XL2000: How to Place a Check Mark Next to a Custom Menu Item

When you create custom menus, you may want to add a check mark next to a particular menu item to show that the item is selected. For example, when you point to Filter on the Data menu and then click AutoFilter, a check mark is placed next to AutoFilter to show that the AutoFilter is currently turned on.

This article shows you how to programmatically add a check mark next to a custom menu item, using the new CommandBars object model.

NOTE: You cannot programmatically add a check mark next to a built-in menu item; you can add check marks only to custom items.

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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 The msoButtonUp and msoButtonDown states of a menu item can be used to show or hide a check mark. To add a new custom menu to a worksheet and enable it to display a check mark when selected, follow these steps:

1. Start Microsoft Excel and open a new workbook.
2. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Visual Basic Editor.
3. On the Insert menu, click Module.
4. Type or paste the following code:

   Sub checked_menuitem()    'create a new menu item
   
       'add a new docked CommandBar
       Set mybar = CommandBars.Add(Name:="my command bar", Position:=msoBarTop)
       mybar.Visible = True
   
       'add a menu to the custom CommandBar
       Set mypopup = mybar.Controls.Add(Type:=msoControlPopup)
       mypopup.Caption = "my menu"
   
       'add a menu item to the menu just added to the CommandBar
       Set myitem = mypopup.Controls.Add(Type:=msoControlButton)
       myitem.Caption = "my menu item"
       myitem.OnAction = "check_item"
   
   End Sub
   
   Sub check_item()    'show or hide check mark and perform other actions
   
       Set mypopup = CommandBars("my command bar").Controls("my menu")
   
       If mypopup.Controls("my menu item").State = msoButtonDown Then
   
           'remove check next to menu item
           mypopup.Controls("my menu item").State = msoButtonUp
           MsgBox "menu item is now unchecked"
       Else
   
           'add check next to menu item
           mypopup.Controls("my menu item").State = msoButtonDown
           MsgBox "menu item is now checked"
       End If
   End Sub
   					

5. Run the checked_menuitem macro.
   
   This macro creates a docked CommandBar with a single menu named "my menu."
6. Return to Excel through the taskbar or by pressing ALT+F11.
7. Click the my menu drop-down list, and then click my menu item.
   
   Notice the message box stating that the menu is now selected, as well as the check mark next to my menu item.
8. Repeat step 7 and notice the appearance of the message box and menu item.

Removing the Custom Command Bar

1. On the Tools menu, click Customize.
2. On the Toolbars tab, scroll through the list of toolbars, and then select the my command bar item.
3. Click Delete, and then click OK.
4. Click Close.

For more information about Command Bars, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type commandbar property in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.