XL97: How to Trap Events for an Embedded Chart

In Microsoft Excel 97, you can associate a chart sheet in a workbook with a Visual Basic module. This means you can create a macro that runs when certain events occur on the chart sheet. However, this functionality does not apply to charts that are embedded on a worksheet.

This article contains sample macros that trap an event for an embedded chart.

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.
If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Partner or Microsoft Advisory Services. For more information, visit these Microsoft Web sites:

Microsoft Certified Partners - https://partner.microsoft.com/global/30000104 (https://partner.microsoft.com/global/30000104)

Microsoft Advisory Services - http://support.microsoft.com/gp/advisoryservice (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/advisoryservice)

For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-us;cntactms) To trap an event for an embedded chart on a worksheet, use a WithEvents declaration on a Class Module.

Setting Up a Sample Embedded Chart

1. Save and close any open workbooks, and then create a new workbook.
2. Type the following data in Sheet1:
   A1: 1
   A2: 2
   A3: 3
3. Select the range A1:A3 and click Chart on the Insert menu.
4. In the "Chart Wizard - Step 1 of 4 - Chart Type" dialog box, click Finish.

An embedded column chart appears on Sheet1.

Writing the Macro Code

1. Start the Visual Basic Editor (press ALT+F11).
2. On the Insert menu, click Class Module. This step inserts a class module called Class1 into your project.
   
   
3. In this class module, type the following code:

          Public WithEvents EmbChart As Chart
   						

   The WithEvents keyword makes the EmbChart variable available in the Object list in the Class1 (Code) module window.
4. In the Class1 (Code) window, click EmbChart in the Object list.
   
   The following code automatically appears in the class module:

          Private Sub EmbChart_Activate()
   
          End Sub
   						

   NOTE: The Activate event is the default event for the object.
5. In the Class1 (Code) window, click Resize in the Procedure list.
   
   The following code automatically appears in the class module:

          Private Sub EmbChart_Resize()
   
          End Sub
   						

6. Change the Resize event procedure so that it looks like the following:

          Private Sub EmbChart_Resize()
              MsgBox "You are resizing the " & EmbChart.Name & " chart."
          End Sub
   						

7. On the Insert menu, click Module.
8. In this module, type the following code:

          Dim mychart As New Class1
   
          Sub Set_Chart()
   
              Set mychart.EmbChart = Sheet1.ChartObjects(1).Chart
   
          End Sub
   						

9. Run the Set_Chart macro. Whenever you resize the chart on Sheet1, a message box displays the message in the EmbChart_Resize subprocedure.
   
   NOTE: If you have a Microsoft IntelliMouse and you use the scroll wheel on the mouse to scroll up or down the worksheet, the Resize event occurs if the chart is active and all or part of it is not visible on the screen.
   
   
10. Press ALT+F11 to switch to Microsoft Excel.
11. Click once on the embedded chart in Sheet1 to switch to it.
12. With your pointer, drag one of the handles on the border of the chart in any direction. A message box that displays the following message appears:
    You are resizing the Sheet1 Chart 1 chart.
13. Click OK.

Disabling the Event Handler

If you close the workbook that contains the above project, the event handler is disabled. To programmatically disable the event handler, use the following steps:

1. Start the Visual Basic Editor.
2. In the general module in which you typed the Set_Chart macro, add the following macro:

         Sub Reset_Chart()
   
             Set mychart.EmbChart = Nothing
   
         End Sub
   						

3. Run the Reset_Chart macro.
4. On the File menu, click "Close and Return to Microsoft Excel."
5. Select and resize the embedded chart.

The message box does not appear.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

For more information about using class modules in the Visual Basic Editor, click the Index tab in Microsoft Visual Basic Help, type the following text and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Module and Class Module Commands (Insert Menu)" topic.