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In the VBA Code Editor, we explored the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) programming environment. In this tutorial, we will take a closer look at one of its key tools — the Immediate Window. This handy feature lets you run VBA statements instantly, test commands, and debug your VBA projects in Excel, Access, and other Microsoft Office applications.

Tip: If the Immediate Window is not visible, press Ctrl + G or go to View → Immediate Window from the VBE menu.

The Immediate Window is used for debugging, evaluating expressions, executing statements, and inspecting or changing variable values. Think of it as a live console that allows you to test code snippets without running the entire macro.

Practical Uses of the Immediate Window

1. Running Commands Directly

You can execute any single line of VBA code directly within the Immediate Window. Simply type the statement and press Enter to run it instantly.

1. Open the Immediate Window.
2. Type a VBA command or statement.
3. Press Enter to execute it immediately.

Example:

Type the following code in the Immediate Window:

topic = "VBA"

Then run the next line to display the message box:

MsgBox topic & " makes Office come alive."

Tip: This technique is great for testing short snippets of code or verifying how a particular statement behaves.

2. Viewing and Changing Variable Values

A. Viewing Variable Values

To view the current value of a variable, type a question mark (?) before the variable name:

? myVariable

If the variable has not been initialised, the result will be blank.

Note: When inspecting local variables, make sure the procedure that declared them is still running, as local variables are cleared from memory once the procedure ends.

B. Changing Variable Values

To modify a variable’s value, use the assignment operator (=):

num = 12

Press Enter, and the value of num will be updated immediately.

3. Calling Subs and Functions

You can also call existing procedures from the Immediate Window. Simply type the module name followed by a dot (.) to activate the IntelliSense list of members.

Tip:
Using the module name before calling a procedure helps you benefit from the IntelliSense feature in the VBE editor. However, public procedures can also be called without specifying the module name.

Once you select or type the procedure name and press Enter, the Sub or Function will execute immediately.

test.MsgMe

4. Displaying Debug Output and Function Results

Another common use of the Immediate Window is to display debugging output. You can insert the Debug.Print statement in your VBA code to send variable values or expressions to the Immediate Window.

Debug.Print variable

To view the return value of a function, simply prefix the function call with a question mark:

? test.iAmTest(10, 20)

In the example above, VBA prints both argument values using Debug.Print and then shows the returned function result.

Summary and Practical Tips

The Immediate Window is one of the most valuable debugging tools in VBA. It allows you to test and analyse code without running the entire project, helping you save time and improve accuracy during development.

• ✅ Run commands instantly by pressing Enter
• 🔍 Inspect variable values using ?
• ✏️ Modify variable values at runtime
• ⚙️ Call Subs and Functions via module names
• 🧠 Print debug results using Debug.Print

IranVBA Tip:
Make a habit of using the Immediate Window as your go-to debugging assistant. It not only shortens the debugging cycle but also deepens your understanding of how your VBA code executes.