Making macros user-friendly : Providing dialog boxes for macros : Setting up dialog boxes

Setting up dialog boxes

The Form Designer in the Macro Editor provides easy access to the tools for setting up a dialog box.

You can access the Form Designer by creating a new, blank dialog box. In the Project Explorer, right-click the project to which you want to add a dialog box, and then click Insert } UserForm.

A blank form in the Form Designer

The Form Designer provides two main features for designing dialog boxes:

The Form Designer also provides functions for naming and testing dialog boxes.

Designing dialog boxes

The Form Designer toolbox is the main utility for designing dialog boxes. It lets you add controls to a dialog box by dragging them from the toolbox.

The Form Designer toolbox

The Form Designer toolbox lets you add the following controls to a dialog box:

Icon	Control name	Function
	Label	Provides static text, such as instructions or captions
	TextBox	Provides an area for typing text. For information on coding this control, see Providing text boxes in dialog boxes.
	ComboBox	Provides a list from which a single item can be selected; optionally, also provides an area for typing text. For information on coding this control, see Providing combination boxes and list boxes in dialog boxes.
	ListBox	Provides a list from which multiple items can be selected. For information on coding this control, see Providing combination boxes and list boxes in dialog boxes.
	CheckBox	Provides a check box that can be enabled (by clicking to display a check mark), disabled (by clicking to remove the check mark), or grayed (that is, made unavailable)
	OptionButton	Provides a “radio button” that is linked to other radio buttons with the same GroupName property, such that only one of the buttons can be enabled at a time
	ToggleButton	Provides a button that can be toggled (to appear pressed or not pressed)
	Frame	Groups items together so that they move with the frame
	CommandButton	Provides a button that can be clicked to commit an assigned action. For information on coding this control, see Providing buttons in dialog boxes.
	TabStrip	Provides separate views of related controls
	MultiPage	Provides multiple pages of controls
	ScrollBar	Provides immediate access to a range of values by scrolling
	SpinButton	Enhances another control (such as a TextBox control) so that the value for that control can be set more quickly
	Image	Provides an image. For information on coding this control, see Providing images in dialog boxes.

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The Form Designer toolbox also features a Pick tool , which lets you select and move the controls on a dialog box.

The Form Designer also provides access to the UserForm toolbar, which you can use when designing a dialog box. For information on this toolbar, see Using the Macro Editor toolbars.

Naming dialog boxes

After you have finished designing your dialog box, you may want to change its title. Click the dialog box to select it, and then in the Properties window, change the Caption property.

Testing dialog boxes

At any time, you can test your dialog box by pressing F5 to run it.

After you finish setting up your dialog box, you can start coding it. For information, see Coding dialog boxes.

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