How to Call a VBA Macro from Another Workbook in 3 Minutes (Excel)

Written by Kasper Langmann

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is a powerful tool in Microsoft Excel that allows you to automate tasks and customize your workflow. One of the most useful features of VBA is the ability to call a macro from another workbook, which can save you time and effort when working with complex data sets. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of calling a VBA macro from another workbook in just three minutes.

Understanding VBA Macros

Before we dive into the steps of calling a VBA macro from another workbook, it’s important to understand what a VBA macro is. A macro is a series of commands or instructions that are grouped together as a single command to accomplish a task automatically. In Excel, you can create macros using VBA, a programming language that is built into Microsoft Office products.

VBA macros can perform a wide range of tasks, from simple actions like copying and pasting data to more complex operations like performing calculations or generating reports. By calling a VBA macro from another workbook, you can leverage the power of VBA to automate tasks across multiple workbooks, making your work more efficient and less prone to errors.

Prerequisites for Calling a VBA Macro from Another Workbook

Before you can call a VBA macro from another workbook, there are a few prerequisites that you need to meet. First, you need to have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer. Excel is part of the Microsoft Office suite, which also includes other productivity tools like Word and PowerPoint.

Second, you need to have at least two Excel workbooks: one that contains the VBA macro you want to call, and another from which you want to call the macro. These workbooks can be existing files that you have on your computer, or new files that you create for the purpose of this guide.

Finally, you need to have basic knowledge of how to use Excel and VBA. This guide assumes that you know how to open Excel, create a new workbook, and write a simple VBA macro. If you’re not familiar with these tasks, you may want to brush up on your Excel and VBA skills before proceeding.

Steps to Call a VBA Macro from Another Workbook

Now that you understand what a VBA macro is and what prerequisites you need to meet, let’s dive into the steps of calling a VBA macro from another workbook. This process can be broken down into three main steps: opening the workbooks, writing the VBA code, and running the macro.

Step 1: Opening the Workbooks

The first step in calling a VBA macro from another workbook is to open both workbooks in Excel. To do this, simply locate the files on your computer and double-click on them to open them in Excel. If you’re creating new workbooks for this guide, you can do so by clicking on the “File” menu in Excel and selecting “New Workbook”.

Once both workbooks are open, you should see them listed in the “Window” menu in Excel. This menu allows you to switch between different workbooks, which will be useful when you’re writing the VBA code to call the macro.

Step 2: Writing the VBA Code

The next step is to write the VBA code that will call the macro from the other workbook. This code will be written in the workbook from which you want to call the macro. To start writing the code, you need to open the VBA editor by pressing “Alt + F11” on your keyboard.

In the VBA editor, you need to insert a new module where you will write the code. To do this, click on the “Insert” menu and select “Module”. This will create a new module in the “Project” window on the left side of the screen.

Now, you can write the VBA code that will call the macro. The code should look something like this:

Sub CallMacro()
    Application.Run "'WorkbookName.xlsm'!MacroName"
End Sub

In this code, “WorkbookName.xlsm” should be replaced with the name of the workbook that contains the macro you want to call, and “MacroName” should be replaced with the name of the macro. Make sure to include the single quotes and the exclamation mark as they are part of the syntax.

Step 3: Running the Macro

The final step is to run the macro. To do this, you can simply press “F5” while in the VBA editor, or you can go back to Excel and run the macro from there. To run the macro from Excel, click on the “Developer” tab, then click on “Macros”, select the macro you want to run, and click “Run”.

If everything is set up correctly, the macro should run and perform the tasks it was designed to do. If the macro doesn’t run, or if you get an error message, make sure to check your VBA code for any mistakes. Remember that VBA is case-sensitive, so make sure to use the correct case for the workbook and macro names.

Conclusion

Calling a VBA macro from another workbook in Excel is a powerful feature that can save you time and effort when working with complex data sets. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can call a VBA macro from another workbook in just three minutes. Remember to meet the prerequisites before you start, and to check your VBA code for any mistakes if the macro doesn’t run as expected.

With the power of VBA at your fingertips, you can automate tasks, customize your workflow, and make your work in Excel more efficient and less prone to errors. So why wait? Start calling VBA macros from other workbooks today and see the difference it can make in your work!