Microsoft Excel VBA feature is a powerful interface tool that enables a user to automate tasks in a workbook. It is a programming language that helps excel users write their codes and even review the recorded macros they saved. In short, for a user to be a master of Excel's VBA, they have to get used to its coding processes.
How do I open VBA? Any new beginner in Excel's VBA Editor may find it daunting. But this should not be the case as the feature is user-friendly, and anyone can get the hang of it. This article focuses on addressing such doubts concerning VBA. Please read the article below to learn step-by-step how to open the Visual Basic Editor (VBA) in Excel.
Enabling the Developer tab in Excel
To use VBA, a user has first to enable the Developers tab in their Excel workbook. The tab has several groups and features to enhance how a user creates their worksheets. It allows one to open the VBA editor and create Form and ActiveX controls like checkboxes, buttons, and macros. Sometimes, the tab may already be available in the main menu ribbon of a worksheet. If not, here are the steps to follow to enable it;
1. In your open workbook, click on the File menu tab.
2. Click on the Excel Options button to display a dialog box.
3. On the given options on the left of the open dialog box, click on the 'Customize Ribbon option.
4. Here, you will find two partitions, right and left.
5. Under Choose Command from on the left side of the dialog box, click on the drop-down arrow and select Popular Commands.
6. Under Customize the Ribbon on the right side of the dialog box, select Main Tabs from the drop-down list.
7. in the right panel, check the Developers checkbox if it is not already selected.
8. Click Ok to enable the tab and return to your open workbook. The main ribbon will have an additional visible tab marked as 'Developer.'
Steps to follow to open VBA
After enabling the Developer tab, it is easy to open the VBA feature in Excel.
1. To open the feature, click on the Developers tab and select Visual Basic to display the' Microsoft Visual Basic' window.
Here is the Microsoft visual basic window
2. In cases where you want to use keyboard shortcuts to open the VBA window, press on Alt + F11 keys.
Both options above will open the Visual Basic Editor window in your Excel workbook. From here, you can create and even edit your macros, buttons, and codes.
Conclusion
Opening a VBA editor in Excel should no longer be a daunting task with the steps mentioned above. Using those steps will enable you to access the VBA editor and create your macros to allow you to complete tasks on time.
Note that;
Despite VBA being a powerful tool, it can also be harmful when used the wrong way. Any macro created should be saved in the appropriate files due to security risks. Some malicious writers may create dangerous macro codes as viruses to target an individual or a company's data. Any macro-enabled document should be saved as an 'Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook. Make sure to have permissions from your organization or a different person's computer to run macros on their machines.