ID: Q184502
The information in this article applies to:
You can use the Office Assistant to display a custom message (balloon) with the options you specify. The Assistant can display a simple message with buttons or check boxes. You can display several kinds of buttons (OK, Cancel, Retry, and so on) at the bottom of the Assistant.
This article provides sample macros that customize the Assistant.
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft Support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:
http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp
Before you create a custom message, you must first create a module. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Save and close any open workbooks, and then create a new workbook.
2. Start the Visual Basic Editor (press OPTION+F11).
3. On the Insert menu, click Module.
To create a sample balloon, follow these steps:
1. Type the following code in the module:
Sub Simple_Balloon()
' Create the balloon object.
Set myballoon= Assistant.NewBalloon
With myballoon
.Heading = "My Balloon"
.Text = "Click OK to close the balloon"
.Show
End With
End Sub
The Office Assistant displays a balloon with the heading "My Balloon" in
bold letters and a message that prompts you to click OK.
The balloon disappears.
1. Type the following code in the module:
Sub List_Balloon()
' Create the balloon object.
Set myballoon= Assistant.NewBalloon
With myballoon
.Heading = "List Balloon"
.Text = "Click OK to close the balloon."
' Text for the list items:
.Labels(1).Text = "Click Save on the File menu to save " _
& "the file."
.Labels(2).Text = "Click Print on the File menu to " _
& "print the file."
' Create a numbered list.
.BalloonType = msoBalloonTypeNumbers
' Display the balloon.
.Show
End With
End Sub
The Office Assistant displays a balloon with a number list.
1. Type the following code in the module:
Sub Balloon_Checkboxes()
' Create balloon object.
Set myballoon = Assistant.NewBalloon
With myballoon
.Heading = "Regional Sales Data"
.Text = "Select your region"
' Place OK and Cancel buttons at bottom of the balloon.
.Button = msoButtonSetOkCancel
For i = 1 To 3
.CheckBoxes(i).Text = "Region " & i
Next
' Display the balloon and assign it to x.
x = .Show
i = 0
Select Case x
Case -1 'You clicked OK.
' Loop through check boxes on the balloon.
For Each y In .CheckBoxes
i = i + 1
If y.Checked Then
MsgBox "region " & i
End If
Next
Case -2 ' You clicked Cancel.
MsgBox "You clicked Cancel."
End Select
End With
End Sub
A balloon with three check boxes appears.
Messages boxes that display your choices appear.
1. Type the following code in the module:
Sub Balloon_Array()
Dim myBalloonArray(2) As Balloon
With Assistant
For i = 1 To 2
' Create a new balloon object.
Set myBalloonArray(i) = .NewBalloon
Next
End With
With myBalloonArray(1)
.Heading = "This is balloon #1."
.Text = "Click OK to close the balloon."
' Display the first balloon.
.Show
End With
With myBalloonArray(2)
.Heading = "This is balloon #2."
.Text = "Click OK to close the balloon."
' Display the second balloon.
.Show
End With
End Sub
The first balloon appears.
The second balloon appears.
The second balloon is dismissed.
1. Type the following code in the module:
Sub Balloon_Options()
' Create a new balloon object.
Set balloon1 = Assistant.NewBalloon
With balloon1
.Heading = "Options Balloon"
' Create buttons for the list items.
.BalloonType = msoBalloonTypeButtons
.Text = "Click an option or click OK to close the balloon."
' Set the text for list items.
.Labels(1).Text = "Save your file."
.Labels(2).Text = "Print your file."
' Mode must be msoModeModeless in order to use Callback
' property.
.Mode = msoModeModeless
' Call the "ProcessOption" macro when a balloon list item is
' clicked.
.Callback = "ProcessOption"
.Show
End With
End Sub
' Every procedure specified in the Callback property is
' passed three arguments: the balloon that activated the
' procedure, the return value of the button the user pressed,
' and an integer that uniquely identifies the balloon that
' called the procedure.
Sub ProcessOption(bln As Balloon, ibtn As Long, iPriv As Long)
' bln: the name of the balloon that activated the procedure
' ibtn: the number of the button clicked in the balloon
' iPriv: an integer that uniquely identifies the balloon
Assistant.Animation = msoAnimationGoodbye
Select Case ibtn
Case 1
' Insert your routine here.
bln.Close
bln.Text = "You chose the Save option."
bln.Show
Case 2
' Insert your routine here.
bln.Close
bln.Text = "You chose the Print option."
bln.Show
Case Else ' You clicked something other than a list item.
bln.Close
End Select
End Sub
A balloon with two options appears.
The balloon reappears, and the text in the balloon is "You chose the
Save option."
The balloon reappears, and the text in the balloon is "You chose the
Print option."
Note: If you edit a cell within this workbook and then run this macro, choosing one of the balloon options will cause an Invalid Page Fault. The code itself runs fine as long as you do not attempt to edit any cell in the workbook prior to running macro.
For more information about creating custom Office Assistant balloons, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic Editor, type "balloon" click Search, and then click to view "Creating and modifying balloons."
NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q179216
TITLE : OFF98: How to Use the Microsoft Office Installer Program
Keywords : kbprg kbtool kbdta kbdtacode xlvbahowto xlvbainfo OffVBA
Version : MACINTOSH:98
Platform : MACINTOSH
Issue type : kbhowtoLast Reviewed: May 18, 1999