Excel VBA MsgBox

When we start learning VBA, the first thing we try to learn is the Message Box or MsgBox function. It is nothing but a small box that holds the message to the user. This tutorial will show you how to show a message, customize the message box, icon change, button change, and other modalities of the message box.

Enable Developer Tab

Firstly, if you do not see the Developer tab in your excelDeveloper Tab In Your ExcelEnabling the developer tab in excel can help the user perform various functions for VBA, Macros and Add-ins like importing and exporting XML, designing forms, etc. This tab is disabled by default on excel; thus, the user needs to enable it first from the options menu.read more, follow the steps below to enable it.

Step 1: Go to FILE > OPTIONS.

Step 2: Click on Customize Ribbon under Excel Options.

Step 3: On the right-hand side, check the Developer’s box to enable it.

Step 4: Click on “OK” and close this window. Now, you should see the Developer tab in your Excel ribbon.

MsgBox Function Syntax

We can see the syntax in the module when we type the word MsgBox. Now, we will introduce you to the syntax.

  • Prompt: This is the first and mandatory argument. In the above example, we must type the word “Welcome to VBA” as the Prompt. It is nothing but the message we need to show. We can show up to 1,024 characters.Button: This is nothing but what kind of button we need to show on the MsgBox. For example, In our previous example, the default button was “OK.”Title: This is the title of the message box. We can customize this title and give our name to the message box in double quotes.[HelpFile]: This is nothing but the help icon you want to show users. If they have doubts and if you have already specified the suggestions, then they can click on this hell file to learn more.[Context]: This is the numerical value assigned to the appropriate help topic.

How to Create a MessageBox using VBA Code?

Follow the below steps to create a simple msg box using the VBA codeVBA CodeVBA code refers to a set of instructions written by the user in the Visual Basic Applications programming language on a Visual Basic Editor (VBE) to perform a specific task.read more.

Step 1: Open Visual Basic Editor

Go to the DEVELOPER tab and click on VISUAL BASIC.

Alternative: You can click the shortcut key ALT + F11.

Step 2: Insert Module

Now, click on INSERT and select MODULE.

It will insert the new MODULE in your VBA editorVBA EditorThe Visual Basic for Applications Editor is a scripting interface. These scripts are primarily responsible for the creation and execution of macros in Microsoft software.read more.

Step 3: Start Subprocedure

Start your excel macroExcel MacroA macro in excel is a series of instructions in the form of code that helps automate manual tasks, thereby saving time. Excel executes those instructions in a step-by-step manner on the given data. For example, it can be used to automate repetitive tasks such as summation, cell formatting, information copying, etc. thereby rapidly replacing repetitious operations with a few clicks. read more by typing SUB, the head of the macro. Give a MACRO a name and press the “Enter” key.

Step 4: Start Writing Code for MsgBox

  • In between the Head & Tail of the macro, we need to write the code. So start the word Msgbox. It will display the MsgBox function.

  • As soon as you see the word Msgbox press tab, it will start to show the Msgbox syntax.

  • Now, type the word Welcome to VBA in double-quotes.

  • We have created a simple message box macro.

Step 5: Run the Code

  • Now inside the macro, place a cursor and press the key F5, the shortcut key to run a macro.

Step 6: Output

You can see the message box in your Excel window as soon as you run the macro.

Structure of Message Box

Now, we will introduce you to the structure of the Message Box. It consists of four elements.

#1 – Title

Step 1: First, give a Prompt, i.e., the message you want to show.

Step 2: Now, the next argument is Buttons. Ignore this and jump to the next argument, i.e., Title.

Step 3: We have completed it now. Now, run the macro by using the F5 key.

Now, you can see the difference in the title of the message box. Instead of the default title, Microsoft Excel, it now shows Introduction to VBA as the title.

#2 – Buttons

We have learned how to show a message box and alter the message box title. Now, we will see the option of the message box button.

Once we supply the prompt input, the next thing in the syntax is the message box button.

We have as many as 20 kinds of Message Box button options, including Yes/No. You can select any one of the available 20 buttons. For example, we have selected vbYesNoCancel.

Now, run the macro. We will see different message box buttons instead of the default “OK” button.

#3 – Combination of Icon & Buttons

We have seen how to modify message box buttons. Along with the message box button, we can also show icons like the image below.

There are four kinds of icons available. vbCritical, vbQuestion, vbExclamation, and vbInformation.

To show the button and the icon, we need to combine both by entering the plus (+) icon together.

Code:

Result:

Result:  

Things to Remember

  • We can combine both button and icon by combining it with a plus (+) icon.We combine many buttons with a plus (+) icon.As we progress to the next levels of VBA, we will see the advanced message box options.We should supply all the numerical prompts with double quotes. However, the numerical values do not require double quotes.

This article has been a guide to VBA MsgBox Function. Here, we learned how to create a message box and customize it along with other modalities using VBA examples and a downloadable Excel template. You may also have a look at the following articles: –

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