Microsoft Office

Creating Custom Excel Add-Ins 45
Modify the User Interface the Old Way
Before Excel 2007, it was much simpler to provide a way to execute a macro in an add-in. It was done
using aCommandBar objects, which display menus and toolbars. Excel 2007 still supports CommandBars
for compatibility. All changes made to a CommandBar object are displayed in the Menu Commands or
Custom Toolbars groups in the Add-Ins tab.
If you would like to modify change case.xlsm to use CommandBars, add these two procedures to the
ThisWorkbook code module:
Private Sub Workbook_Open()
Set NewMenuItem = Application.CommandBars(“Worksheet Menu Bar”) _
.Controls(“Tools”).Controls.Add
With NewMenuItem
.Caption = “Change Case of Text...”
.BeginGroup = True
.OnAction = “ChangeCaseofText”
End With
End Sub
Private Sub Workbook_BeforeClose(Cancel As Boolean)
On Error Resume Next
Application.CommandBars(“Worksheet Menu Bar”).Controls(“Tools”). _
Controls(“Change Case of Text...”).Delete
End Sub
When the add-in is opened, this code adds a new control to the Menu Commands group of the Add-Ins tab.
When it’s closed, the new control is removed. Simple and easy. It’s too bad Microsoft couldn’t use such a simple
approach for customizing the Ribbon.
Figure 45.7 shows the new command in the Ribbon. Click this button, and the ChangeCaseofText macro
executes.
FIGURE 45.7
The new user interface control in the Ribbon.
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