This is a guest post by Vijay, our in-house VBA Expert.
In this article we well learn how to use VBA and Microsoft Outlook to send emails with your reports as attachment.
Scenario
We have an excel based reporting template for the Customer Service Dashboard. We want to update this template using VBA code to create a static version and email it to a list of people. We will define the recipient list in a separate sheet.
Features
1. Code will automatically create necessary folders to save the output file.
2. Email sheet to contain the list of people who are going to receive the report.
3. Sending mail using Microsoft Outlook, primary target is corporate people who are using Outlook as their mail program.
On our VBA project we would need to add references to the below
1. Microsoft Outlook Object Library
2. Microsoft Scripting Runtime Library
Please note the Outlook library will be available depending on the version of Microsoft Outlook installed on your system, in the example workbook the reference is towards version 14 as available with Outlook 2010. If you have a different version of Outlook installed on your system, you need to point to the correct library installed.
We have assumed the data used to create the report is already available in the sheet called “rawData”.
We have then updated the “rawData” sheet with 2 new columns having the Date and Time.
Date has been calculated in the rawData sheets using the Date Function.
=DATE(YEAR(B2),MONTH(B2),DAY(B2))
The time has been calculated by converting the actual time of the call into the relevant 30 minute interval.
=INT((TIME(HOUR(B2),MINUTE(B2),SECOND(B2)))/(1/48))*(1/48)
If you need to setup your report into 15 minutes interval then replace 1/48 with 1/96.
We have then used the COUNTIFS and SUMIFS function to create the data view in the Interval Data sheet.
Understanding the VBA code to send mails
I will be discussing only the key elements of the code here.
Sheets(Array("Cover", "Interval Data", "rawData")).Copy
This list will create a new workbook containing the 3 sheets that we have included within the Array() parameter. If your report has more sheets feel free to add them.
Set objfile = New FileSystemObject
If objfile.FolderExists(xDir & xMonth) Then
If objfile.FileExists(xPath) Then
objfile.DeleteFile (xPath)
newWB.SaveAs Filename:=xPath, FileFormat:=xlOpenXMLWorkbook, Password:="", WriteResPassword:="", ReadOnlyRecommended:=False _
, CreateBackup:=False
Application.ActiveWorkbook.Close
Else
newWB.SaveAs Filename:=xPath, FileFormat:=xlOpenXMLWorkbook, Password:="", WriteResPassword:="", ReadOnlyRecommended:=False _
, CreateBackup:=False
Application.ActiveWorkbook.Close
End If
Else
xNewFolder = xDir & xMonth
MkDir xNewFolder
newWB.SaveAs Filename:=xPath, FileFormat:=xlOpenXMLWorkbook, Password:="", WriteResPassword:="", ReadOnlyRecommended:=False _
, CreateBackup:=False
Application.ActiveWorkbook.Close
End If
The above code checks if the correct folder exists for the report to be saved or not and creates one if not existing. This also takes cares of overwriting the existing report in case you need to re-run the report again during the same day.
Creating the List of recipients
currentWB.Activate
Sheets("Email").Visible = True
Sheets("Email").Select
strEmailTo = ""
strEmailCC = ""
strEmailBCC = ""
xStp = 1
Do Until xStp = 4
Cells(2, xStp).Select
Do Until ActiveCell = ""
strDistroList = ActiveCell.Value
If xStp = 1 Then strEmailTo = strEmailTo & strDistroList & "; "
If xStp = 2 Then strEmailCC = strEmailCC & strDistroList & "; "
If xStp = 3 Then strEmailBCC = strEmailBCC & strDistroList & "; "
ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Select
Loop
xStp = xStp + 1
Loop
The above code will create the list of people for whom the report is intended. We make use of the Do Until Loop here to update the 3 variables to hold the TO, CC and BCC list. The actual email addresses are captured from the Email sheet of the report template.
Please note: there should be no blanks in the list when you are defining the same.
Set olApp = New Outlook.Application
Dim olNs As Outlook.Namespace
Set olNs = olApp.GetNamespace("MAPI")
olNs.Logon
Set olMail = olApp.CreateItem(olMailItem)
olMail.To = strEmailTo
olMail.CC = strEmailCC
olMail.BCC = strEmailBCC
olMail.Subject = Mid(xFile, 1, Len(xFile) - 4)
olMail.Body = vbCrLf & "Hello Everyone," _
& vbCrLf & vbCrLf & "Please find attached the " & Mid(xFile, 1, Len(xFile) - 4) & "." _
& vbCrLf & vbCrLf & "Regards," _
& vbCrLf & "Chandoo.Org"
The above code creates a new instance of Outlook and then logs in to your default mailbox, using which we will be sending the mail out to the recipients. We also create the body of the mail and specify the To, CC and BCC list.
olMail.Attachments.Add xPath
olMail.Display
Finally we add the attachment to the email we have created and then using the Display method bring it on the screen. You may also use the .Send method to send the mail directly.
That is all the code we needed to create a copy of the report with selected few sheets and then send them out using VBA. There are a lot of other methods using which you may be able to send out mails, however this specifically helps out to create report templates to use within your organization and send out mails.
Do you also use VBA and Other methods to send mails, if yes please share the same for the benefit of everyone.
Download Excel File
Click here to download the file & save it on your system and use it to understand this technique.
Do you use Excel to automate emails?
I often use Excel to automatically email reports & messages. This is quite useful when you have to send a snapshot of a report to a large team, but need to customize the email for each recipient.
What about you? Have you used Excel to automate emails? What is your experience like? Do you use VBA or some other technique? Please share using comments.
More on VBA & Macros
If you want to learn more about using VBA to automate reporting & email tasks, read these:
- Automatically Generate Report Variations using Excel
- Birthday Reminder & Email in Excel
- What is VBA & Macros? Introduction
- Excel VBA Example Macros
- VBA tutorial videos
Join our VBA Classes
If you want to learn how to develop applications like these and more, please consider joining our VBA Classes. It is a step-by-step program designed to teach you all concepts of VBA so that you can automate & simplify your work.
27 Responses to “9 Box grid for talent mapping – HR for Excel – Template & Explanation”
Great stuff! I can understand how to add a slicer to the pivot table, but how do you implement the departmental selector on the 'Filter' formula scheme?
Just saw this on your Youtube channel, and it’s areat idea...!
An easy way to overcome the "ugliness" of pivot tables and get it to look nice (in the format of the Output sheet), would be to simply build a sheet with the nice map at the top, a pivot underneath it and a slicer next to formatted map and then reference each of the 9 cells in the formatted map to the “related” cell in the Pivot.
Keep up the good work!
/Claus
Thanks Claus. That is a great idea 🙂
Hi Chandoo,
This is great! Curious how to make additional columns operate the same as the Department column (ex. have a "manager column") that would allow you to sort a 9 box by manager, area, or team in addition to department?
Feel free to email me if needed! mfry01@minnetronixmedical.com
Happy New Year
Madison Fry
I am curious about the smae thing. I would like to populate the 9 box with other views as well by adding additional columns. IE., I would like to add location, region, etc. Thank you.
This is great, thank you!
How can i see the whole data set of all the teams in the output table. Need a formula that will pick up all the employees
Hello,
Love the template. Thank you. Question - the drop down to pick a department on the Output tab does not seem to work on the downloadable template. Am I doing something incorrectly?
Thank you!
Hi Heather... Thank you. I am using Excel 365 to make the calculations. If you are using an older version of Excel, then the drop-down filter won't work.
Hi
I was able to follow your 9 box grid and modified based my needs. However, you tutorial did not show how to you create the filter for the "Pick a department. Can you kindly share how to create that filter that updated the grid. Thank you.
I am working on this project but I am struggling with the data validation for the department. I copy the worksheets data entry and output as the managers want to see different tabs for each managers.
I updated the source reference for each tab but It does not update the grid based on the new source. The list was updated but it does not populate the grid based on the performance and potential listed.
In addition the hyperlink Update Data and View Talent Map no longer works. Can you please help me.
I keep getting this error message in the pivot table:
This formula is invalid or incomplete: 'The expression is not valid or appears to be incomplete. Please review and correct the expression.
The following syntax error occurred during parsing: Invalid token, Line 1, Offset 14, ‘.
Hi, I used your 9-box excel template with excel 365. First off, thank you so very much. It is incredibly helpful!! My only question is that the boxes aren't big enough for all of the employees (specifically the middle which we call 'Core Employee'). Is there a way to make the boxes larger? Even though it is in excel, I am not able to increase row height (like I normally do in a speadsheet). Any ideas? Thanks again, Jody
Hi Chandoo,
Thanks for the great content. Re. 9 box grid, pls advise how do I increase the size of the box to accommodate more names?
Hi Chandoo,
I figured it out. Excel 365 has the format row height on the ribbon. Thank you
Merci Chandoo pour le modèle proposé,
j'ai une question et un souhait est il possible de développer davantage ce modèle en insérant la photo de chaque employé.
Hi Chandoo!
Great tutorial and tool, thank you! Your tutorial didn't include how to create additional filters on the "Output" tab. Could you please share how you did it?
Can this be done exactly in google sheets?
Hi Chandoo,
Thanks for the video it was really helpful. Is there any way to multi select the dropdown to display multiple or all departments rather than just one at once?
Hello Prish
I have Microsoft 365 and I am struggling to make the boxes larger/unable to increase row height; any idea how you made this work? Specifically in the Output tab where the map is?
Many thanks
Hello Jody, I have Microsoft 365 and I am struggling to make the boxes larger/unable to increase row height; any idea how you made this work? Specifically in the Output tab where the map is? Many thanks
Is there a way to change the 9 box wording descriptions, i.e. Work Horses, to our own internal langauge?
You can edit the file. The descriptions are textboxes.
Hi Chandoo, this is awesome and has worked perfectly. Due to a big organisation the 9 box grid on the output file is too small. I tried adjusting using the row/width ribbon under the format ribbon however it doesn't seem to work. Is there an easier way to adjust this?
Thanks!
When I drag the formula, it doesn't work, and the order I use with the data changes. In the beginning, the order is it is " candidates," " potential," and " performance," but when it goes to another column, it is " Potential," Performance," and "Candidates."Can you help me? Thank you very much, sending love from vietnam
Hi- I am working on the 9 grid project and I am trying to expand the box since I have over 100 names on a few of the columns. How do I do that?
Hi, Thank you this is great stuff and really useful.
As well as department as demonstrated on your clip, how can I display all candidates on the grid at once?
Many thanks in advance