Disable/Enable button in Excel/VBA

Question

I'm trying the following function in VBA/Excel:

Sub function_name()
  button.enabled=false
  Call Long_Function       ' duration: 10sec
  button.enabled=true
End Sub

For some reason, this button disabling does not work (it stays enabled in the excel work sheet) I tried experimenting with DoEvents and delays, but no luck there. Any ideas? Thanks!

Axel Kemper · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-30T19:00:47.253

22

The following works for me (Excel 2010)

Dim b1 As Button

Set b1 = ActiveSheet.Buttons("Button 1")

b1.Font.ColorIndex = 15
b1.Enabled = False
Application.Cursor = xlWait
Call aLongAction
b1.Enabled = True
b1.Font.ColorIndex = 1
Application.Cursor = xlDefault

Be aware that .enabled = False does not gray out a button.

The font color has to be set explicitely to get it grayed.

edited Mar 30 '15 at 19:00

answered Jan 02 '13 at 15:01

Axel Kemper

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Good answer! The last sentence could be at the beginning of the post, I had to come twice because I didn't read all of it! Silly me :P – ForceMagic Jun 24 '13 at 19:26
9

I think it's important to note that, in Excel 2010, setting `b1.Enabled = False` does not stop the actions associated with that button from occurring if it is clicked. – Kes Perron Mar 30 '15 at 18:17
... and **to deactivate the action (event), it must be unassigned** (Excel 2010) or one creates two buttons on the same spot switching their visibility as described here: https://stackoverflow.com/a/566965/1915920 – Andreas Covidiot Mar 04 '19 at 14:48

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 02 '13 at 13:37

3

... I don't know if you're using an activex button or not, but when I insert an activex button into sheet1 in Excel called CommandButton1, the following code works fine:

Sub test()

   Sheets(1).CommandButton1.Enabled = False

End Sub

Hope this helps...

answered Jan 02 '13 at 13:37

John Bustos

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this works perfect, i think it has to do with 'screen refresh' or something while the 'long function' is running – Jon V Jan 02 '13 at 13:38

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 22 '14 at 07:37

2

too good !!! it's working and resolved my one day old problem easily

Dim b1 As Button

Set b1 = ActiveSheet.Buttons("Button 1")


b1.Enabled = False

edited Apr 22 '14 at 07:37

SysDragon

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answered Apr 22 '14 at 07:14

mansi

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score 2 · Answer 4 · edited Aug 08 '19 at 18:16

2

Others are correct in saying that setting button.enabled = false doesn't prevent the button from triggering. However, I found that setting button.visible = false does work. The button disappears and can't be clicked until you set visible to true again.

edited Aug 08 '19 at 18:16

RobC

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answered Aug 08 '19 at 17:44

gi_jimbo

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score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 21 '17 at 22:08

This is working for me (Excel 2016) with a new ActiveX button, assign a control to you button and you're all set.

Sub deactivate_buttons()

     ActiveSheet.Shapes.Item("CommandButton1").ControlFormat.Enabled = False

End Sub

It changes the "Enabled" property in the ActiveX button Properties box to False and the button becomes inactive and greyed out.

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Nov 03 '20 at 19:47

I'm using excel 2010 and below VBA code worked fine for a Form Button. It removes the assigned macro from the button and assign in next command.

To disable:

ActiveSheet.Shapes("Button Name").OnAction = Empty
ActiveSheet.Shapes("Button Name").DrawingObject.Font.ColorIndex = 16

To enable:

ActiveSheet.Shapes("Button Name").OnAction = ActiveWorkbook.Name & "!Macro function Name with _Click"
ActiveSheet.Shapes("Button Name").DrawingObject.Font.ColorIndex = 1

Pls note "ActiveWorkbook.Name" stays as it is. Do not insert workbook name instead of "Name".

bonCodigo · Answer 7 · 2013-01-02T13:47:05.457

-1

This is what iDevelop is trying to say Enabled Property

So you have been infact using enabled, coz your initial post was enable..

You may try the following:

Sub disenable()
  sheets(1).button1.enabled=false
  DoEvents
  Application.ScreenUpdating = True

  For i = 1 To 10
    Application.Wait (Now + TimeValue("0:00:1"))
  Next i

  sheets(1).button1.enabled = False
End Sub

edited Jan 02 '13 at 13:47

answered Jan 02 '13 at 13:38

bonCodigo

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@Jonathan it seems like your waiting function doesn't seem to pull the desired `trigger` to change button properties. So please give this a try. – bonCodigo Jan 02 '13 at 13:48
I found this too online, but this does not do the trick. I think this 'trigger' indeed is the problem. If I break after my function, the button does gets inactive. – Jon V Jan 02 '13 at 13:53

Disable/Enable button in Excel/VBA

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