Using Excel for Mac is a great way to gather and analyse data. However, the amount of data collected by businesses is becoming challenging to manage, so Mac users are turning to VBA macros to help.
Using Excel VBA for Mac enables you to streamline processes and automate mundane tasks. Depending on the Excel versions you’re running, one way to do this is by adding Excel VBA macros in the VBA editor dialogue box/code window.
As a team of expert Excel Programmers, The Excel Experts understand the many benefits of using VBA and how it works on different types of computers, such as Macs.
Like many software tools, VBA works slightly differently on Mac compared to the Windows version. While the fundamentals are the same, there are some differences that Mac users need to be aware of when creating a personal macro workbook.
If your company uses Mac Office, and you want to learn more about how to use Excel VBA on these computers, then keep reading.
We’ve put together this guide to everything you need to know about VBA, the benefits of using it and how you can get started using it on your Mac today.
What Is VBA? (Visual Basic For Applications)
VBA, which stands for Visual Basic For Applications, is the programming language created by Microsoft that allows users to modify Excel worksheets and create custom solutions that suit their needs.
When using VBA in Excel, users can create macros, which are sets of instructions that can help them automate basic tasks such as sending automatic emails and making specific calculations or moving data from one part of the sheet to another.
VBA can be used across a range of Microsoft Office applications. As well as Excel, it can also be used in PowerPoint, Publisher, Word and more.
As such, learning how to use VBA is important when you’re trying to make the most of Microsoft’s suite of solutions and adapt them to fit your organisation’s unique needs.
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What Is Visual Basic Editor?
Visual Basic Editor is a separate application from Excel, which helps users to use VBA in Excel. Therefore, when you’re learning to use VBA, it’s vital that you download VB Editor and learn how to use it.
It is the application where you keep and edit your VBA code. It’s separate from your Excel workbooks and can help you to improve your programming skills and keep your VBA code safe, particularly if your spreadsheets are communal and you give other users file access.
With VBA editor, you can manage your code and learn new skills. The editor is very different to traditional Excel and other Microsoft applications, but it is also intuitive and easy to learn thanks to the simple user interface.
Opening The Visual Basic Editor For MAC
There are multiple ways to open the Visual Basic Editor in Excel 2011 for Mac. One way is to click on the “Developer” tab and then click on the “Visual Basic” button.
Another way is to press “Ctrl+F11” simultaneously.
What Are Excel Macros?
A macro is effectively an instruction, which you can make in Excel using VBA. A macro can be run as many times as you like, and when it’s being run, the macro will fulfil its task.
One prime example of a macro is setting up a workbook to automatically send an email to a specific group of addresses. You can put the email addresses and any other personalised info into an Excel workbook and set up the macro to automatically fill in a Word document as the emails are being created.
Then, when you run the macro, the emails will be created and automatically sent with personalised information, saving you time and hard work.
If you want to use macros, you need to create a macro-enabled workbook in Excel. These workbooks are different from normal spreadsheets and can have security issues, particularly if you take macros from the internet, which might potentially be dangerous. You can also create your own macros using the macro recorder feature.
So, when you’re using macros, you should collaborate with the professionals here at The Excel Experts. We can help you to create bespoke instructions and manage them. Our team can also assist your staff and support them so that they always use macros correctly.
Will Excel Macros Work On Mac?
If you have Excel downloaded onto your Mac, macros will definitely work. However, macros don’t work on Apple’s version of Excel, called Numbers, so if you try using them there, you’ll like get an error message.
So, if you haven’t downloaded Microsoft Office onto your Mac, you should do so immediately to start making and using macros.
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Enabling Macros In Excel On Mac
Enabling macros in Excel on Mac is as easy as working on a Microsoft computer, but slightly different from Windows versions. Thankfully, Microsoft recognises that many computer users love Macs, so they’ve created guidelines to help you easily enable macros on a Mac.
All you have to do is open the Excel menu bar and then go to the Preferences menu. Click on the Security and Privacy section and click macros that you want enabled.
If you’re happy with the macros you have, then you can allow your computer to run all macros. If you want to manually enable macros or to only allow macros with a notification, then these options are available also so that you can choose the best approach for you.
Manually Recording A Macro In Excel On Mac
To manually record a macro in Excel when using a Mac, you need first to open Excel and go to Preferences again. You then need to select Ribbons and Toolbar, then select the Developer tab.
Then when you save your preferences, the Developer tab will remain visible on the side of your Excel screen whenever you have the program open.
Once you have the Developer tab open, you can select Record Macro and follow the instructions to create the macro. You’ll need to include a macro name, description and shortcut key, as well as the instructions that you want to give the program while it runs the macro.
Benefits Of Using Excel VBA For Mac
If you’re looking to supercharge your Excel workbooks, then using VBA can be the ideal solution for you and your organisation. Especially as it can be used with other Office apps.
Using Excel VBA for Mac offers many benefits, as it can allow you to improve automation throughout your organisation and streamline your administrative processes.
Here are some of the main benefits of using Excel VBA for Mac.
It Saves Time
Macros can save you time and effort by following code and automating simple tasks, such as sending mass emails or linking specific Microsoft programs and transferring data between them. This can save you and your team valuable time and allow you to continue to drive your business forward towards greater success.
Macros Reduce Repetitive Tasks
Undertaking repetitive tasks, such as manual data entry, can be de-motivating for your staff, so using a macro to do them instead can help you to support your team.
Personalisation Is Easy
Macros can easily be changed to suit what you need using the code editor. You can set and change the parameters you need to get the solutions required to support your organisation.
Using Macros On Excel Is Easier Than You Might Think
Using macros on Excel is intuitive and remarkably easy, so it’s worth spending some time learning about these innovative tools, as it will save your team a lot of time and effort going forward.
Making Macros Is Free
While learning how to make macros and improve your company’s VBA knowledge can come at a cost, making your own macros is free. If you want to collaborate with experts like us to get bespoke macros for your business, then you can easily do this at an affordable cost.
In Summary: Use VBA For Mac To Automate Tasks And Save Time
As this article highlights, VBA is a useful solution that can help you to personalise your Excel workbooks and save you time and effort.
While VBA can save you a lot of time if you use it correctly, if you make mistakes, these could take a lot of hard work and effort to rectify.
As such, you need to make sure that you understand VBA and the basics of Excel and how the two work. Once you know how to use VBA in Excel, you can start testing it out and learning about the practical implications of this versatile programming language.
The first step in learning how to use VBA is to check out Excel training courses to learn the basics. Then you can start using bespoke Excel tools and custom Excel spreadsheets to make the most of your business’s data and save your precious time.
About The Excel Experts
For business leaders and executives who aren’t experienced in using Excel and VBA, The Excel Experts are here to help. Whether your team uses Macs or another brand of computer, we can help you to understand the benefits of VBA and use it.
We offer loads of useful resources on our blog, so you can learn more about how to make the most out of Excel and other Microsoft products.
To get more bespoke support and tailored advice on how to use our Excel services to support your business, then you can get in touch with us or visit our Excel VBA Consulting page.
Our friendly and experienced team is always happy to help business leaders from across the corporate market make the most of Excel.
NEED HELP WITH EXCEL VBA?
The Excel Experts can help you or your business complete an unfinished project, integrate web applications, automate tasks, and much more.
