It is the 3rd day of Your week @ PHD and we have already posted some excellent array formulas, productivity hacks and other very useful tips. Just one more day is remaining, so if you want to share something with all of us, go ahead and submit your tips for your week.
Must read: part 1 of excel tips shared by readers | part 2
Display file path in Excel using Web Toolbar by Ang Kean
Excel by default not display the open workbook full path name.
Tips : add the web toolbar item
1. Right click at the toolbar area, choose “Customize…”
2. Browse “Categories:” to “Web” and “Commands:” to “Address”
3. Drag the “Address” Commands to toolbar area by holding left mouse key.
Making VLOOKUP ranges dynamic by Thuy
I use VLOOKUP a lot in my work and while it was great to use, I wanted a bit more ability to check my formula without having to click on every cell to do so.
Now, I use both the INDIRECT, MATCH, and named ranges in my VLOOKUP to help check the accuracy of my references quickly.
In this example, to get my scores for each region for q3_12, my old VLOOKUP formula would be a simple:
=VLOOKUP(W$29,’Data’!$A$1:$AZ$200,6,FALSE)
To
=VLOOKUP(W$26,INDIRECT(“‘”&$Q29&”‘!a1:az200”),MATCH($R29,INDIRECT($S29),0),FALSE
I actually put the data range in a column Q29 on my spreadsheet and indicate the named Range of in the column. In this case, my reference named range is “Data”.
For the column count, before using match, I would count manually but whenever there was a data change (as in, columns would get moved around), I would need to change the column manually. It would get very confusing considering I use over 500 lookup formulas in my workbooks and not very accurate.
I use the MATCH function to help me locate the column that I needed the LOOKUP to look under. First, I would name the row of my data reference sheet to something like DataCol: =Data!$1:$1.
Then in my vlookup formula worksheet, I would put in column R29, put the heading of the column I was looking for in Column Q29, in this case it would be “q3_12”. In column S, I would indicate the named range of where to look for the match. In this case it is “DataCol.”
R1C1 still makes sense by Vishy
What is R1C1 reference style
Instead of using letters for columns and numbers for rows (i.e. A1 reference style), R1C1 style enables using numbers for both rows and columns.
Why should you know this
- You are working on a machine with such setting, so instead of getting flummoxed, you better understand it (or at least learn to revert to A1 style referencing)
- Easy to construct “Indirect” addresses, “offset” references etc. (used in conjunction with Row, Column, Address, Rows, Columns functions)
- Easy to write macro loops (since dealing with numbers instead of single/double letters)
- The two styles are equivalent in power, but R1C1 style has an advantage when it comes to formula editing (eg. find/replace functionality)
How to setup
- XL 2003 : Tools > Options > General > Settings > R1C1 reference style
- XL 2007 : Office > Excel Options > Formulas > Working with formulas > R1C1 reference style
How to use
- RxCy : absolute reference to xth row and yth column (any of x / y could be missing which then means “current”)
- R2C10 refers to 2nd row 5th column (equivalent to E2 in A1 style)
- RC5 refers to current row 5th column
- R[x]C[y] : relative reference w.r.t. current cell to xth row down (up if x is -ve) and yth column right (left if y is -ve)
- R[2]C[-10] refers to 2nd row down and 10th column left of current row
- RxC[y] : mixing of absolute/relative reference
Where should one not use this
While working on the sheet, relative reference may be far apart from current cell. If there is large number of such references, avoid R1C1 style.
Interesting Trivia (added by PHD)
my twitter handle is r1c1, so are my reddit, digg and older blog’s handle
More resources to help you understand these tips better:
Vlookup excel formula in plain English
Thank you so much Ang Kean, Thuy and Vishy. You are *really* outstanding individuals.
PS: We have only one more day people, so go ahead and share your tips. Go!
14 Responses to “How to Add your Macros to QAT or Excel toolbars?”
We have only just got excel 2007 so this is helping me navigate my way through the differences cheers.
For Macro's i always add a Command Button, rename it something obvious, change the colour of it and finally add the following to its View Code section.
Application.Run "MAcro1"
This way anyone opening the file knows what to do if i ever win the lottery and dont make it in 🙂
Hi,
Good article. But I have this problem.
1) Customized QAT with a macro. Macro name = MacroX
2) Runs OK from original location (e.g. C:\TestLoaction1\TestFile.xls)
3) Copy past file to new location (e.g. C:\TestLoaction2\TestFile.xls)
Menu button now fails:
Cannot run the macro "C:\TestLoaction1\TestFile.xls'!MacroX' The macro may not be available in this workbook...
Of course the code is there, and macros are enabled.
Could get it to work after deleting and recreating macro custom buttons. So have to re-assign macro to QAT button every time I move the file?
If I put a form button on he worksheet and assign the macro to that, it's location independent.
Any ideas?
Thanks
@Ron
What you have said is correct
Macros within a worksheet are stored within the worksheet and hence follow it.
Macros referenced by a button in the QAT or elsewhere are locaed in a file and if that file is moved the linkages don't follow.
The easiest way around this is to store all your macros in a location that doesn't move and is in fact reloaded everytime that Excel starts and that is called the Personal.xlsx/b file.
These are refered to several time at Chandoo.org or have a read of
http://www.rondebruin.nl/personal.htm
or
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/deploy-your-excel-macros-from-a-central-file-HA001087296.aspx
In Excel 2003 and prior versions, a button added to the Toolbar maintained a DYNAMIC link to the file (e.g. Personal.xlsb) holding the assigned macro, such that if the file was relocated for any reason (by using Excel's native Save As command rather than just moving it via Windows Explorer), the link between the button and the file was updated.
I expected the same to occur with Excel 2007+, but alas, Microsoft in their infinite wisdom have removed another feature useful to advanced users (just as they did by removing the ability to design your own buttons)!!
So having just done some reorganisation of my files, I now have to remove and recreate every friggin macro button on my QAT (I have lots) - what a pain in the proverbial!!
Hi Hui,
Thanks for the help, that's really useful.
1) The macros I'm adding are for one specific Excel application, so I really wanted the macros to follow the file
2) I didn't want to have to pass other files around too and have users installing those - either Personal.xlsx/b or as an Add-In.
3) I realise now that the QAT additions will appear for other Excel workbooks in which I don't want the macros available.
So, it looks like I need to keep it local, by using a button on the worksheet. Unless you can suggest any way of adding to menus just for a specific workbook.
Thanks again for your help. Great site, so I'll be signing up for the emails.
Ron
I know I'm a little late jumping on this post, but wondering if anyone knows how to add a UDF to the QAT? I've saved my UDF in my personal workbook, but it does not show up in my list when I choose Macros when customizing my QAT. Suggestions? Thanks!!
@Cheryl: UDFs cannot be accessed like Macros. You can use them from other macros or from worksheet cells as formulas...
@David: If you save your macros file and then install it as an add-in then it will be always available for you.
The instructions work great when you are creating a new file, and it is still open. I find that I can't access macros after I've saved a file as an xlam and closed it. When I reopen the xlam, either by browsing to it, or by having it set to open as an addin using Excel Options, the macros are no longer available in the macros list when I go to edit the QAT. Any way around that?
[...] Add this macro as a button to Quick Access Toolbar [...]
I need to create a button that will run a macro. Once you click the button it needs to open up a browser asking you to select a report/file. Once you select the file, it will run the macro on the selected file and then save it as a new report with a name and the current date. I created the macro to sort/modify the report but I do not know how to do what I mentioned above. I hope this makes sense.
I'm having trouble adding a macro to the QAT. I've done everything up to step 5 but my macro isn't showing up. What am I doing wrong?
[...] Add Macros to Quick Access Toolbar (works in Excel 2003 & above) [...]
Hi,
Thank you for the explanation. Very useful for a recent switcher from office 2003 to office 2010.
My follow-up question is: in Excel (or ppt) 2010, can you customize the macro button that you put in the QAT?
In office 2003, once you chose the custom button for your Macro, you could then edit pixel by pixel the said button.
For instance, I've created 2 Macros in PPT that are converting all my slides to either English or French language, so I'd like one button to show EN and the other FR... that would be more meaningful that any of the possible "custom" office 2010 buttons
I read all the post and one important aspect to the QAT was never mentioned. That is, you have a macro driven worksheet that you want to share with other. You have customized the QAT with two icons to run the macros (VBA programs in reality). However, when the others receive the workbook, the icons are no where to be found. It's my understanding those "customized buttons" have been saved to an outside file, Excel.qat. QUESTION: Could one simply attach that file to your email, along with the worksheet, and tell the recipients to copy that file to correct location on their computer - C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office|\
Would the customize macro buttons then appear in the worksheet and, more importantly, work? Thanks for your thoughtfulness and thanks for well written instructions Chandoo!
MortW