Introduction to Excel Macros: Part 2

In this presentation, author and Excel expert David H. Ringstrom, CPA, will guide you through the essential features of Microsoft Excel, focusing on the powerful capabilities of Excel macros. Attendees will learn how to turn on the Developer Tab in Excel's Ribbon, open Project Explorer, and utilize the Properties Windows. The session will cover how macros can streamline repetitive tasks, including recording and saving a Goal Seek macro, as well as editing recorded macros and deconstructing them for better understanding. David will also demonstrate how to create a macro button, enhance user interaction with InputBox, and address common debugging techniques for handling errors and invalid inputs. Join us to discover practical tips and tricks that will empower you to automate your Excel tasks effectively—plus, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and get support as you begin your macro journey!

David H. Ringstrom, CPA, has more than 30 years of experience as a spreadsheet and accounting software consultant and speaker. He has presented over 2,500 live webinars and is the author or co-author of ten books, including “Microsoft 365 Excel All-in-One for Dummies”, “Microsoft 365 Excel for Dummies”, “Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures”, and “QuickBooks Online for Dummies”.

In his webinars, David demonstrates every technique twice: first on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps and then live in Excel for Microsoft 365 for Windows. He highlights any differences in Excel 2024, 2021, or 2019 during the presentation and in his detailed handouts. Attendees also receive an Excel workbook containing most of the examples he uses, making it easy to follow along and apply the techniques later. David additionally supports Excel for Mac users by answering their follow-up questions via email.

Who Should Attend
Professionals seeking to enhance their Excel skills through automation, streamline repetitive tasks, and effectively utilize macros for improved productivity.

Topics Covered

• Turning on the Developer tab to access tools for macros, controls, and advanced Excel features
• Streamlining Goal Seek with macro buttons and InputBoxes
• Adding code to exit cleanly when a user clicks Cancel
• Identifying problem code, inspecting variables, and stopping execution
• Debugging code issues and resuming execution after fixes
• Prompting users for values and passing them into calculations
• Identifying problem code, inspecting variables, and stopping execution
• Using the Debug menu to run one line at a time and inspect results
• Using Excel's Macro Recorder to capture Goal Seek steps
• Most features and functions work in Excel for Mac as well but expect differences
• Using error handling to notify users and exit gracefully

Learning Objectives

• Identify the menu tab that can be enabled to access additional tools related to macros
• Compare the difference between objects and methods in an Excel macro
• Identify the Visual Basic for Applications method that provides the easiest way to ask a fill in the blank question of the user

Level
Intermediate

Instructional Method
Group: Internet-based

NASBA Field of Study
Information Technology (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites
Computer Software & Applications (2 hours)

Advance Preparation
None