VBA Code To Insert An Image Into A Cell Comment
What This VBA Code Does
Using screenshots inside a cell’s comment box is a neat little trick I like to do to store documentation (ie an email stating why I should forecast a certain way). This allows my spreadsheet models to remain clutter-free but also allows me to include documentation as to why I might have changed a forecast.
The steps to manually insert an image into a cell’s comment box can be a bit of a nuisance, so I wrote some VBA code to automatically do this for me after I select my target cell. Enjoy!
VBA Code #1:
This solution will fit the image into the desired size of your comment box by using a Scale command (either ScaleWidth or ScaleHeight).
Sub InsertPictureComment()
'PURPOSE: Insert an Image into the ActiveCell's Comment
'SOURCE: www.TheSpreadsheetGuru.com/the-code-vault
Dim PicturePath As String
Dim CommentBox As Comment
'[OPTION 1] Explicitly Call Out The Image File Path
'PicturePath = "C:\Users\chris\Desktop\Image1.png"
'[OPTION 2] Pick A File to Add via Dialog (PNG or JPG)
With Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFilePicker)
.AllowMultiSelect = True
.Title = "Select Comment Image"
.ButtonName = "Insert Image"
.Filters.Clear
.Filters.Add "Images", "*.png; *.jpg"
.Show
'Store Selected File Path
On Error GoTo UserCancelled
PicturePath = .SelectedItems(1)
On Error GoTo 0
End With
'Clear Any Existing Comment
Application.ActiveCell.ClearComments
'Create a New Cell Comment
Set CommentBox = Application.ActiveCell.AddComment
'Remove Any Default Comment Text
CommentBox.Text Text:=""
'Insert The Image and Resize
CommentBox.Shape.Fill.UserPicture (PicturePath)
CommentBox.Shape.ScaleHeight 6, msoFalse, msoScaleFromTopLeft
CommentBox.Shape.ScaleWidth 4.8, msoFalse, msoScaleFromTopLeft
'Ensure Comment is Hidden (Swith to TRUE if you want visible)
CommentBox.Visible = False
Exit Sub
'ERROR HANDLERS
UserCancelled:
End SubVBA Code #2:
The below VBA code will lock in your image’s aspect ratio and allow you to increase its size by a factor using the variable ScaleValue.
Sub InsertPictureComment()
'PURPOSE: Insert an Image into the ActiveCell's Comment
'SOURCE: www.TheSpreadsheetGuru.com/the-code-vault
Dim PicturePath As String
Dim CommentBox As Comment
Dim ScaleValue As Integer
'Scale the comment image by a factor of...
ScaleValue = 4 '4x the size
'[OPTION 1] Explicitly Call Out The Image File Path
'PicturePath = "C:\Users\chris\Desktop\Image1.png"
'[OPTION 2] Pick A File to Add via Dialog (PNG or JPG)
With Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFilePicker)
.AllowMultiSelect = True
.Title = "Select Comment Image"
.ButtonName = "Insert Image"
.Filters.Clear
.Filters.Add "Images", "*.png; *.jpg"
.Show
'Store Selected File Path
On Error GoTo UserCancelled
PicturePath = .SelectedItems(1)
On Error GoTo 0
End With
'Clear Any Existing Comment
Application.ActiveCell.ClearComments
'Create a New Cell Comment
Set CommentBox = Application.ActiveCell.AddComment
'Remove Any Default Comment Text
CommentBox.Text Text:=""
'Insert The Image and Resize
CommentBox.Shape.Fill.UserPicture (PicturePath)
CommentBox.Shape.LockAspectRatio = True
CommentBox.Shape.Width = ScaleValue * CommentBox.Shape.Width
'Ensure Comment is Hidden (Swith to TRUE if you want visible)
CommentBox.Visible = False
Exit Sub
'ERROR HANDLERS
UserCancelled:
End SubUsing VBA Code Found On The Internet
Now that you’ve found some VBA code that could potentially solve your Excel automation problem, what do you do with it? If you don’t necessarily want to learn how to code VBA and are just looking for the fastest way to implement this code into your spreadsheet, I wrote an article (with video) that explains how to get the VBA code you’ve found running on your spreadsheet.
Getting Started Automating Excel
Are you new to VBA and not sure where to begin? Check out my quickstart guide to learning VBA. This article won’t overwhelm you with fancy coding jargon, as it provides you with a simplistic and straightforward approach to the basic things I wish I knew when trying to teach myself how to automate tasks in Excel with VBA Macros.
Also, if you haven’t checked out Excel’s latest automation feature called Power Query, I have put together a beginner’s guide for automating with Excel’s Power Query feature as well! This little-known built-in Excel feature allows you to merge and clean data automatically with little to no coding!
How Do I Modify This To Fit My Specific Needs?
Chances are this post did not give you the exact answer you were looking for. We all have different situations and it’s impossible to account for every particular need one might have. That’s why I want to share with you: My Guide to Getting the Solution to your Problems FAST! In this article, I explain the best strategies I have come up with over the years to get quick answers to complex problems in Excel, PowerPoint, VBA, you name it!
I highly recommend that you check this guide out before asking me or anyone else in the comments section to solve your specific problem. I can guarantee that 9 times out of 10, one of my strategies will get you the answer(s) you are needing faster than it will take me to get back to you with a possible solution. I try my best to help everyone out, but sometimes I don’t have time to fit everyone’s questions in (there never seem to be quite enough hours in the day!).
I wish you the best of luck and I hope this tutorial gets you heading in the right direction!
After 10+ years of creating macros and developing add-ins, I've compiled all the hacks I wish I had known years ago!
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Chris Newman
Chris is a finance professional and Excel MVP recognized by Microsoft since 2016. With his expertise, he founded TheSpreadsheetGuru blog to help fellow Excel users, where he shares his vast creative solutions & expertise. In addition, he has developed over 7 widely-used Excel Add-ins that have been embraced by individuals and companies worldwide.