XL: How to Call a Macro Repeatedly on a Fixed Time Interval

• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

You can call a macro repeatedly at a set time interval using the OnTime method and the Call statement.

MORE INFORMATION

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1. Type the following code into a new module sheet:

         ' Module level declaration of icount, inumberofcalls. This line
         ' must be at the top of the module sheet
         Dim icount, inumberofcalls As Integer
   

         Sub StartOnTime()
   
             ' Initialize icount to 1.
             icount = 1
   
             ' Initialize inumberofcalls to 4.
             inumberofcalls = 4
   
             ' Select the range of cells for formatting.
             Range("A2:A" & inumberofcalls + 1).Select
   
             ' Format the selected cells as time.
             Selection.NumberFormat = "h:mm:ss AM/PM"
   
             ' Start in cell A1.
             Range("A1").Select
   
             ' Put the word "Time" in cell A1.
             ActiveCell.Value = "Time"
   
             ' Start the OnTimeMacro.
             Call OnTimeMacro
   
         End Sub
   
         Sub OnTimeMacro()
   
             ' Run the RunEvery5seconds macro inumberofcalls times.
             If icount <= inumberofcalls Then
   
                 ' Run the RunEvery5seconds macro in 5 seconds.
                 Application.OnTime Now + TimeValue("00:00:05"), _
                     "RunEvery5seconds"
   
                 ' Increment icount by 1.
                 icount = icount + 1
   
             Else
   
                 ' Icount is greater than inumberofcalls, so exit the macro.
                 Exit Sub
   
             End If
   
         End Sub
   
         Sub RunEvery5seconds()
   
             ' Places the current time in a cell.
             ActiveCell.Offset(icount - 1, 0).Value = Format(Now(), _
                 "hh:mm:ss")
   
             ' Runs the OnTimeMacro again.
             Call OnTimeMacro
   
         End Sub
   
   

2. Run the macro StartOnTime.

   The macro enters the time at which it ran into cells A2, A3, A4, and A5 on Sheet1 of the active workbook.

REFERENCES

For more information about the OnTime method in Microsoft Excel version 7.0, click Answer Wizard on the Help menu and type:

   OnTime

   OnTime