XL2000: How to Display a UserForm Whose Name Is in a Variable

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This article was previously published under Q213574

Summary

In Microsoft Excel 2000, it is possible for a Visual Basic for Applications macro to display a UserForm whose name is stored in a variable. This article explains how to do this.

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More information

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For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS In all following examples, the UserForm being used is called "UserForm1".

In Microsoft Excel 2000, if you want a Visual Basic macro to display UserForm1, the line of code would be:

   UserForm1.Show

Although this syntax is very simple, it can cause problems if you want to show a UserForm whose name is stored in a variable. For example, if the variable x contains the name of the UserForm, you cannot simply use the following to display UserForm1.

   Sub Test()
       x = "UserForm1"
       x.Show
   End Sub

If you run this macro, you receive the following error message:

Run-time error '424'
Object Required

UserForm Name Stored in a Variable

If you want to show a UserForm whose name is stored in a variable, use the following code:

   Sub ShowUserForm1()
       X = "UserForm1"
       VBA.UserForms.Add(X).Show
   End Sub

User Prompted for UserForm Name

You can use the InputBox method to ask users what UserForm they want to show:

   Sub ShowUserForm2()
       X = InputBox("Show which UserForm?: ")
       VBA.UserForms.Add(X).Show
   End Sub

UserForm Name Retrieved from Worksheet Cell

You can read a value from a cell in a worksheet:

   Sub ShowUserForm3()
      'Cell A1 of Sheet1 contains the name of the UserForm
       X = ActiveWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet1").Cells(1, 1).Value
       VBA.UserForms.Add(X).Show
   End Sub

Prompt for Index Number to Display UserForm

You can include a list of UserForm names in your macro and set the value of x to the UserForm that corresponds to an index number.

NOTE: The following example assumes you have three UserForms in your project: UserForm1, UserForm2, and UserForm3. You may want to insert some macro code to make sure the value entered is between 1 and 3, inclusive.

Sub ShowUserForm4()
   'Display an input box asking for a number between 1 and 3
   '(inclusive).
   Y = Application.InputBox (Prompt:="enter 1, 2, or 3", Type:=1)
   'Based on the number entered in the input box, X will be set to
   'the appropriate string.
   Select Case Y
   Case 1
      X = "UserForm1"
   Case 2
      X = "UserForm2"
   Case Else
      X = "UserForm3"
   End Select

   VBA.UserForms.Add(X).Show
End Sub

In each case above, the UserForm you want to show must exist. If it does not exist in your project, you will receive the following error message and your macro will stop.

Run-time error '424'

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