Maybe a noobish question, but here it goes:
My goal is to install an Excel Add-in.
I have all the code in a Module, organized in several Sub()s. I saved the Add-in in the Excel Add-ins folder. When trying to add the Add-in as a button/custom menu
(File/Options/Customize Ribbon/Macros), I see all Sub()s listed.
Is there a way to hide some of the Sub()s from being listed ? I only need the main one; displaying all of them becomes confusing when using multiple add-ins, especially since most of the Sub()cannot run be run by themselves. Are there any good practices for organizing the code in order to prevent this ?
If you write Option Private Module on top and you make the subroutines private, they would not be visible.
See more here for Option Private Module.
Related
I've got a dozen macros that have 90% similar code. I've created 4 sets of VBA in an add-in file so that I don't have to revise a dozen different places any time a change needs to be made. The plan is to end up with:
specific code
universal code A
specific code
universal code B
The users are not particularly tech-savvy so I want to make the distribution as painless and idiot-proof as possible.
Also, the add-ins don't have to be visible--no one is going to run them on their own, they're just going to be embedded and called upon from other macros.
I've looked around online and the closest thing I've found is this How to combine multiple VBA macros into one add-in file for Excel
It still looks like this is geared more towards having multiple buttons, which I really don't need (or want...I don't actually want ANY buttons)
Not really sure what kind of code I could show to help with this problem, since I don't know if this is even possible to do.
Once you save the XLAM file you just have to click on Excel Add-ins under the Developer tab, browse to the folder where it is stored, and open. It will then appear as an add-in package that you can click on.
I have multiple files with the same VBA code in them, which will most likely have to be changed over time. I don't want to go one by one and c/p the code, so one obvious idea that came to mind is to have one centralized document with the code (template?) that all files refer to.
I found a few topics here at stackoverflow, but none of them work for me or are inconclusive:
Run external vba-code in MS Word
Centralized VBA code (one file) for multiple workbooks
Calling an External VBA from VBScript
Any ideas?
Yes, your idea of centralizing the code in a template and attaching that template to the various Word docs will work. These pics are using Word 2007 but I think it's pretty similar for newer versions. First create a new document and put the code in a Module (named "CommonFunctions" in the picture):
Save the doc as a macro-enabled template:
Now make a new document, save it as a *.docm (necessary for it to run code because a *.docx is macro-free), and attach the document template as shown below. (An alternative is to put the *.dotm file in the startup directory C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP, which loads it automatically.) If you don't put it in the Startup, you'll see the name but it won't be loaded (ie, checked), but you can load it in code, as I'll show.
Make a user form in this document:
Put this code for the button's click event:
If AddIns("c:\_b\MasterDocWithFunctions.dotm").Installed = False Then
AddIns("c:\_b\MasterDocWithFunctions.dotm").Installed = True
End If
Application.Run "CommonFunctions.Test1"
Application.Run "CommonFunctions.Test2"
Notice how the code can load the AddIn for you, because it won't be automatically loaded unless you put it in the Startup directory. This pic shows how the AddIn is referenced but not loaded. You need the checkbox to be able to call code in it. If you don't load it using code and don't put it in the Startup, then the user will have to manually put a checkmark everytime the document opens.
Now the form should work when you click the button. Notice how it can call both public and private functions. The Private keyword definitely shields one module from another, but it seems like modules that are called from an AddIn are considered to be part of the same module, not sure why? Also if you don't put Public or Private at all then VBA considers it Public, I'm pretty sure.
Just curiosity.
The only way I know so far is to create an add-in with code, put it in some trusted directory and hope it opens when you need it. The drawback is that it sometimes does not open together with application (e.g. I have a custom UDF in the add-in, I use it in the worksheet and an error is what I get, because the addin hasn't started). For this I have a button on my ribbon which calls a sub in the addin which does nothing, but then the addin is activated the UDF works.
Is there any other efficient way to reference code in another workbooks, like in Word we have normal.dotm template?
Indeed, Excel DOES have a common code file, similar in concept to Word's normal.dotm. It is called Personal.xlsb. I use it myself for common functions that I need for several linked yet independent spreadsheets.
Using Personal.xlsb has some disadvantages too, so you'll have to decide if that works better than the Add-in approach. Note that Personal.xlsb works best when its just one person needing common functions across spreadsheets; its not well suited for multi-user access to the spreadsheets in an enterprise environment.
Some useful links are below to get started. Also just google search "excel Personal.xlsb" and you will find a lot more information:
http://www.rondebruin.nl/win/personal.htm
http://chandoo.org/wp/2013/11/18/using-personal-macro-workbook/
To create an equalevant to normal.dot in Excel do this (at least ver. 2016):
Record a macro from the Developer tab (you likely have to enable this tab first)
This will create the file %appdata%\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART\PERSONAL.XLSB which is Excel's equalevant to normal.dot
Now unhide the hidden workbook called "PERSONAL.XLSB"
Press Alt+F8 or Alt+F11 to edit the VBA code
Extra: VBA example for SaveAs:
Application.Dialogs(xlDialogSaveAs).Show
I want to programatically run a 3rd party Add-in with VBA alone. Im using Excel 2010
Ideally, I'd like to be able to call the functions individually however I don't have any access to the code of the Add-in (it doesn't even appear as a password protected VBA Project it did in Excel 2003).
Hours of Googling has told me this was possible in earlier versions of Excel, either through Application.CommandBars("Add-Ins").Controls("Custom Button").Execute or CommandBars.ExecuteMso("Custom Button") - AFAIK, the latter now only works with in-built functions.
This custom button also appears in the 'Right-Click' menu so could possibly be run with some sort of SendKeys implementation. This is however, clearly far from ideal.
I'm pulling my hair out over this - any help would be greatly appreciated.
Depending on how it has been added to the menu, this may work:
Application.Commandbars("Cell").Controls(Application.Commandbars("Cell").Controls.Count).Execute
which simply executes the last control. Also this should work by the control caption:
Application.Commandbars("Cell").Controls("the button caption").Execute
Can VBA code be written to perform actions on any Excel file?
When I create a project in Visual Studio, it asks for an Excel file to be linked to it. All the code that I write is in ThisWorkbook.vb and hence acts only on the Excel file linked to the project.
Ideally, I want a script that:
When the user double-clicks, he/she should be allowed to select an Excel file of choice for the actions to be performed on that file.
If the above is not possible, I'd at least like to invoke the VBA script from within an Excel file.
Basically, the VBA code should be independent of any Excel file.
I looked at VBScript, but the syntax for it seems to differ slightly.
You've mentioned Visual Studio, VBA, and VBScript. The solution I'm outlining works directly with VBA rather than Visual Studio or VBScript. (However, you might adapt Visual Studio (C# or VB) along the lines of what I'm outlining below.) Hope it's helpful, so here goes:
Here's what I do, and, it ultimately results in an .xlam Excel AddIn as #chris above has commented.
Overview
I start with ordinary .xslx workbook, to which I add a VBA project, making it an .xlsm. Then create some VBA Subs (macros). Then create some Excel QAT (Quick Access Toolbar) buttons for the workbook, which are bound to (i.e. they invoke) the VBA subs/macros. Then convert the workbook (with VBA in it) to an .xlam, which is an Excel AddIn. When you're all done, the buttons are accessible from any workbook (and the VBA code has access to any user workbooks as well as those originally in your .xlsm). Further, the workbook associated with the .xlam is invisible. So it just looks like you've added some buttons to the QAT that appear on all users .xlsx windows. The .xlam is pretty easy for users to install (though I provide a buttons to uninstall/reinstall/check version). You can upgrade an .xlam independently of users' workbooks; users' workbooks can thus be data only (.xlsx, no VBA).
Details
Write some Excel Subs you want to use later
You need to be aware that the buttons can only invoke macros (VBA Subs) without parameters, so the macros will have to check things like ActiveSheet and ActiveWorkbook and Selection to figure on what sheet the button was pressed, hence what user data to really operate on. (If you need to refer to your workbook with the VBA code in it, use “ThisWorkbook”). You should be aware that there can be naming conflicts, so try to name the parameterless subs with rather long names, such as MySomewhatUniqueProjectName_button1, etc…
Add Buttons to your .xlsm
Using Excel 2010 (I think this works with 2007 or later), I put workbook-specific buttons on the QAT part of the ribbon, which connect to macros (VBA subs) in the VBA code.
To do this, you from the Quick Access Toolbar customization drop down (the tiny down arrow at the very top row of the Excel window, the last icon from left to right) choose "More Commands…". When the “Customize Quick Access Toolbar” dialog box comes up, from the (2nd) "Customize Quick Access Toolbar:" heading (top to the right), choose "For XYZ.xlsm" from the dropdown instead of the "For all documents (default)". And from under "Choose Commands From:", use "Macros" (instead of “Popular Commands”) from the dropdown. Once you have those two things selected, you can move VBA subs from the left box to the right box using “Add >>”. Each so moved will become buttons visible in your QAT. As you’re doing this you can also edit the icon and text for the buttons, add a separator as needed (I always end with a separator in case other .xlam’s use the QAT). (Now is a good time to save this .xlsm.)
Convert the .xlsm into a .xlam
Then I convert the .xlsm to an Excel add-in, by merely saving it as an .xlam file. This will end up (1) hiding the workbook associated with the code you have (though it is still accessible to itself.). Further, now, (2) the (invisible, as now it's an .xlam) workbook will load whenever Excel is loaded. (To keep this fast for when users use Excel but don’t run my VBA code, I don't run any code when the .xlam is loaded, I only run code when a button is pushed.)
You can manage the AddIn using Excel’s AddIn manager. To update the AddIn, you have to use some trickery. While you can copy over it when Excel is not running, on the other hand, you cannot directly uninstall the AddIn, you can only disable it from Excel. But once disabled, you can delete the .xlam, and relaunch Excel, go to the AddIn manager to try to work with the (now gone) AddIn and you’ll get Excel saying it can’t find it, so do you want to delete it. Say yes, and it will be uninstalled.
FYI, Notes
I keep the .xlsm to edit later, but you can actually debug and edit the .xlam and later convert it back to an .xlsm with a minor bit of trickery: find its "ThisWorkbook" entry in VBA, and then the "IsAddIn" property, set to false, its workbook will suddenly appear and you can save as .xlsm, or edit its workbook and set the property back to true to resave as .xlam directly.)
Answer 1
You can do that in VB.Net too. Just make a regular project. (comment by #SLaks)
This worked for me very well and was exactly what I was looking for.
Answer 2
The very descriptive answer posted by #ErikEidt
I haven't tried this, but it seems like a good and alternative way of getting macros to work.