In a previous post we saw how to create a digital timer in Excel using VBA macros (see that post here). In that example we used the OnTime method of the Application object. In this post we see how to create a stopwatch using the Timer VBA function in Excel. The stopwatch time is shown in a cell in the Excel worksheet. It can also be shown in a text box, shape, userform, or the status bar in Excel, among other places.
In this post we will create a game to find pairs of geometric shapes in Excel using VBA macros. It is a good example to practice working with the Shape object. We will see how to add a shape with Excel VBA, move a shape, modify properties of the Excel shape object, or delete the shape. We will be working with AutoShape objects as per MsoAutoShapeType enumeration.
There are a few ways to track the position of the mouse cursor in Excel. However, if we want to react to mouse movement, we need to set a routine that monitors the position all the time and that’s very CPU-intensive. Another possibility is using one of Excel’s objects that allow mouse events. That’s the case of charts, for example, as well as ActiveX controls, among others. In this post we see how to use an ActiveX image in the background of the worksheet to capture mouse movement and follow the cursor position.
There are many different types of shapes in Excel. This post shows how to design diagrams to join the dots and solve it adding Excel free-forms programmatically. We can use it to design a pattern of numbers to create a custom shape or play to join the dots. The basics of adding and manipulating shapes with Excel VBA are covered in this other page: Shape Object. In this post we focus on the free-form shape.
Creating a calculator app is a great example to
practice UI design and logic programming. In this post, we see how to do that
in Excel using VBA macros. The calculator is a Userform with a text box for the
display and several buttons for numbers, operators, and other functions. Excel
Calculator is standalone and appears independently with Excel running in the
background.
What time is it? Learn how to create a classic analog clock in Excel using VBA macros. We use shapes to create the frame and other components of the clock, including also the clock arrows or pointers. Then we rotate the arrows to indicate the current time, and keep updating the position by setting a loop or flow with VBA time functions. The clock arrows are lines grouped together with an oval shape to create the rotation of the classic analog clock in Excel.
Matrix digital rain is the programming code featured in the Matrix series. In this post we see how to create the Matrix digital rain in Excel using VBA macros. The macro uses the SetTimer function that we have seen in previous posts to change the position of the characters and create the falling effect of the digital rain from the Matrix movie. The code keeps changing and fading away while falling using a formula to get random characters from a list.
In this post we see how to move shapes in a worksheet. This can be useful to build animated spreadsheets, but we will rather create some fun games in Excel instead. It is more powerful than simply moving across the cells as we learned in the previous post. It is as simple as adding shapes in combination with timer events.
