HOW TO: Create an Auto_Open Macro to Show the Data Form Dialog Box in Excel 2000

The step-by-step article shows you how to use an Auto_Open macro to select a specific sheet in a workbook and automatically display the data form dialog box.

NOTE: A macro named "auto_open" will be run each time you manually open the workbook that contains that macro.

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Sample Auto_Open Macro

1. In a new workbook, type the following data in Sheet1:

      A1: Name    B1: Age   C1: Team
      A2: John    B2: 25    C2: Blue
      A3: Fred    B3: 32    C3: Red
      A4: Linda   B4: 28    C4: Blue
      A5: Joe     B5: 22    C5: Red
   					

2. Select cells A1:C5.
3. On the Insert menu, point to Name, and then click Define.
4. In the Names in workbook box, type Database.
5. Click OK.
6. On the Tools menu, point to Macro and click Visual Basic Editor. You may also press ALT+F11 to start the Visual Basic Editor.
7. On the Insert menu, click Module.
8. In the new module, type the following subroutine:

   Sub auto_open()
       ' Activate the sheet that contains your database.
       Worksheets("Sheet1").Activate
   
       ' Show the data form for the selected range.
       ActiveSheet.ShowDataForm
   End Sub
   					

9. Save the file.
10. Close the file, and then re-open it.

When you open the file again, the auto_open macro runs, and the data form dialog box for the database is displayed.

You can use the data form dialog box to view, change, add, or delete a record in a list or database. You can also use a data form to find specific records based on criteria that you specify. A data form displays one complete record at a time. When you enter or edit data on the data form, Excel changes the corresponding cells in the list. The data form dialog box automatically expands to display all the fields in your list, up to 32 fields.

For additional information about how to get help with Visual Basic forApplications, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: