In a recent post, I showed how to copy someone else’s VBA procedure (i.e., “macro”) and paste it into your own workbook. Fortunately you don’t have to rely on others for custom macros. Excel includes a Macro Recorder which captures your actions, so that you can replay them later, saving yourself time and keystrokes.

It’s easy to record and rerun macros. You can start the Macro Recorder in a number of ways.

The Macro Recorder will now record all of your steps until you turn it off, using one of several methods.

• Tools menu > Macro > Stop Recording
• Stop Recording button on the Visual Basic toolbar
• Stop Recording button on the Stop Recording toolbar

To see your handiwork, go to the VB Editor (VBE). There are three ways to get there:

• Tools menu > Macro > Visual Basic Editor
• Visual Basic Editor button on the Visual Basic toolbar
• Shortcut key combo Alt+F11

If your workbook had no macros to begin with, the Macro Recorder creates a new code module, which you can see in th Project Explorer Window. If the Project Explorer isn’t visible, go to View menu > Project Explorer.

To view the macro you’ve recorded, double click on the new code module.

The macro can be run in a number of ways:

• Tools menu > Macro > Macros, select the Macro, and click Run
• Shortcut Key combo Alt+F8, select the Macro, and click Run
• Run Macro button on the Visual Basic toolbar, select the Macro, and click Run
• Click in the macro with the mouse and press F5

This is the first exposure most people have to VBA programming. In a series of upcoming posts, I’ll cover the following VB topics:

• Fixing a recorded macro
• Assigning a macro to a button or shape, ActiveX button, or menu or toolbar
• VBE settings
• VBE features
• Debugging and error proofing