XL97: How to Place a Checkmark Next to a Menu Item

If you are working with menus programmatically, you may want to add a checkmark next to a particular menu item to show the item is active. For example, when you point to Filter on the Data menu and then click AutoFilter, a checkmark is placed next to AutoFilter to show that the AutoFilter is currently turned on.

This article provides sample macros for programmatically adding a checkmark next to a custom menu item using the new CommandBars object model.

NOTE: There is no way to programmatically add a checkmark next to a built-in menu item; you can add checkmarks only to custom items.

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1. Save and close any open workbooks and then open a new workbook.
2. Start the Visual Basic Editor (press ALT+F11).
3. On the Insert menu, click Module.
4. In the module, add the following code:

         Sub checked_menuitem()
   
             'add a new docked CommandBar
             Set mybar = CommandBars.Add(Name:="my command bar", _
                 Position:=msoBarTop)
             mybar.Visible = True
   
             'add a menu to the custom CommandBar
             Set mypopup = mybar.Controls.Add(Type:=msoControlPopup)
             mypopup.Caption = "my menu"
   
             'add a menu item to the menu just added to the CommandBar
             Set myitem = mypopup.Controls.Add(Type:=msoControlButton)
             myitem.Caption = "my menu item"
             myitem.OnAction = "check_item"
   
         End Sub
   
         Sub check_item()
   
             Set mypopup = CommandBars("my command bar").Controls("my menu")
   
             If mypopup.Controls("my menu item").State = msoButtonDown Then
   
                 'remove check next to menu item
                 mypopup.Controls("my menu item").State = msoButtonUp
                 MsgBox "menu item is now unchecked"
             Else
   
                 'add check next to menu item
                 mypopup.Controls("my menu item").State = msoButtonDown
                 MsgBox "menu item is now checked"
             End If
         End Sub
   						

5. Run the checked_menuitem macro.
   
   This will create a docked CommandBar with a single menu called "my menu".
6. Activate Microsoft Excel (press ALT+F11).
7. Click the "my menu" drop-down and then click "my menu item".
   
   A message box will display a message stating the menu is now checked and the "my menu item" will have a checkmark placed next to it.
8. Repeat step 7.
   
   A message box will display a message stating the menu is now unchecked and the "my menu item" will not have a checkmark placed next to it.

Removing the Custom CommandBar

1. On the Tools menu, click Customize.
2. On the Toolbars tab, scroll through the list of Toolbars and then select the "my command bar" item.
3. Click Delete and then click OK.
4. Click Close.

For more information about CommandBars, click the Office Assistant, type commandbar click Search, and then click to view "CommandBar Object".