Break code

[Noz2k]

How do you stop code running in VBA

I created a loop, but forgot to put in the line that add to the variable, so it's just infinitely looping the same thing over and over again, and has gone unresponsive.

Is there a way to cancel the code from running, because I have not saved things for a little while

 

[VoG]

Hold down the CTRL key then start tapping the Break key.

 

[Greg Truby]

You definitely want to do it the way Peter describes since that won't close Excel and you shouldn't lose any work. However, if you simply cannot get Excel to break by hitting Ctrl+Pause/Break, then hit Ctrl+Shift+Esc and you'll call up the Windows Task Manager. On the applications tab you can find and end the Excel application. You'll lose any unsaved workbooks, so it's a method of last resort.

 

[Noz2k]

Yeah, had to go down the end task route. Luckily Excel recovered most of it, so I only lost about 15 minutes work

 

[Greg Truby]

Don't feel bad. It's a best practice to put infinite loop protections in any loop structure - something all experienced programmers know. Yet even some of us old timers sometimes forget to do it every once in a while.