2007 Macro Recorder Problem

[dplum]

In Excel 2003 or earlier if I record a macro to assign an image to a set of columns on a Chart I get the following code generated:

Sub Flag_Format_USA()
ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(2).Select
With Selection.Border
.Weight = xlThin
.LineStyle = xlNone
End With
Selection.Shadow = False
Selection.InvertIfNegative = False
Selection.Fill.UserPicture PictureFile:="D:\Files VBA2\Flag-USA.gif" _
, PictureFormat:=xlStack, PicturePlacement:=xlAllFaces
Selection.Fill.Visible = True
End Sub

=================================================================

However, in Excel 2007 when I use the macro recorder and "ask it" to record the same steps taken in 2003 it only generates the following code:

Sub Flag_Format_USA()
ActiveChart.SeriesCollection(2).Select
ActiveSheet.ChartObjects("Chart 1").Activate
End Sub

=================================================================

It appears that 2007's "Macro Recorder Engine" is not operating correctly.

Does anyone have any suggestions that would cause 2007 to generate correct VBA code?

 

[RoryA]

There are known issues with the macro recorder in 2007 and charts, due to the complete reworking of the charting engine.

 

[dplum]

Rory,
Might you be able to provide a link where all known macro recorder problems are documented?

Also, might you know when we can expect to see fixes to the problems that are known?

 

[RoryA]

There isn't, as far as I know, a list of all of them - it's just a known fact that the macro recorder simply ignores some actions completely. I am not aware of any pending fixes for this - but that doesn't mean they are not in the pipeline. (I would suspect it's not high on the priority list though)

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

The reason is ...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/937620

 

[dplum]

In reading the link provided by Andrew, it appears that the ability to generate code for chart elements (via the macro recorder) will not be made available, because as the article states they have been made read only in 2007, and so the "Status" of this symptom is stated as being "...by design". Therefore Microsoft does not plan to "fix" this "problem".

Andrew,
Might you know of any other Excel objcets in 2007 which the macro recorder is unable to generate code for updates to them?

 

[Andrew Poulsom]

As far as I know it's only shapes.