How to Add a New Macro by Recording

Here's how you can add a new macro in Excel by recording your actions, based on the provided reference:

Adding a macro in Excel allows you to automate repetitive tasks, saving significant time and effort. One straightforward method is to record your actions, which Excel translates into a VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) code sequence.

Follow these steps to record a macro in Excel:

1. Open the Developer Tab:

   • Click on the "Developer" tab located at the top of the Excel program window. If you don't see the Developer tab, you may need to enable it first via File > Options > Customize Ribbon.

2. Choose to Record a Macro:

   • Within the Developer tab, find and click the "Record Macro" button. This action opens a dialog box where you can configure your new macro.

3. Provide Macro Details:

   • In the "Record Macro" dialog box, you'll need to define several settings for your macro:

     Setting	Description	Example
     Macro name:	A descriptive name for your macro (no spaces allowed).	FormatHeaders
     Shortcut key:	An optional key combination (Ctrl + Letter) to quickly run the macro.	Ctrl + Shift + H
     Store macro in:	Where the macro will be saved (Personal Macro Workbook, New Workbook, etc.).	Personal Macro Workbook
     Description:	A brief explanation of what the macro does.	Formats the first row of data as headers.

   • Fill in these details according to your needs.

4. Perform Your Chosen Actions:

   • After clicking "OK" in the "Record Macro" dialog box, Excel begins recording your actions. Everything you do now – selecting cells, formatting text, applying formulas, etc. – will be recorded as part of the macro.
   • Perform the exact steps you want the macro to automate. Be mindful that the recording is literal; clicking cell A1 records selecting cell A1.

5. Complete Your Macro and Stop Recording:

   • Once you have finished performing all the actions you want the macro to automate, it's time to stop the recording.
   • Go back to the "Developer" tab and click the "Stop Recording" button. Alternatively, you can often find a stop recording button on the Excel status bar at the bottom of the window.

6. Use Your Shortcut:

   • Your new macro is now saved. To run the macro and repeat the recorded steps, you can:
     • Press the shortcut key you assigned in step 3 (e.g., Ctrl + Shift + H).
     • Go to the Developer tab, click "Macros," select your macro name from the list, and click "Run."

By following these steps, you have successfully added a new macro in Excel by recording your actions.