VBA Sleep Doesn't Work

Question

I know I\'m doing something wrong here. I\'m trying to use the sleep function to delay my code, but I get \"Sub or Function not defined\" error. Any tips?

Answer 1

Here's what you need for cross compatability with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows machines. The delay is in milliseconds, so use 1000 for a 1 second delay.

First, put this above your other Subs/Functions in a module. On a 64-bit machine the line after "#Else" will be highlighted as if there is an error, but this isn't an issue. The code will compile and run.

#If VBA7 Then
    Declare PtrSafe Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
#Else
    Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)
#End If

Now you can create a delay like this example with a 1.5 second delay:

Sub ExampleWithDelay()
    Msgbox "This is a message before the delay."
    Sleep 1500    ' delay of 1,000 milliseconds or 1.5 seconds
    Msgbox "This is a message -AFTER- the delay."
End Sub

As noted by @SLaks, this freezes the application (preventing user input) but you can also call DoEvents in a While loop. See the example below. It runs for 10 seconds and allows user interaction.

Every 1/10th of a second it updates the Excel status bar with:

1. The address of the active cell

2. A countdown

   Sub ExampleWithDelayInLoop()    ' for MS Excel
   
       Dim thisMessage As String
       Dim countdownText As String
       Dim i As Long
   
       Const TOTAL_SECONDS As Byte = 10
   
       For i = 1 To TOTAL_SECONDS * 10
   
           countdownText = Excel.WorksheetFunction.RoundUp(TOTAL_SECONDS - (i / 10), 0)
           thisMessage = "You selected " & Excel.ActiveCell.Address & Space$(4) & countdownText & " seconds remaining"
   
           ' Show the address of the active cell and a countdown in the Excel status\
           '   bar.
           If Not Excel.Application.StatusBar = thisMessage Then
               Excel.Application.StatusBar = thisMessage
           End If
   
           ' Delay 1/10th of a second.
           '   Input is allowed in 1/10th second intervals.
           Sleep 100
           DoEvents
   
       Next i
   
   
       ' Reset the status bar.
       Excel.Application.StatusBar = False
   End Sub