Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 21, 2020)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
You may have a need to display a message box whenever specific information is placed in a specific cell by the user. Fortunately, using the Change event for a worksheet can help you to figure out when something has been placed in a cell.
For instance, let's say that you wanted to display a message whenever the information in cell C3 is changed. The following, added to the code window for a specific worksheet, will do the trick:
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range) If Target.Address = "$C$3" Then MsgBox "Changed It!" End If End Sub
The Change event is called and passes the cell range to the routine. In this case, the range is assigned to the Target variable. The address of this range is then checked, and if it is equal to C3 (it has to be noted in absolute terms, such as $C$3), then the message box is displayed.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9397) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Conditionally Displaying a Message Box.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 2013 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access) with VBA programming, using it for writing macros, automating Office applications, and creating custom applications. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2013 today!
There are two ways to create macros: recording them or writing them from scratch. Some things cannot be done in a macro ...
Discover MoreWant to add some macros to your workbook? What do you do if you try to add the macros but the program has disabled the tools?
Discover MoreYour worksheets are very often made up of formulas and these formulas are made up of functions. If you ever want to ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments