Macro recorder error

Question

Microsoft Macro recorder gives a syntax error when no error is in the name. No matter what name I use the error message appears and no Macros can record. Also, Macros already written are no longer in workbook. Can you help? !!

Answer 1

I came across this trying to find a solution to the same problem and while it did not solve it, I eventually found the problem, so I thought I would share it for others who encounter it.

For reasons unknown, I had two files in my %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART folder--Personal.xlsb and Personal.xlsb.bak.

When I looked at the VBA Project in the VBA Editor, I could see that both were loaded--yes, it had loaded the ".bak" file, even though that is not an Excel extension. The two files were nearly identical, so the same functions were defined twice--once in the xlsb and once in the bak file.

This was causing the error blocking the recording of the new macro--the error was not really related to the new macro; rather, it was complaining about the existing situation.

I closed Excel, removed the ".bak" file, restarted, and everything worked fine after that.

So, if you encounter the error that you cannot record a new macro, look for any existing duplicate function definitions and clean those up and your problem should hopefully go away!

Answer 2

Hi,

What names are you entering?

• Use a letter as the first character. (Names aren't case sensitive, but they preserve capitalization.)
• Use only alphanumeric characters and the underscore character ( _ ), no spaces
• Use fewer than 255 characters.
• Avoid names that match Visual Basic or InfoConnect commands. ...
• Give unique names to macros within a single module.

Answer 3

Hello Gerald_VS,

I'm Shalom and I'd happily help you with your question. In this forum, we are Microsoft consumers just like yourself.

Here are a few steps you can try to resolve the problem:

1. Check Macro Security Settings: Ensure that your Excel macro security settings are not blocking the execution of macros. Go to the Excel Options, click on "Trust Center" > "Trust Center Settings" > "Macro Settings" and select a setting that allows macros to run. Make sure you understand the potential security risks associated with changing these settings.
2. Restart Excel in Safe Mode: Sometimes, third-party add-ins or conflicting settings can cause issues with macro recording. Try restarting Excel in Safe Mode, which disables all add-ins and extensions. You can do this by holding down the Ctrl key while launching Excel, then selecting "Yes" when prompted to start in Safe Mode. Once in Safe Mode, try recording a macro and see if the issue persists.
3. Check for Software Updates: Ensure that you have the latest updates and patches installed for Microsoft Office. Sometimes, these updates include bug fixes that could address the issues you're experiencing.
4. Reset Excel Settings: If the issue persists, you might consider resetting Excel settings to their default values. This can help if the problem is caused by a corrupted setting. You can do this by going to the Excel Options > "Advanced" > "Reset" under the General section.
5. Repair Microsoft Office: If none of the above steps work, you could try repairing your Microsoft Office installation. Go to the Control Panel (or Settings on Windows 10) > "Programs" > "Programs and Features," then select Microsoft Office and choose "Repair."
6. Check for Add-in Conflicts: If you have other add-ins installed in Excel, they might be conflicting with the macro recorder. Try disabling or uninstalling any third-party add-ins and see if the issue is resolved.
7. Test on a Different Workbook: Create a new Excel workbook and try recording a macro there. This will help determine if the issue is specific to the workbook you were using.
8. Check VBA References: If you're using or have used VBA code in your macros, there might be an issue with references. Go to the VBA editor (Alt + F11), then check the references by clicking on "Tools" > "References" and make sure there are no missing references marked as "MISSING."
9. Check for Macro Corruption: It's possible that the existing macros in your workbook got corrupted. You might want to try opening the workbook on a different computer or restoring from a backup if available.

Remember to back up your work before making any significant changes to your Excel settings or troubleshooting steps.

Best Regards, Shalom