XL2000: How to Control the Appearance of the Mouse Pointer While a Macro Runs

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This article was previously published under Q213424

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel 2000, you can use the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications Cursor property to control the appearance of the mouse pointer while a macro is running. In versions of Excel earlier than 7.0, you do not have the ability to change the way the mouse pointer is displayed.

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MORE INFORMATION

You can use the Cursor property to display the mouse pointer as an arrow, an hourglass, an I-beam (displayed when editing text), and the default pointer. The following built-in constants correspond to each of the available cursor shapes:

   xlNorthwestArrow    The northwest-arrow pointer
   xlWait              The hourglass pointer
   xlIBeam             The I-beam pointer
   xlNormal            The default pointer

Note that when you type the constant for the I-beam pointer, the letter that follows the "xl" prefix is an "I" (for I-beam).

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs.
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Cursor Property Example

Type or paste the following code in a Visual Basic module sheet to illustrate the various mouse pointer shapes:

Sub ChangePointer()

    ' Display dialog box indicating mouse pointer will change.
    MsgBox "Click OK to display mouse pointer as hourglass."

    ' Display mouse pointer as hourglass.
    Application.Cursor = xlwait

    ' Wait so mouse pointer change will be noticeable.
    Application.Wait Now + TimeValue("0:0:03")
    MsgBox "Click OK to display mouse pointer as arrow."

    ' Display mouse pointer as arrow
    Application.Cursor = xlNorthwestArrow

    ' Wait so mouse pointer change will be noticeable.
    Application.Wait Now + TimeValue("0:0:03")

    MsgBox "Click OK to display mouse pointer as I-beam."

    ' Display mouse pointer as I-beam.
    Application.Cursor = xlIBeam

    ' Wait so mouse pointer change will be noticeable.
    Application.Wait Now + TimeValue("0:0:03")

    MsgBox "Click OK to return mouse pointer to normal."

    ' Return mouse pointer to normal display.
    Application.Cursor = xlNormal

End Sub

Note that because the Cursor property is not automatically reset when the macro stops running, you need to reset the mouse pointer by setting the Cursor property to the xlNormal value before your macro stops.

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REFERENCES

For more information about the Cursor property, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type cursor property in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

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