Weird button behaviour on Excel worksheet - does not do anything the first time pushed

Brass Contributor

I created a button on the worksheet (activex) and wrote some VBA code which generates a random number and adds a "Q" to the end of it. 

What I noticed is that when I press the button the first time, it does nothing and the second time I click the button, the code gets executed.  this is consistent with both buttons. Any idea what I have misconfigured? 

 

NotSoFastEddie_0-1717179631318.png

 

1 Reply

@NotSoFastEddie 

The behavior you are describing with the ActiveX button in Excel is a common issue that can sometimes occur due to various reasons, such as event handling problems or initialization delays. Here are a few steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

1. Ensure the Button is Properly Initialized:

  • Sometimes, ActiveX controls require initialization before they respond correctly. You can force initialization by adding a small piece of code in the Workbook_Open event or by explicitly setting the focus to the button.

2. Re-register the ActiveX Controls:

  • Occasionally, ActiveX controls can become unregistered or corrupted. You can re-register them using the regsvr32 command in the command prompt.
regsvr32 /u mscomctl.ocx
regsvr32 mscomctl.ocx

3. Check for Interference from Other Events:

  • Ensure that there are no other events interfering with the button click event. Sometimes, other event handlers can cause unexpected behavior.

4. Use the Correct Event:

  • Ensure you are using the Click event for the ActiveX button and not another event.

Example VBA Code for the Button

Here is an example of how you can set up the button with the Click event in VBA:

Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()
    Dim randomNumber As String
    randomNumber = Int((100 - 1 + 1) * Rnd + 1) & "Q"
    MsgBox "Generated Number: " & randomNumber
End Sub

Initialize the Button

Add an initialization step to ensure the button is ready:

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
    Worksheets("Sheet1").CommandButton1.Caption = "Generate Number"
End Sub

Steps to Add the Button and Code

1. Insert an ActiveX Button:

  • Go to the Developer tab.
  • Click Insert and choose Command Button (ActiveX Control).
  • Draw the button on your worksheet.

2. Add the VBA Code:

  • Right-click the button and choose View Code.
  • Enter the Click event code as shown above.

3. Initialize the Button:

  • Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor.
  • Double-click ThisWorkbook and add the Workbook_Open code to initialize the button.

Check the Click Event

1. Ensure Correct Event Binding:

  • Make sure the Click event is correctly bound to the button.

2. Test the Button:

  • Close the VBA editor and return to Excel.
  • Click the button to see if it works on the first click.

Additional Debugging

  • Debugging Initialization:
  • Insert a simple MsgBox in the Workbook_Open event to ensure it is being called.
Private Sub Workbook_Open()
    MsgBox "Workbook opened, button initialized"
    Worksheets("Sheet1").CommandButton1.Caption = "Generate Number"
End Sub
  • Focus Handling:
  • Sometimes, explicitly setting focus to the button can help:
Private Sub Worksheet_Activate()
    Me.CommandButton1.SetFocus
End Sub

Summary

By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and fix the issue with your ActiveX button in Excel. Ensure proper initialization, correct event handling, and check for any interference from other VBA code. If the problem persists, re-registering the ActiveX controls or rebuilding the button might be necessary. The text, steps and codes were created with the help of AI.

 

My answers are voluntary and without guarantee!

 

Hope this will help you.

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