Select Expressions to Find their Values [Macro Debugging Tip]

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Here is a quick macro tip that I stumbled on to while debugging some code yesterday (ya, ya, call me workaholic for coding on a weekend…)

You can select expressions in your code and place mouse pointer on that for a second to find what value it evaluates to (of course, this works only on break-point).

I think the above line has too much jargon, so watch this short animation to understand:

Debug Expressions in VBA - Excel Macro Tip

PS: You can add break points to your code by clicking on the left margin next to the line of code where you want a break point, like this:

Adding Breakpoint - VBA

When you add a break point to your code, excel will stop running the code at that point and brings you back to VB Editor so that you can find out if everything is going alright.

Share your favorite macro debugging techniques:

I use a variety of techniques when debugging macros. Most of the time I use break points, watches. Sometimes I use the msgbox to display the values I want to see while the code is running or print them to immediate window. What about you?

I am thinking of compiling all the debugging techniques people use in one post. So please share your tricks thru comments.

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11 Responses to “Fix Incorrect Percentages with this Paste-Special Trick”

  1. Martin says:

    I've just taught yesterday to a colleague of mine how to convert amounts in local currency into another by pasting special the ROE.

    great thing to know !!!

  2. Tony Rose says:

    Chandoo - this is such a great trick and helps save time. If you don't use this shortcut, you have to take can create a formula where =(ref cell /100), copy that all the way down, covert it to a percentage and then copy/paste values to the original column. This does it all much faster. Nice job!

  3. Jody Gates says:

    I was just asking peers yesterday if anyone know if an easy way to do this, I've been editing each cell and adding a % manually vs setting the cell to Percentage for months and just finally reached my wits end. What perfect timing! Thanks, great tip!

  4. Jon S says:

    If it's just appearance you care about, another alternative is to use this custom number format:
    0"%"

    By adding the percent sign in quotes, it gets treated as text and won't do what you warned about here: "You can not just format the cells to % format either, excel shows 23 as 2300% then."

    • Steven Peters says:

      Dear Jon S. You are the reason I love the internet. 3 year old comments making my life easier.

      Thank you.

  5. Jon Peltier says:

    Here is a quicker protocol.

    Enter 10000% into the extra cell, copy this cell, select the range you need to convert to percentages, and use paste special > divide. Since the Paste > All option is selected, it not only divides by 10000% (i.e. 100), it also applies the % format to the cells being pasted on.

  6. Chandoo says:

    @Martin: That is another very good use of Divide / Multiply operations.

    @Tony, @Jody: Thank you 🙂

    @Jon S: Good one...

    @Jon... now why didnt I think of that.. Excellent

  7. sajith says:

    Thank You so much. it is really helped me.

  8. Winnie says:

    Big help...Thanks

  9. Chris Fry says:

    Thanks. That really saved me a lot of time!

  10. Texas says:

    Is Show Formulas is turned on in the Formula Ribbon, it will stay in decimal form until that is turned off. Drove me batty for an hour until I just figured it out.

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