automatically execute an Excel macro on a cell change

Question

How can I automatically execute an Excel macro each time a value in a particular cell changes?

Right now, my working code is:

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    If Not Intersect(Target, Range("H5")) Is Nothing Then Macro
End Sub

where "H5" is the particular cell being monitored and Macro is the name of the macro.

Is there a better way?

Answer 1

Handle the Worksheet_Change event or the Workbook_SheetChange event.

The event handlers take an argument "Target As Range", so you can check if the range that's changing includes the cell you're interested in.

Answer 2

There is a previous thread with related information: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/295165/how-determine-new-previous-cell-value-on-sheetchange-event-in-excel#295552

Answer 3

I prefer this way, not using a cell but a range

    Dim cell_to_test As Range, cells_changed As Range

    Set cells_changed = Target(1, 1)
    Set cell_to_test = Range( RANGE_OF_CELLS_TO_DETECT )

    If Not Intersect(cells_changed, cell_to_test) Is Nothing Then 
       Macro
    End If

Answer 4

Your code looks pretty good.

Be careful, however, for your call to Range("H5") is a shortcut command to Application.Range("H5"), which is equivalent to Application.ActiveSheet.Range("H5"). This could be fine, if the only changes are user-changes -- which is the most typical -- but it is possible for the worksheet's cell values to change when it is not the active sheet via programmatic changes, e.g. VBA.

With this in mind, I would utilize Target.Worksheet.Range("H5"):

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    If Not Intersect(Target, Target.Worksheet.Range("H5")) Is Nothing Then Macro
End Sub

Or you can use Me.Range("H5"), if the event handler is on the code page for the worksheet in question (it usually is):

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    If Not Intersect(Target, Me.Range("H5")) Is Nothing Then Macro
End Sub

Hope this helps...

Answer 5

what to do if the macro should work if i click anywhere in column A

Answer 6

I have a cell which is linked to online stock database and updated frequently. I want to trigger a macro whenever the cell value is updated.

I believe this is similar to cell value change by a program or any external data update but above examples somehow do not work for me. I think the problem is because excel internal events are not triggered, but thats my guess.

I did the following,

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range) 
  If Not Intersect(Target, Target.Worksheets("Symbols").Range("$C$3")) Is Nothing Then
   'Run Macro
End Sub