If you repeat a task frequently in Microsoft Excel, you can use a macro to automate that task. A macro is a series of commands and functions (Function: A function is a prewritten formula that performs an operation on one or more values ??and returns one or more values. Functions can simplify and shorten formulas in a worksheet, especially when using formulas When performing very long or complex calculations. ), stored in a Visual Basic module (Module: A collection of declarations, statements, and procedures stored together as a named unit. There are two types of modules: standard modules and class modules.) , and can be run at any time when needed to perform the task.

For example, if you frequently enter long text strings into cells, you can create a macro to format the cells so that text wraps.

Recording a Macro When you record a macro, Excel stores information about each step of the process as you execute a series of commands. You can then run the macro to repeat the recorded process or "play back" the commands. If an error occurs while recording the macro, the changes will also be recorded. Visual Basic (Visual Basic: Visual high-level Basic programming environment. Visual Basic was developed by Microsoft for writing Windows-based applications.) Stores each macro in a new module attached to a workbook.

Making macros easy to run You can select the desired macro from the list in the Macro dialog box and run the macro. If you want to run a macro by clicking a specific button or pressing a specific key combination, you can assign the macro to a toolbar button, keyboard shortcut (shortcut: function key, or key combination such as F5 or Ctrl+A, which can be used to Execute menu commands. The access key is another key combination, such as Alt+F, that moves focus to a menu, command, or graphic object in a worksheet.

Manage Macros After recording a macro, you can use the Visual Basic Editor (Microsoft Visual Basic Editor: an environment to edit recorded macros and write new macros and Visual Basic for Applications programs.) to view the macro code to correct errors or change the functionality of the macro. For example, if you want the macro for text wrapping to also make text bold, you can record another macro that makes cell text bold and copy the instructions there into the macro for text wrapping. .

The "Visual Basic Editor" is a program designed for beginners to write and edit macro code, and provides a lot of online help. You don't have to learn how to program or how to use the Visual Basic language to make simple modifications to macros. With the Visual Basic Editor, you can edit macros, copy macros between modules, copy macros between different workbooks, rename the module in which the macro is stored, or rename the macro.

Macro Security Excel is protected against viruses that can be spread through macros (Virus: A computer program or macro that "infects" computer files by inserting copies of itself into those files. The infected file is loaded into memory Finally, viruses also infect other files. Viruses often have harmful side effects). If you share a macro with other people, you can use a digital signature (Digital signature: An electronic, encryption-based, secure verification stamp on a macro or document. This signature confirms that the macro or document is from the person who issued it and has not been tampered with.) to verify other users, thus ensuring that other users are trustworthy sources. Whenever you open a workbook that contains macros, you can verify the source of the macro before enabling it.