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VBA · Performance

Application.Calculation

Switches to manual calculation during a macro so formulas do not recalculate after every write.

Very commonDifficulty 1150 · Proficient
Practice · 2 questions →

When to use it

Application.Calculation = xlCalculationManual stops formulas recalculating after every cell write during a macro. Restore to automatic at the end, or the workbook stays manual for the user.

The code

Code
Application.Calculation = xlCalculationManual
...
Application.Calculation = xlCalculationAutomatic

Worked examples

  • Manual during writes

    Application.Calculation = xlCalculationManual ... write many cells ... Application.Calculation = xlCalculationAutomatic One recalculation instead of thousands

    Big models.

  • Recalculate on demand

    Application.Calculate Forces a recalculation while in manual mode

    When you need results mid-macro.

  • Restore the previous mode

    Dim prev As XlCalculation prev = Application.Calculation Application.Calculation = xlCalculationManual ... Application.Calculation = prev Restores whatever the user had

    Polite.

Worth knowing

  • Calculation mode is application-wide and saved with the first workbook opened.
  • Worksheet.Calculate recalculates one sheet.
  • Reading a formula cell in manual mode returns a stale value until Calculate.

Where it goes wrong

  • Leaving it manual makes every workbook look broken to the user.
  • Reading results before Calculate gives old numbers.

Related

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