Comments on: Blinking Cells

By: Corrine

Corrine — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:45:00 +0000

I am using an Excel Spreadsheet. (Excel 2003)

By: Corrine

Corrine — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:44:00 +0000

Is there a way to use blinking cells in relation to dates? I have a date field that I would want to blink after three days to show we are coming up on our 3 day deadline.

By: Alan

Alan — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:20:00 +0000

Guys, I always get an error msg on this one – Application.OnTime NextTime, “Flash”
- that he cannot find the macro Flash… can you help? Thx

By: Jon Peltier

Jon Peltier — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:05:00 +0000

Supert8ch:

Flashing cells? I'm glad I don't have to use any of your apps.

By: supert8ch

supert8ch — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:56:00 +0000

I need this function but want it to flash all the time. Everytime someone opens the document that is. I have played with the code but after I save any changes to the document the items I wish to still flash stop. I have to go in to macros and manually start the flash. Where am I messing up? I am new to this stuff in excel.

By: Ken Puls

Ken Puls — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 17:23:00 +0000

Hi guys,

A way to change the method without actually having to modify VBA code would be to set up two more styles. A “Flash_Red” style with red font, and a “Flash_White” style with a white font. The VBA could then be adjusted to:

Sub Flash()
NextTime = Now + TimeValue(“00:00:01?)
With ActiveWorkbook.Styles(“Flash”).Font
If .ColorIndex = ActiveWorkbook.Styles(“Flash_Red”).Font.ColorIndex Then _
.ColorIndex = ActiveWorkbook.Styles(“Flash_White”).Font.ColorIndex Else .ColorIndex = _
ActiveWorkbook.Styles(“Flash_Red”).Font.ColorIndex
End With
Application.OnTime NextTime, “Flash”
End Sub

Personally, I think I’d opt for John’s method though.

By: J-Walk

J-Walk — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 14:40:00 +0000

I prefer the low-tech approach: Just open and close your eyes real fast.

By: Tushar Mehta

Tushar Mehta — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 04:40:00 +0000

The traditional way to implement blinking is with code that does the work on a cell by cell basis. Bill's solution improves on it dramatically by use a style.

The down side, of course, is that if one wants to change the emphasis method, one must modify VBA code. Another approach that moves the formatting responsibility out of the VBA is at http://www.tmehta.com/tmxl/dbfind_byid.asp?id=14

One can implement all kinds of neat -- including some useful -- effects with that technique. Examples include an arrow cycling through some number of cells and a blinking point in a chart!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 04:20:00 +0000

I think I should add this to all of my workbooks (Aaarrrggghhh)