Macros in Excel are a powerful tool that allows you to automate repetitive tasks by recording a sequence of actions and playing them back whenever needed. This can save you a significant amount of time and reduce the risk of errors. In this section, we will cover the basics of recording and running macros.

A macro is a set of instructions that can be triggered to perform a specific task. In Excel, macros are written in VBA (Visual Basic for Applications), but you don't need to know VBA to start using macros. Excel provides a Macro Recorder that allows you to record your actions and convert them into a macro.

1. Open the Workbook: Open the Excel workbook where you want to record the macro.
2. Access the Developer Tab: If the Developer tab is not visible, you need to enable it:
   • Go to File > Options.
   • Select Customize Ribbon.
   • Check the Developer option and click OK.
3. Start Recording:
   • Go to the Developer tab.
   • Click on Record Macro.
4. Configure Macro Settings:
   • Macro Name: Give your macro a meaningful name (e.g., FormatReport).
   • Shortcut Key: (Optional) Assign a shortcut key to run the macro quickly (e.g., Ctrl + Shift + R).
   • Store Macro In: Choose where to store the macro (This Workbook, New Workbook, or Personal Macro Workbook).
   • Description: (Optional) Add a description of what the macro does.
   • Click OK to start recording.
5. Perform Actions: Carry out the actions you want to record. For example, you might format a range of cells, apply a filter, or create a chart.
6. Stop Recording:
   • Go back to the Developer tab.
   • Click on Stop Recording.

Once you have recorded a macro, you can run it in several ways:

1. Using the Developer Tab:

   • Go to the Developer tab.
   • Click on Macros.
   • Select the macro you want to run and click Run.

2. Using a Shortcut Key:

   • If you assigned a shortcut key while recording the macro, you can press that key combination to run the macro.

3. Using a Button:

   • You can add a button to your worksheet and assign the macro to it:
     • Go to the Developer tab.
     • Click on Insert and choose a button from the Form Controls.
     • Draw the button on your worksheet.
     • In the Assign Macro dialog box, select the macro and click OK.

Let's go through a practical example of recording a macro that formats a range of cells.

1. Start Recording:

   • Go to the Developer tab.
   • Click on Record Macro.
   • Name the macro FormatCells.
   • Assign a shortcut key Ctrl + Shift + F.
   • Store the macro in This Workbook.
   • Click OK.

2. Perform Actions:

   • Select the range of cells you want to format (e.g., A1:D10).
   • Apply a bold font style.
   • Change the font color to blue.
   • Apply a border around the cells.

3. Stop Recording:

   • Go to the Developer tab.
   • Click on Stop Recording.

1. Using the Developer Tab:

   • Go to the Developer tab.
   • Click on Macros.
   • Select FormatCells and click Run.

2. Using the Shortcut Key:

   • Press Ctrl + Shift + F to run the macro.

Here is the VBA code generated by the Macro Recorder for the above example:

1. Objective: Record a macro that applies conditional formatting to highlight cells with values greater than 100 in the range B2:B20.
2. Steps:
   • Start recording a macro named HighlightValues.
   • Select the range B2:B20.
   • Apply conditional formatting to highlight cells with values greater than 100.
   • Stop recording the macro.
3. Run the Macro: Use the Developer tab or assign a shortcut key to run the macro.

1. Start Recording:

   • Go to the Developer tab.
   • Click on Record Macro.
   • Name the macro HighlightValues.
   • Assign a shortcut key Ctrl + Shift + H.
   • Store the macro in This Workbook.
   • Click OK.

2. Perform Actions:

   • Select the range B2:B20.
   • Go to the Home tab.
   • Click on Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cells Rules > Greater Than.
   • Enter 100 and choose a formatting style.
   • Click OK.

3. Stop Recording:

   • Go to the Developer tab.
   • Click on Stop Recording.

1. Using the Developer Tab:

   • Go to the Developer tab.
   • Click on Macros.
   • Select HighlightValues and click Run.

2. Using the Shortcut Key:

   • Press Ctrl + Shift + H to run the macro.

In this section, you learned how to record and run macros in Excel. Macros can significantly enhance your productivity by automating repetitive tasks. You also practiced recording a macro to format cells and apply conditional formatting. In the next section, we will delve into editing macros with VBA to customize and extend their functionality.