How to Transfer Your Excel Macros to Another Computer
Excel macros are powerful automation tools that streamline repetitive tasks and boost productivity. As you create macros to automate your work processes, you may need to share them with your colleagues across multiple computers. But how can you transfer these macros and ensure they work seamlessly on another computer?
In this guide, we’ll explore various methods to help you transfer and use your Excel macros on multiple computers, enabling you and your colleagues to perform tasks efficiently.
1. Saving and Transferring Your Workbook as a Macro-Enabled Workbook
The simplest way to transfer macros is by saving the Excel workbook that contains the macros as a macro-enabled workbook with the .XLSM file extension. This method allows you to preserve the macros and ensures they can be executed on any computer with the appropriate version of Excel installed.
To save your workbook as a macro-enabled workbook, follow these steps:
Once you’ve saved the workbook as a macro-enabled file, sharing it with your colleagues is simple. Using a USB flash drive is a convenientway to transfer files from one computer to another; however, for faster transferring, we recommend sending your macro-enabled workbook as an email attachment that can be downloaded on the recipient’s computer.
When you first open the shared Excel file on another computer, a warning message appears, saying that the macros are disabled. Click theEnable Contentbutton in the warning message toenable macros without risks.
You can now view and run the macros on another computer by clicking onMacrosin theDevelopertab.
2. Export and Import Macro Codes Using the VBA Editor
Another method of transferring macros to another computer involves exporting and importing the macro codes using the VBA Editor. This approach allows you to extract the macro codes from your workbook and import them into another workbook, eliminating the need to share entire Excel workbooks.
This method is also safer sinceExcel workbooks can get corrupted due to a number of reasons, and so, sharing macros directly without entire workbooks prevents important code from getting corrupted or lost.
Follow these steps to export macros:
Once all the modules have been exported and saved, transfer them to the second computer via a USB drive or email. Then, follow these steps:
Note that if you want to save multiple modules, you’ll need to save them individually on your computer.
3. Email the Personal.xlsb File and Access It on the Second Computer
The Personal.xls file is a hidden workbook that automatically loads when you start Excel, making your macros accessible from any Excel workbook.
If you want to access your macros stored in the Personal Macro Workbook (Personal.xlsb) on another computer, you can email the personal workbook to yourself and download it on the second computer.
Alternatively, you can also export the modules in the Personal.xlsb file and import them on the second computer in the same way that you export and import modules from the regular Excel workbook.
4. Copy-Paste Macros Into an Email
If your macros consist of relatively short code snippets, you could copy and paste the codes directly into an email and access them on a second computer. This method eliminates the need to transfer entire workbooks or files, making the sharing process more streamlined and efficient.
In the VBA Editor, locate the module that contains the macros you want to transfer. Select the entire macro code by pressingCTRL + Aand copy it. Compose a new email for your colleague or yourself, paste the copied macro code into the email body, and send.
On the second computer, open an Excel workbook and pressAlt + F11to open the VBA Editor. Click onInsert>Moduleto create a new module. Copy the code from the received email and paste it into the empty space in the VBA Editor. PressAlt + F8to run and test the macro.
Streamline Workflows by Sharing Your Macro Codes Across Your Workspace
Transferring and using your Excel macros on another computer is achievable through various methods. If you wish to share only macros and not entire workbooks, it’s best to utilize the export/import feature in the VBA editor or copy and paste the macro codes in an email.
However, if sharing the entire workbook is not an issue, saving it in the .XLSM file format and transferring it via USB or email is a viable option. Choose the method that best suits your needs and share or transfer your macros to collaborate with colleagues or work seamlessly across different computers.
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