• Next, the window will open for you Visual Basic.

• "Sub" In this case, it is equivalent to subroutine, therefore it refers to a macroWhen a macro the code that appears between is executed Sub and End Sub. To run a test of this, you can perform a test typing the macro name , the “World Command!”

• The code is saved in .xslm format and the window closes to return to the excel spreadsheet.
• Now you must click again on “Macros” and there select the macro you created.
• To run it, you must click on the button "Run".

• You will see a small information box with the text that appears in the image and click on "To accept" to close the window.

• Finally if will save the book in Visual Basic.

Create a quick access button for macros

Once you have completed the previous steps, the next step will be create the quick access button. Note that The macros are accessible for execution. either from the tab of "Programming" as from View.

However, if you have I've created a macro that you should use very often. then the best thing is that Create a shortcut in the quick access symbols list.

To do this, you must follow each of these steps:

• Login to the tab "File".
• There you must select again the item of "Options".
• The next step is to click on the list of quick access symbols.
• Now you must select command from the option of "Macro" and there he looks the name of the macros that you created previously.
• You need to add it here. the list of quick access symbols selecting it and clicking on "Add".
• Before selecting "To accept" To confirm this entire procedure, you can also determine the symbol that will be displayed. To do this, select the macro name that you created and click on "Change", Select the one you like best here.
• Once you have finished all of this, click on "To accept" so that save the changes.

Record the macro

Now Visual Basic editor which is included in Microsoft applications, it allows you create macros without much experience in itThis way we will Create a macro that automatically renames a sheet.

To do this, you must follow each of the steps that we will teach you below:

• For this you must ingresar to the tab "Programming" and there select the option of “Record macro”.

• In the dialog box that appears on your screen, you must enter the following name “Rename worksheets” e start recording clicking on "To accept".

• Now change the name of sheet1 by “New name” and ends the macro recording by clicking on “Stop recording.”

• The next step will be to return to “Visual Basic Editor”, To do this, follow this route: “Macros”>”Edit”>”Edit”. Here's what you'll see:

When you have joined again to “Visual Basic Editor”  You're going to see the first four lines of code below the line that begins with Sub, which begins with an apostrophe, this constitutes comments that have no influence on the overall functionality of the macroThis means they are only useful for having one improved code compression.

All these comments allow temporarily disable some of the lines of code. Please note that you are lines are not necessary so they can remove without causing any problems.

The lines below contain the Select method to select “page 1” a step that is performed during the manual execution of the name changeBut in this case Visual Basic scripts They don't need to solve objects in order to edit them, so these lines of code are dispensableIn this way, in order to After completing your edit, the final code should look like this.

Finally, you must Back to ExcelHere you must change the name of the worksheet to sheet 1 so that the macro can be run in test mode “Rename worksheets” that was created previously.

Thus the name should switch automaticallyKeep in mind that in order to Adjust the macro again; the macro must be adjusted to the new name..