XL97: How to Create a Template for a Toolbox Control

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

The UserForm Toolbox in the Visual Basic Editor contains all the default controls that you can add to a UserForm. You can add other custom controls that are installed on your computer. For example, you can add a third type of control that is a "template" for a control that you already customized.

This article describes the process for customizing an existing control and adding a template of the control to the Toolbox.

MORE INFORMATION

A template control retains all the properties you specify, which makes it easier to use than resetting the properties of the same default control each time you add the control to a UserForm.

Creating a Template Control

To create a template CommandButton control, and then add it to the Toolbox, use the following steps:

1. Close and save all workbooks in Microsoft Excel.

2. Open a new workbook.

3. Start the Visual Basic Editor (press ALT+F11).

4. In the Visual Basic Editor, click UserForm on the Insert menu.

1. Add a CommandButton control to the UserForm.

2. If the Properties window is not visible, click Properties Window on the View menu.

3. In the Properties window, change the following properties for the CommandButton to the following values.

          Property          Value
          -----------------------------------
          BackColor         Red
          Caption           My button
          ControlTipText    This is my button
          Font              Courier New
   
   

1. On the File menu, click "Close and Return to Microsoft Excel".

2. Close and save the file.

3. Reopen the file and restart the Visual Basic Editor.

4. Drag the customized CommandButton that is on the UserForm onto the Controls tab of the Toolbox.

1. Click the control in the Toolbox that you created in Step 11, and then

       add this control to the UserForm.
   

NOTE: The Name properties for the CommandButtons you add to the UserForm are CommandButton1 and CommandButton2. The Name property is the only property that is different when you use the template control to add a CommandButton to a UserForm.

Deleting a Template Control

To delete a template control from the Toolbox, use the following steps:

1. Right-click the template control in the Toolbox.

2. Click Delete New CommandButton on the shortcut menu that appears.

REFERENCES

For more information about customizing toolbox controls, click the Index tab in Visual Basic for Applications Help, type the following text

   toolbox