Creating a Macro in Excel 2003.?

Question

I am Working out of a text book called Microsoft Office 2003 Where I am trying to create my first Macro. The book tells to open up a blank work book. Then to start my creating my Macro. First I am to pull down the Tools menu, point to Macro Command, Click on Record New Macro. The Record Macro Dialog Box appears where I am to name the Macro. Then type a lower case "n" in the short cut key box and choose " This Work Book" in the store macro in drop down. Then Click O.K. to record the Macro. From there a Stop Recording Toolbar should appear, But does not. The text also instructs me to pull down tools menu, Click Macro-- Click Stop Recording command if the Stop Recording Toolbar doesn't appear. I have tried this method with no success. Could anyone shed some light on this subject?

Answer 1

try google groups and enter your question there, you'll get tons of advice

Answer 2

Are you sure you are doing things right?

Let's try something first. Go to:

Tools > Macro > Security

Then go to the Security Level tab and select Low or Medium, then click OK. That may or may not help I'm not sure.

Now do as your book instructs to a certain regard and select:

Tools > Macro > Record New Macro

The Record Macro dialog box should come up. The textbox for the Macro Name should already have a name in it. It will probably be something like Macro1, Macro2, Macro3...etc. If you have a Macro3, it means you've already recorded ones named Macro1 and Macro2. Leave the Shortcut Key blank. You only use that to creat a shortcut to run the macro. I'm not one to like using shortcuts for macros. If you aren't careful you can mess up other shortcuts such as the shortcut for saving a file if you enter in s or copying a file if you enter in c.

Under "Store Macro In" you have three choices:
1.) This Workbook - stores it in the workbook you are working in
2.) New Workbook - creates a new workbook and stores the macro in it
3.)Personal Macro Workbook - stores the macro in a hidden workbook called "Personal" so that the macro can be used anytime Excel is opened. The reason why the macro can be used anytime Excel is opened is because the hidden workbook named Personal is opened everytime you start Excel once you create a macro and save it to that workbook.

Choose "This Workbook", then click OK. A little menu bar should pop up that has a blue square on it that looks like a stop button on a VCR. You should only see about the first three letters of the word "Stop" in its menu bar. If you place your cursor over the blue square a little yellow help message should pop up that says "Stop Recording". That is the button that should stop your macro. Or you can do as your book says and go to:

Tools > Macro > Stop Recording

It's hard to say what is happening without watching you do it. My guess is that you may have seen the toolbar without recognizing what it was. You might also have trouble if you try recording a macro with a shortcut letter that you have used before.

Go to:

Tools > Macro > Macros...

The Macro dialog box should come up. See if there is a list of any macros in that dialog box. If you see a list you've probably created some macros and didn't even realize it.

If you click one, then select Edit you can look at the code that the Macro Recorder recorded.

Good luck on your endeavors. If you are really wanting to learn about creating macros in Excel and get into programming them, then I'd recommend getting the book:

Excel 2003 Power Programming with VBA
by John Walkenbach

It is a very good book.