VBA MsgBox

Excel VBA MsgBox

VBA MsgBox function is like an output function which is used to display the generalized message provided by the developer, it is like a print statement. This function or statement has no arguments and the personalized messages in this function are written under the double quotes while for the values the variable reference is provided.

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

Enable Developer Tab

Firstly if you are not seeing the Developer tab in your excel follow the below steps to enable the developer tab.

Step 1: Go to FILE > OPTIONS.

Step 2: Click on Customize Ribbon under Excel Options.

Step 3: On the right-hand side check the box Developer 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

As we type the word MsgBox in the module we can see the syntax. Now I will introduce you to the syntax.

• Prompt: This is the first and mandatory argument. In the above example, I have to type the word “Welcome to VBA” as the Prompt. This is nothing but the message we need to show. We can show up to 1024 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 showed as OK.
• Title: This is the title of the message box. We can customize this title and give our own name to the message box in double-quotes.
• [help file]: This is nothing but the help icon you want to show to the 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 code.

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 & select MODULE.

It will insert the new MODULE in your VBA editor.

Step 3: Start Subprocedure

Start your excel macro by typing SUB which is the head of the macro. Give a MACRO a name and hit enter.

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 which is the shortcut key to run a macro.

Step 6: Output

As soon as you run the macro you can see the message box in your excel window.

Structure of Message Box

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

#1 – Title

By default message box displayed the title of the message box as Microsoft Excel. We can modify this as well. After the Prompt is supplied we can give our own name to the MsgBox.

Step 1: First give Prompt i.e. 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 are done. 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 now it is showing Introduction to VBA as the title.

#2 – Buttons

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

Once the prompt input is supplied 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, I have selected vbYesNoCancel.

Now run the macro we will see different message box buttons instead of 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 show icons as well like the below image.

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

In order to show the button along with the icon, we need to combine both by entering the plus (+) icon together.

#1 – vbQuestion Marks Icon

Code:

Result:

               

#2 – vbCritical Marks Icon

Code:

Result:  

#3 – vbExclamation Marks Icon

Code:

Result:

#4 – vbInformation Marks Icon

Code:

Result:

            

Things to Remember

• We can combine both button and icon by combining it with a plus (+) icon.
• We combine many buttons by combining them with a plus (+) icon.
• As we progress to the next levels of VBA we will see the advanced message box options.
• All the numerical prompt should be supplied with double quotes and numerical values do not require double-quotes.

Recommended Articles

This 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 downloadable excel template. You may also have a look at the following articles –

• VBA Not Function
• VLookup in Excel VBA
• List Box in VBA Excel
• Arrays in VBA Excel