Open In App

How to Use the VBA Immediate Window in Excel?

Last Updated: 16 Oct, 2022

G

Gautam goel
Summarize
Comments
Improve
Suggest changes
Like Article
Like
Share
Report
News Follow

The immediate window is similar to the console in Chrome, where we could execute the javascript. The immediate window allows us to execute macro code very fast and efficiently. Once, you learned it, you will always be found using it. Your immediate window can answer an infinite number of questions, like setting a cell value, changing the sheet of the name, counting the number of sheets, finding the active cell of the current worksheet, etc. In this article, we will learn different ways to use the immediate Windows in excel. 

Opening Immediate Window 

By default, the immediate window does not appear in the visual basic editor, but, could be activated by following these steps:

Step 1: Go to the developer tab, under the Code section. Click on Visual Basic(Alt + F11). 

Clicking-on-visual-basic

 

Step 2: VBA editor is opened. Click on View, in the menu bar. Select Immediate Window. 

Selecting-immediate-window

 

Step 3: The Immediate window(Ctrl + G), is opened in the VBA editor. 

Immediate-window-opened

 

Different Ways to Use Immediate Window

There can be a huge number of cases where you could use immediate windows which can make your work faster and easy. An immediate window can run a macro, set variable values, debug, ask different questions using (?), and many more. 

Using (?) Question Operator

There are multiple uses of the  (?) question operator, like finding the active cell of the sheet, counting the number of sheets in a worksheet, etc. All the functions available in VBA can be used, in the immediate window. Some of the most used functions are explained below. 

  • Use of Comparison Operators 

Comparison operators like <, >, = can be used in the immediate window, to check whether one variable is greater, less, or equal to another variable or not. For example, to check whether 5 is greater than 4, write ?5>4 in your immediate window, and the answer will be a boolean either true or false. 

Use-of-comparison-operators

 

  • Finding the Name of the Sheet 

The name of any sheet can be found in a workbook, using Sheet{number}.Name function. For example, to find the name of the second sheet, the function used is Sheet2.Name. 

Finding-name-of-sheet

 

  • Find the Cell Value 

Using the Immediate window, one can find the value of any cell in a worksheet, using Range(“Cell_Name”).Value. For example, 23 is the value of cell A1, so we can find the value of cell A1 by using the function Range(“a1”).Value. 

Finding-cell-value

 

  • Count the Number of Sheets in a Workbook

The immediate window can be used to find the number of sheets in the workbook. This can be achieved by using function sheets.Count. For example, if we have only one sheet, then the output in the immediate window will be 1. 

Counting-number-of-sheets

 

  • Find the Value of Active Cell 

Despite writing a big macro, to find the active cell value, you can simply run the function ActiveCell.Value in the immediate window and the value of that cell is printed. For example, 23 is the currently active cell value, type ActiveCell.Value in the immediate window, and 23 is printed in the window itself. 

Finding-value-of-active-cell

 

Changing the Name of a Sheet in the Workbook

The immediate window can be used to set a value, according to the function used. There is no need of writing a sub-procedure, for it. For example, you are given a worksheet name, “Sheet1”, and our task is to rename it “geeksforgeeks”. Following are the steps: 

Step 1: Open your immediate window, in VBA Editor. You can see that name of the sheet is “Sheet1”. 

naming-sheet1

 

Step 2: Use function, Sheet1.Name = “geeksforgeeks”, and set the name of the sheet as “geeksforgeeks”. 

Setting-name-for-sheet

 

Step 3: Run your macro. You can observe that name of the sheet is changed to “geeksforgeeks”. 

Running-macro

 

Set Cell Value 

The range function is used to access a cell in the VBA, this function can also be used in the immediate window, and the value of the cell can be set accordingly. For example, if you want to set the value of cell A1, to 23, then we could use Range(“cell_name”).Value function. Following are the steps: 

Step 1: Open your VBA macro, immediate window. Type Range(“A1”).Value = 23, function to assign the value to cell “A1”. 

Assigning-value-of-cell

 

Step 2: Press Enter, to Run it. 23, appears in the cell, “A1”. 

Running-function

 

Debugging the Code 

Debugging is a very important skill for every developer, and an immediate window makes it easy. The most important thing in debugging is to have print statements, in your code, so that you can know where your code breaks. VBA has a function, called Debug.Print(string/variable), which prints the required result in the immediate window itself, and there is no need of switching tabs and printing the content in the worksheet. For example, if you want to print 23 in your code, then use Debug.Print() function. Following are the steps: 

Step 1: Open your VBA macro, and create a sub-procedure name geeksforgeeks(). 

Creating-sub-procedure-name

 

Step 2: Type Debug.Print(23), in the sub-procedure, and run your macro. 

Running-macro

 

Step 3: The number 23 is printed, in the immediate window. 

Number-printed

 

Run Macro

There can be situations when your macro might not run from the run button. One of the possible situations is when you have arguments in the sub-procedure, then you cannot run your macro, using the run button. But, an immediate window resolves this issue. For example, write a sub-procedure that changes the active cell color to blue. The function used to achieve this is ActiveCell.Interior.Cell = color, where color is the argument of the sub-procedure colorChangeGeeks(color). Following are the steps: 

Step 1: The given program changes the color of the active cell in the worksheet, the sub-procedure also takes an argument named “color”. 

Argument-named-color

 

Step 2: In the immediate window call the sub-procedure, colorChangeGeeks(15123099), where 15123099 is the color code of blue. 

color-change-geeksforgeeks

 

Step 3: Press Enter, and you will observe that the color of the active cell is changed to blue. 

color-changed-to-blue

 



Article Tags :

G

Gautam goel
News
Improve
Discuss
Do you want to advertise with us?Click here to know more

A

Ayush Dey

VBA Subroutine in Excel - How to Call Sub in VBA?

article_img
When a specified action is performed on a worksheet with the help of a collection of code known as a VBA Subroutine. It also helps to read an external file, also it can open other applications from Excel. A large piece of code can be broken into small parts so that we can manage it easily. Let's learn why to use submarines: Converts large piece of codes into small parts so that the computer ignores all kind of complexities that arises because of large codesReusability of code suppose we in a program have to access the database frequently so instead of writing the code again and again we can create a function to access the databaseSubroutines are self-documenting functions which means a coder can easily say what the program does by looking into the name of the function Naming Rules of SubroutinesIt can start with a letter or an underscore but it cannot start with a number or a special character.It cannot contain any space in the name.The name of the subroutine cannot be a keyword like Private, Sub, End, etc. Syntax Private Sub function_name( ByVal arg1 As String, ByVal arg2 As String) End Sub Syntax Explanation Code Action "Private Sub function_name(...)"Private is the keyword whic
Read More

R

Rishabh Chakraborty

How to Use Select Case Statement in Excel VBA?

article_img
VBA in Excel stands for Visual Basic for Applications which is Microsoft's programming language. To optimize the performance and reduce the time in Excel we need Macros and VBA is the tool used in the backend. In this article, we are going to discuss how to use Select Case Statement in Excel VBA. Select Case Statement of Excel VBA The select case in VBA is like a detective that investigates an expression by checking it against different scenarios listed as Case Statements, each with its own conditions. When a scenario matches the expression, it's like solving a piece of the puzzle, and the corresponding code linked to that scenario is activated. Importantly, once a match is found, the detective stops investigating and moves on to executing the discovered code. Yet, if none of the scenarios match, it's like the detective hitting a dead end. In this situation, the code associated with the Case Else statement comes into play, offering a default solution or outcome. Syntax of the Select Case Statement of Excel VBAThe VBA Select Case Statement shares similarities with the Switch Case construct found in programming languages such as Java, C#, and PHP. In Excel VBA, this statement helps
Read More

A

Akshit

How to Use for Each Loop in Excel VBA?

A For Each loop is used to execute a statement or a set of statements for each element in an array or collection. Syntax: For Each element In group [ statements ] [ Exit For ] [ statements ] Next [ element ] The For...Each...Next statement syntax has the following three parts: PartDescriptionelement Required (Must be mentioned). Variable is used to iterate through the elements of the collection or array. For collections, the element can only be a Variant variable, a generic object variable, or any specific object variable. For arrays, the element can only be a Variant variable.groupRequired(Must be mentioned). Name of an object collection or array (except an array of user-defined types).statementOptional (May or may not be mentioned). One or more statements are executed on each item in the group. There are 4 basic steps to writing a For Each Next Loop in VBA: Declare a variable.Write the For Each Line with the variable and collection references.Add line(s) of code to repeat for each item in the collection.Write the Next line to terminate the loop. The For…Each block is entered if there is at least one element in the group. Upon entering the loop,
Read More

A

Akshit

How to Use Do While Loop in Excel VBA?

article_img
A Do…While loop is used when we want to repeat certain set of statements as long as the condition is true. The condition may be checked at the starting or at the end of the loop Flowchart: Uses of Do-While loop: The Do While loop is used in two ways: Do…while loop which checks the condition at the STARTING of the loop.Do…while loop which checks the condition at the END of the loop. Syntax 1: Do While condition [statements] [Exit Do] [statements] Loop Syntax 2: Do While [statements] [Exit Do] [statements] Loop conditionImplementing a Do While loop: Follow the below steps to implement a Do-While loop: Step 1: Define a Macro Private Sub Demo_Loop() End Sub Step 2: Define variables j=2 i=1 Step 3: Write Do While Loop. You can write condition at the beginning or at the end Do While i < 5 Step 4: Write statements to be executed in loop msgbox "Table of 2 is : " & (j*i) i=i+1 Step 5: End loop. Now let's take a look at some of the examples. Example 1: Do…while loop which checks the condition at the STARTING of the loop. The below example uses Do…while loop to check the condition at the starting of the loop. The statements inside the loop are executed, only if the condition is True
Read More

S

Shlok Dayma

How to Use For Next Loop in Excel VBA?

article_img
If you are familiar with the programming you must have an idea of what a loop is, In computer programming, a loop is a sequence of statements that are repeated until a specific condition is satisfied. In Excel VBA the "For Next" loop is used to go through a block of code a specific number of times. Syntax: For counter = start to end [step count] [code block to execute] statement 1 statement 2 statement 3 . . statement n Next [counter] Here we can use the counter or any other variable to run them as many times as we need. Example: When you are displaying numbers from 1 to 10 you may want to set the value of a variable to 1 and display it 10 times, increasing its value by 1 on each loop iteration. The same logic is used in VBA. We specify how many times we have to run the loop, and then specify what code should our loop execute each time the loop runs. A loop has 3 parts the first one is an initialization, the second is the condition under which the loop runs, and the last is increment or decrement. The flow of the control in for loop:The For step is executed first. This step allows you to initialize any loop control variables and increment the step counter variable.Then the second
Read More

R

Rishabh Chakraborty

How to use If-Else Statement in Excel VBA?

article_img
VBA in Excel stands for Visual Basic for Applications which is Microsoft's programming language. To optimize the performance and reduce the time in Excel we need Macros and VBA is the tool used in the backend. In this article, we are going to learn how to use the If Else statement in Excel VBA. Implementation : In the Microsoft Excel tabs, select the Developer Tab. Initially, the Developer Tab may not be available. The Developer Tab can be enabled easily by a two-step process : Right-click on any of the existing tabs at the top of the Excel window.Now select Customize the Ribbon from the pop-down menu.In the Excel Options Box, check the box Developer to enable it and click on OK. Now, the Developer Tab is visible. Now click on the Visual Basic option in the Developer tab and make a new module to write the program using the Select Case statement. Developer -> Visual Basic -> Tools -> MacrosNow create a Macro and give any suitable name. This will open the Editor window where can write the code. IF Statement : The syntax for the If-Else statement in Excel is : If condition/expression Then Code Block for True Else Code Block for False End If Flow Diagram : Example: Suppose a
Read More

R

Rishabh Chakraborty

How to use If-Else-If Statement in Excel VBA?

article_img
In this article, we are going to look into how to use the If Else If statement in Excel VBA using a suitable example. Implementation : In the Microsoft Excel tabs, select the Developer Tab. Initially, the Developer Tab may not be available. The Developer Tab can be enabled easily by a two-step process : Right-click on any of the existing tabs at the top of the Excel window.Now select Customize the Ribbon from the pop-down menu.In the Excel Options Box, check the box Developer to enable it and click on OK.Now, the Developer Tab is visible. Now click on the Visual Basic option in the Developer tab and make a new module to write the program using the Select Case statement. Developer -> Visual Basic -> Tools -> MacrosNow create a Macro and give any suitable name.This will open the Editor window where can write the code.IF ELSE IF statement The syntax is : If condition1/expression1 Then Code Block 1 Else If condition2/expression2 Then Code Block 2 Else Code Block 3 End If In this initially, the If condition is executed and if it is TRUE then the code block 1 will execute and the program terminates. Now, if condition 1 becomes FALSE then condition 2 inside Else IF will work,
Read More

R

Rishabh Chakraborty

How to use While Wend Loop in Excel VBA?

article_img
In this article, we are going to see about While Wend loop in Excel VBA using a suitable example. Implementation : In the Microsoft Excel tabs, select the Developer Tab. Initially, the Developer Tab may not be available. The Developer Tab can be enabled easily by a two-step process : Right-click on any of the existing tabs in the top of the Excel window.Now select Customize the Ribbon from the pop-down menu.In the Excel Options Box, check the box Developer to enable it and click on OK. Now, the Developer Tab is visible. Now click on the Visual Basic option in the Developer tab and make a new module to write the program using the Select Case statement. Developer -> Visual Basic -> Tools -> MacrosNow create a Macro and give any suitable name. This will open the Editor window where can write the code. While Wend Loop In a while loop all the statements will execute inside the loop until the provided condition becomes FALSE. The loop terminates only when the condition becomes FALSE. In Excel the keyword While is used to start the while loop and Wend is used to end the while loop. 1. The statements inside the while loop execute when the condition is TRUE. 2. When the condition
Read More

R

Rishabh Chakraborty

How to use Do Until Loop in Excel VBA?

article_img
In this article, we are going to see look into the Do Until loop in Excel VBA using a suitable example. Implementation : In the Microsoft Excel tabs, select the Developer Tab. Initially, the Developer Tab may not be available. The Developer Tab can be enabled easily by a two-step process : Right-click on any of the existing tabs in the top of the Excel window.Now select Customize the Ribbon from the pop-down menu. In the Excel Options Box, check the box Developer to enable it and click on OK. Now, the Developer Tab is visible. Now click on the Visual Basic option in the Developer tab and make a new module to write the program using the Select Case statement. Developer -> Visual Basic -> Tools -> MacrosNow create a Macro and give any suitable name. This will open the Editor window where can write the code. Do Until Loop In Do Until loop the condition is checked. The statements inside the loop are executed when the condition becomes FALSE. When the condition becomes TRUE, the loop terminates. In the case of a Do Until we can write the condition either in the beginning or at the end. There are two possible syntaxes in the case of Do Until Loop. The keyword Do is used to perf
Read More

A

Ayush Dey

How to Use the VBA Editor in Excel: Quick Guide 2024

article_img
Unlock the full potential of Microsoft Excel by diving into the world of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). The VBA Editor in Excel is a powerful tool that allows you to automate tasks, create custom functions, and streamline your workflow like never before. Whether you're looking to boost productivity, develop advanced macros, or enhance your data analysis capabilities, learning how to use the VBA Editor in Excel is essential. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to view and run VBA code in Excel, providing you with the skills needed to transform your Excel experience. By learning the VBA Editor, you can save time, reduce errors, and gain a competitive edge in the workplace. Let's explore how to harness the power of VBA to make your Excel tasks more efficient and effective.Table of ContentWhat is Visual Basic Editor in ExcelHow to Enable the Developer Tab in Excel Visual Basic Editor User InterfaceHow to Open Visual Basic Editor in ExcelModuleHow to Open Visual Basic Editor in ExcelHow to Delete a Module in VBA Excel How to Export a VBA module from ExcelHow to Run Macro in VBA Excel How to Debug a Macro in ExcelHow to Open VBA editor on Microsoft Excel for MacW
Read More
three90RightbarBannerImg
We use cookies to ensure you have the best browsing experience on our website. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Cookie Policy & Privacy Policy
Lightbox