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Excel VBA - SendKeys Method

The SendKeys method simulates keystrokes that you would manually input in the active
window. Use SendKeys with caution, because it can have unexpected results

SendKeys Warning

Using the SendKeys Method

Keys Argument

SendKeys Examples

Run a Macro That Uses SendKeys

Problem Running SendKeys Macro

Keys and Key Combinations

Get the SendKeys Workbook

More Excel VBA Tutorials

SendKeys Warning
The SendKeys method simulates keystrokes that you would manually input in the active
window. Use with caution, because it can have unexpected results.

WARNING: You should only use the SendKeys Method if no other option is
available, because it can cause problems, if the wrong window is active when the
code runs.

You can read more about SendKeys on the Microsoft website: SendKeys Method
(https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/aa202943(v=office.10).aspx).

Using the SendKeys Method

You can use the SendKeys method in your VBA code, to simulate keystrokes that you would
manually input in the active window.
The SendKeys method has two arguments: SendKeys(Keys, Wait)

• The Keys argument is required, and is the key or keys that you want to send to the
application, as text.
• The Wait option is optional.
◦ Use True if Excel should wait for the keys to be processed before returning
control to the macro.
◦ Use False (or omit this argument) if Excel should continue running the macro
without waiting for the keys to be processed.

Keys Argument
For the Keys argument, you can use keys or key combinations, such as:

SendKeys "+{F2}" ...for Shift + F2

SendKeys "%ie~" ...for Alt + I, E, Enter

There is a full list of the codes at the end of this page: Keys and Key Combinations

SendKeys Examples
On the Comments VBA (https://www.contextures.com/xlcomments03.html) page, there are
macros that use the SendKeys method to open a comment for editing. For example, the
following macro inserts a comment with no user name, and opens that comment so it is ready
for editing.

Sub CommentAddOrEdit()

Dim cmt As Comment

Set cmt = ActiveCell.Comment
If cmt Is Nothing Then
ActiveCell.AddComment text:=""
End If
SendKeys "+{F2}"
End Sub

In this example, SendKeys "+{F2}" is like pressing Shift and tapping the F2 key, to edit the
comment in the active cell.
In Excel 2003, and earlier versions, where there is a Menu Bar, the SendKeys could simulate a
keyboard shortcut to run a menu command.

Sub CommentAddOrEdit()

Dim cmt As Comment

Set cmt = ActiveCell.Comment
If cmt Is Nothing Then
ActiveCell.AddComment text:=""
End If
SendKeys "%ie~"
End Sub

In this example, SendKeys "%ie~" is like the manual shortcuts to:

• press Alt and typing I (to open the Insert menu),

• then type E (to select the Edit command),
• and then press the Enter key, to select that command.
Run a Macro That Uses SendKeys
If a macro uses the SendKeys method, you can run that macro from the Macro window.

• On the Ribbon's View tab, click Macro

• Then click on the macro name, and click Run.

Or, you could add a button to the Quick Access Toolbar (https://www.contextures.com/excel-
quick-access-toolbar-customize.html), or to the Ribbon
(https://www.contextures.com/excelribbonaddcustomtab.html), or to a worksheet
(https://www.contextures.com/excel-vba-worksheet-macro-buttons.html), to run the macro.
Problem Running SendKeys Macro
If the SendKeys command isn't working correctly, one of these solutions might help fix the
problem

SendKeys Not Working From Shortcut

SendKeys Not Working From Shortcut

If you try to run a macro with a keyboard shortcut, and that macro uses the SendKeys
method, the SendKeys method might not work. This problem is acknowledged on the
Microsoft website: Error Using SendKeys in VB with Shortcut Key Assigned
(https://support.microsoft.com/kb/138624)

In this example, the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + C has been assigned to the CommentAddOrEdit
macro.

After creating the shortcut, if you press Ctrl + Shift + C, a blank comment is inserted in the
cell, but the comment does not open for editing -- the SendKeys method doesn't work.

The problem occurs because this is a very short macro, and you are still press the Ctrl + Shift
keys when the macro runs the SendKeys statement. This sends a key combination of Ctrl +
Shift + F2 to Excel, instead of Shift + F2.

To solve the problem, you can add a 1 second (or slightly longer) Wait line in the macro,
before the SendKeys.
 Sub CommentAddOrEdit()
Dim cmt As Comment
Set cmt = ActiveCell.Comment
If cmt Is Nothing Then
ActiveCell.AddComment Text:=""
End If
Application.Wait (Now() + TimeValue("00:00:01"))
SendKeys "+{F2}"
End Sub

Keys and Key Combinations

For the Keys argument, you can use keys or key combinations. You can type a character, such
as "a" or use codes from the table below:

Key Code

BACKSPACE {BACKSPACE} or {BS}

BREAK {BREAK}

CAPS LOCK {CAPSLOCK}

CLEAR {CLEAR}

DELETE or DEL {DELETE} or {DEL}

DOWN ARROW {DOWN}

END {END}

ENTER (numeric keypad) {ENTER}

ENTER ~ (tilde)

ESC {ESCAPE} or {ESC}

HELP {HELP}

HOME {HOME}

INS {INSERT}

LEFT ARROW {LEFT}

NUM LOCK {NUMLOCK}

PAGE DOWN {PGDN}

PAGE UP {PGUP}

RETURN {RETURN}

RIGHT ARROW {RIGHT}

SCROLL LOCK {SCROLLLOCK}

TAB {TAB}

UP ARROW {UP}

F1 through F15 {F1} through {F15}

To combine keys with Ctrl, Shift and/or Alt, precede the character with the following codes.
For example:
SendKeys "+{F2}" ...for Shift + F2

Key Code

SHIFT + (plus sign)

CTRL ^ (caret)

ALT % (percent sign)

Download the Workbook

To see the SendKeys sample code, and the list of keys, download the Excel SendKeys
workbook (vbasamples/excelsendkeys.zip). The zipped file is in xlsm format, and contains
macros. Enable macros when you open the file, if you want to test the SendKeys macro.

Related Pages
Edit Your Recorded Macro (https://contexturesblog.com/archives/2009/11/27/excel-vba-
edit-your-recorded-macro/)

Excel VBA Getting Started (https://contexturesblog.com/archives/2009/11/20/lean-mean-

vba-machine/)

FAQs, Excel VBA, Excel Macros (https://www.contextures.com/xlfaqMac.html)

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UserForm with ComboBoxes (xlUserForm02.html)

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More Tutorials
Edit Your Recorded Macro (https://contexturesblog.com/archives/2009/11/27/excel-
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Excel VBA Getting Started (https://contexturesblog.com/archives/2009/11/20/lean-

mean-vba-machine/)

FAQs, Excel VBA, Excel Macros (https://www.contextures.com/xlfaqMac.html)

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Last updated: October 15, 2018 12:55 PM