Excel VBA: Show UserForm on Same Screen

Did you know that displaying a UserForm on the same screen as the Excel window can be a challenge for users with dual monitors in Excel 2010? Many users have struggled with positioning their UserForm correctly, even after trying various code solutions found online. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Key Takeaways:

• Positioning a UserForm on the same screen as the Excel window can be challenging for users with dual monitors.
• Changing properties like StartUpPosition does not always result in the desired positioning.
• There are multiple code solutions available to address this issue, including using Application.UsableHeight, saving and retrieving UserForm position, and utilizing Windows APIs.
• Consider factors such as screen resolution, dual monitor setup, and the primary screen when working with UserForms in Excel VBA.
• Further exploration of VBA and Excel automation resources can enhance your skills in userform positioning and automation.

Issues with Centering UserForm on Dual Monitors

Users with dual monitors have encountered difficulties when attempting to center their UserForm on the same screen as the Excel window. Despite adjusting parameters such as StartUpPosition, Left, and Top, the UserForm consistently centers itself between the two monitors, rather than aligning with the desired screen. Users have experimented with placing the code in different event procedures, such as Activate or Initialize, but the issue persists.

This centering problem on dual monitors has posed a significant challenge for users seeking a seamless user experience when displaying their UserForm alongside their Excel window. The code solutions they have tried so far have proven ineffective in resolving this issue.

Possible reasons for the issue:

• The Excel application fails to recognize the presence of dual monitors
• StartUpPosition parameter does not function as expected on dual monitors
• The userform positioning properties are limited in their ability to handle dual monitor setups

To address this issue, users need alternative approaches and code solutions that specifically tackle the challenges encountered with dual monitor configurations in Excel VBA.

To gain a deeper understanding of these issues, let’s explore some common code solutions attempted by users and examine their effectiveness.

Code Solution 1: Centering UserForm Using Application.UsableHeight

When it comes to centering a UserForm on the same screen as the Excel window, one effective code solution involves utilizing the Application.UsableHeight property. By leveraging this property, you can calculate the top position of the UserForm to achieve perfect vertical centering.

To achieve this, you can follow a simple calculation:

TopPosition = (Application.UsableHeight / 2) – (UserFormHeight / 2)

This calculation divides the Application.UsableHeight by 2 and then subtracts half of the UserForm’s height, resulting in the correct top position for centering the UserForm vertically.

A similar approach can also be used to center the UserForm horizontally by calculating the left position using the Application.UsableWidth property.

Here is an example of how the code can be implemented:

Private Sub UserForm_Activate()
    ' Calculate the top position for vertical centering
    TopPosition = (Application.UsableHeight / 2) - (Me.Height / 2)

    ' Calculate the left position for horizontal centering
    LeftPosition = (Application.UsableWidth / 2) - (Me.Width / 2)

    ' Set the UserForm's position to the calculated values
    Me.Top = TopPosition
    Me.Left = LeftPosition
End Sub

This code initializes the UserForm’s position when it is activated by centering it both vertically and horizontally based on the dimensions of the Excel window and the UserForm itself.

To enhance your understanding, refer to the table below, which provides a visual representation of how the code solution works:

This table illustrates various scenarios where the UserForm’s height and Application.UsableHeight values differ, resulting in different top positions to achieve perfect vertical centering.

By implementing this code solution, you can ensure that your UserForm is consistently centered on the same screen as the Excel window, providing a seamless and visually appealing user experience.

Code Solution 2: Saving and Retrieving UserForm Position

When it comes to Excel VBA UserForms, maintaining their position between sessions can be a challenge, especially when working with multiple screens. Fortunately, there is a code solution that allows you to save the position of the UserForm and retrieve it the next time it is displayed. By saving and retrieving the position, you can ensure that the UserForm consistently appears on the same screen as the Excel window.

The SaveSetting and GetSetting functions can be used to store the position values in the Windows registry and retrieve them later. This method allows you to retain the last position of the UserForm and ensure that it is displayed exactly where you want it.

To save the position of the UserForm, you can use the SaveSetting function. Here’s an example:

SaveSetting "MyApp", "UserFormPosition", "Top", MyForm.Top
SaveSetting "MyApp", "UserFormPosition", "Left", MyForm.Left

Similarly, to retrieve the position of the UserForm, you can use the GetSetting function. Here’s an example:

MyForm.Top = GetSetting("MyApp", "UserFormPosition", "Top")
MyForm.Left = GetSetting("MyApp", "UserFormPosition", "Left")

By implementing this code solution, you can effectively save and retrieve the UserForm position, ensuring a consistent and user-friendly experience for your Excel VBA applications.

Benefits of Saving and Retrieving UserForm Position

• Consistent display: By saving and retrieving the UserForm position, you can ensure that it consistently appears on the same screen as the Excel window, regardless of the system or monitor setup.
• Enhanced user experience: Users will appreciate the convenience of having the UserForm retain its last position, improving the overall usability and efficiency of your Excel VBA applications.
• Customizability: The ability to save and retrieve the UserForm position allows for customization based on individual user preferences and requirements.

Code Solution 3: Centering UserForm Using Windows APIs

When it comes to centering a UserForm on the same screen as the Excel window, another effective approach is to utilize Windows APIs. By leveraging these application programming interfaces, you can access information about the application window’s width and height. This data will enable you to calculate the optimal center position for the UserForm, taking into account the specific screen resolution.

Using Windows APIs provides a more precise and dynamic solution compared to the traditional methods of adjusting the UserForm’s properties. You can ensure that the UserForm is consistently centered on the same screen as the Excel window, regardless of any changes in the screen resolution.

To implement this code solution, you need to:

1. Import the necessary Windows API functions and declarations.
2. Use the API functions to retrieve the application window’s width and height.
3. Calculate the center position for the UserForm based on the obtained values.
4. Set the left and top properties of the UserForm to the calculated center position.

Here’s an example code snippet that demonstrates the process:

' Import the necessary Windows API functions and declarations
Declare Function GetSystemMetrics Lib "user32" (ByVal nIndex As Long) As Long

' Get the application window's width and height
Dim appWidth As Long
Dim appHeight As Long
appWidth = GetSystemMetrics(0)
appHeight = GetSystemMetrics(1)

' Calculate the center position for the UserForm
Dim formWidth As Long
Dim formHeight As Long
Dim formLeft As Long
Dim formTop As Long

formWidth = UserForm1.Width
formHeight = UserForm1.Height
formLeft = (appWidth - formWidth) / 2
formTop = (appHeight - formHeight) / 2

' Set the left and top properties of the UserForm
UserForm1.Left = formLeft
UserForm1.Top = formTop

By using Windows APIs, you can ensure that the UserForm is perfectly centered on the same screen as the Excel window, providing a seamless and visually appealing user experience.

Code Solution 4: Centering UserForm on All Screens

For users with multiple screens, including the primary screen, an alternative code solution involves using the GetSystemMetrics Windows API to get the screen width and height. By calculating the center position based on these values, the UserForm can be centered on any screen, ensuring consistent positioning regardless of the screen configuration.

Here is an example of how to implement this code solution:

Private Declare Function GetSystemMetrics Lib "user32" (ByVal nIndex As Long) As Long

Sub CenterUserFormOnAllScreens()
    Dim UserFormWidth As Long
    Dim UserFormHeight As Long
    Dim ScreenWidth As Long
    Dim ScreenHeight As Long
    Dim LeftPosition As Long
    Dim TopPosition As Long

    ' Set UserForm dimensions
    UserFormWidth = UserForm1.Width
    UserFormHeight = UserForm1.Height

    ' Get screen dimensions
    ScreenWidth = GetSystemMetrics(0)
    ScreenHeight = GetSystemMetrics(1)

    ' Calculate center position
    LeftPosition = (ScreenWidth - UserFormWidth) / 2
    TopPosition = (ScreenHeight - UserFormHeight) / 2

    ' Set UserForm position
    UserForm1.Left = LeftPosition
    UserForm1.Top = TopPosition
End Sub

By using the GetSystemMetrics function to retrieve the screen width and height, this code solution ensures that the UserForm is centered on any screen configuration. The UserForm dimensions are obtained from the Width and Height properties, and the center position is calculated by subtracting half of the UserForm dimensions from the screen dimensions. The UserForm’s Left and Top properties are then set accordingly to position it at the calculated center position.

Additional Considerations and Resources

When working with UserForms and dual monitors in Excel VBA, there are several important considerations to keep in mind to ensure optimal userform positioning. These considerations include:

1. Screen Resolution: The screen resolution of each monitor can affect the display of UserForms. It is recommended to set the resolution to the same level on all monitors for consistent positioning.
2. Dual Monitor Setup: If you have a dual monitor setup, it is crucial to understand how Excel handles UserForm positioning. Excel may automatically center the UserForm between the two monitors, which can be problematic.
3. Primary Screen: The primary screen is the main monitor on which Excel is open. UserForms may be displayed on the primary screen by default, so it’s vital to verify the primary screen configuration.

By taking these factors into account, you can ensure that your UserForms are positioned correctly on the same screen as the Excel window. However, if you encounter difficulties, below are additional resources and guides that can provide further insights and solutions:

• Microsoft Office Support: The official Microsoft Office Support website offers comprehensive documentation and resources on Excel VBA and UserForms.
• Stack Overflow: This popular programming community forum provides a platform for users to ask questions and find solutions to specific Excel VBA userform positioning issues.
• Excel Easy: Excel Easy is a website dedicated to providing free Excel tutorials, including VBA programming. It offers step-by-step guides and examples on userform positioning and other VBA topics.

These resources can help expand your knowledge and provide alternative approaches to tackling userform positioning challenges in Excel VBA.

Example Resource: Microsoft Office Support

By utilizing these additional resources and implementing the considerations outlined above, you can overcome common userform positioning hurdles and enhance your Excel VBA automation workflows.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Excel VBA offers various code solutions to efficiently display UserForms on the same screen as the Excel window. While the methods described in this article provide valuable approaches, it is important to test and adapt the code according to individual requirements and system configurations.

When implementing these code solutions, users should consider specific factors such as their Excel setup, including custom configurations and add-ins. Adjustments may be necessary to ensure optimal userform positioning.

To further enhance skills and explore more possibilities for efficient userform display, users are encouraged to delve into additional resources and guides on VBA and Excel automation. A deeper understanding of these concepts will empower users with the knowledge to tackle more complex challenges and streamline their workflow.

By utilizing the code solutions and continuously expanding their knowledge, Excel VBA users can optimize their userform display and achieve seamless integration with their Excel workbooks.

Vaishvi Desai

Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel, Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise, easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts, formulas, Pivot Tables, and VBA.