XL97: How to Create a Startup Screen with a UserForm

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel 97, you can use a custom UserForm and a Visual Basic for Applications macro to create a startup screen (splash screen). This article describes how to create a custom splash screen for a specific workbook.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic for Applications procedures 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. The Visual Basic procedures in this article are provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that they can be used in all situations. While Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular macro, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality, nor will they help you construct macros to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to consult one of the Microsoft Solution Providers. Solution Providers offer a wide range of fee-based services, including creating custom macros. For more information about Microsoft Solution Providers, call Microsoft Customer Information Service at (800) 426-9400.

A splash screen is a screen that is displayed for a designated amount of time when you start a program. You can create a UserForm and run a macro to simulate a splash screen. After a specified amount of time elapses, the macro hides the dialog box without any user interaction. To create a splash screen, use the following steps:

1. Start the Visual Basic Editor and insert a UserForm.

1. In the Project window, right-click the ThisWorkbook Object, and click View Code.

2. In the module, type the following code:

         Private Sub Workbook_Open()
             UserForm1.Show
         End Sub
   
   

3. In the Project window, right-click the UserForm1 Object and click View Code.

4. Type the following example code:

         Private Sub UserForm_Activate()
             Application.Wait Now + TimeValue("00:00:05")
             UserForm1.Hide
         End Sub
   
   

5. Switch to Microsoft Excel and save the workbook.

6. Close and reopen the workbook.

For additional information about creating a splash screen in Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q136222
   TITLE     : Excel: How to Use a Custom Dialog Box as a Startup Screen