tried that I think it is something wrong with the macro this is the macro
Sub excavation()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
config = MsgBox("enter quantities in feet only", , "excavation")
userinput1 = InputBox("grade change between manholes", "excavation", 1)
userinput2 = InputBox("distance between manholes", "excavation", 1)
userinput3 = InputBox("depth of excavation at highest FL elevation", "excavation", 1)
userinput4 = InputBox("width at bottom of trench", "excavation", 1)
tri2 = tri1(userinput1, userinput2, userinput4)
squr1 = squar1(userinput2, userinput3, userinput4)
total1 = squr1 + tri2
Cells(9, 5) = total1
End Sub