FLASHING TEXT

[Ian Dirnfeld]

Is there any way to get a specific cell containing text to flash?
In Word, you can go to "Text Effects" and get the background of text to flash, immediately drawing your attention to it. I want to stop using Word for an app and start using Excel, but this function is critical to me. Any ideas?

 

[Richard Schollar]

Hi Ian

There's no automatic or native function in Excel to achieve this, however you can simulate the effect by using VBA - there's a short tutorial at the following link which should take you through it:

http://exceltips.vitalnews.com/Pages/T0214_Flashing_Cells.html

 

[Ian Dirnfeld]

tHANKS FOR THE QUICK REPLY!
i'LL TRY IT OUT; IF i HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, i'M SURE YOU'LL HEAR FROM ME AGAIN.
tHANKS!
iAN

 

[Ian Dirnfeld]

Hi Richard, me again-
I did it, but I think I am missing the lower portion of the StopFlash code, as it now stays in the steady blue I programmed for the Style Function I chose.

 

[Richard Schollar]

Ian

can you post the code you are using and state where you have placed it (presumably in a standard module). Thanks.

Richard

 

[Ian Dirnfeld]

Sure:

Dim NextTime As Date

Sub StartFlash()
NextTime = Now + TimeValue("00:00:01")
With ActiveWorkbook.Styles("Flashing").Font
If .ColorIndex = xlAutomatic Then .ColorIndex = 3
.ColorIndex = 5 - .ColorIndex
End With
Application.OnTime NextTime, "StartFlash"
End Sub

Sub StopFlash()
Application.OnTime NextTime, "StartFlash", schedule:=False
ActiveWorkbook.Styles("Flashing").Font.ColorIndex = xlAutomatic

Having new used a macro before, I just copied and pasted the first one, exited, then copied and asted the second one...I'm sure I did something wrong...

 

[Richard Schollar]

Ian

You should have posted this into a standard module in your workbook - having done this (and created the style) it works for me. I must say it's pretty horrible to look at though.

Basically, in your module, the code should look like

Dim NextTime As Date

Sub StartFlash()
NextTime = Now + TimeValue("00:00:01")
With ActiveWorkbook.Styles("Flashing").Font
If .ColorIndex = xlAutomatic Then .ColorIndex = 3
.ColorIndex = 5 - .ColorIndex
End With
Application.OnTime NextTime, "StartFlash"
End Sub

Sub StopFlash()
Application.OnTime NextTime, "StartFlash", schedule:=False
ActiveWorkbook.Styles("Flashing").Font.ColorIndex = xlAutomatic
End Sub

Then activate via Tools>Macro>Macros and choose StartFlash from the list.