Countdown or timer display while external links are refreshed

[John19]

I have a workbook with about 15 external links to sites to download currency market information (Forex).

When I refresh my main sheet it takes about 3 or 4 minutes to complete, what I want is to display some sort of countdown to the end of the update cycle. It could be for instance a countdown from a number to 0 at the end of the cycle. Maybe if possible to actually display in a cell the total number of connections I have and a countdown from this number, or even better, showing the actual web addresses currently being downloaded from?

If this is not possible or too complicated, a simple counter from 10 to 0 would also do.

Basically anything to give an indication of how long is left.

thanks

[LJMetzger]

Hi John19,

Sounds like a job for the StatusBar.

See the attached sample file which contains the following code (in ordinary code module ModStatusBar):

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It is a best practice to declare all variables. If you misspell a variable in your code, VBA will silently assume it is a Variant variable and go on executing with no clue to you that you have a bug. Go to the VBA development window, click Tools, Options, and check "Require Variable Declaration." This will insert the following line at the top of all new modules:

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This option requires all variables to be declared and will give a compiler error for undeclared variables.

If Macro and VBA help is needed the following may help:
To enable Macros and to Run Macros see the following:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...010031071.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...010014113.aspx
If help is still needed do a google search for 'youtube excel enable macro' and/or 'youtube excel run macro'.

To access Visual Basic (VBA) see:
http://www.ablebits.com/office-addin...a-macro-excel/
a. Click on any cell in the Excel Spreadsheet (may not be needed).
b. ALT-F11 to get to VBA.
c. CTRL-R to get project explorer (if it isn't already showing).
d. Double Click on a 'Module Name' in 'Project Explorer' to see code for that module.

Debugger Secrets:
a. Press 'F8' to single step (goes into subroutines and functions).
b. Press SHIFT 'F8' to single step OVER subroutines and functions.
c. Press CTRL 'F8' to stop at the line where the cursor is.
d. 'Left Click' the margin to the left of a line to set (or clear) a BREAKPOINT.
e. Press CTRL 'G' to open the IMMEDIATE WINDOW. 'debug.print' statements send their
output to the IMMEDIATE WINDOW.
f. Select View > Locals to see all variables while debugging.
g. To automatically set a BREAKPOINT at a certain location put in the line:
'Debug.Assert False'
h. To conditionally set a BREAKPOINT at a certain location put in lines similar to:
if i >= 20 and xTV20 > 99.56 then
Debug.Assert False
endif
i. A variable value will be displayed by putting the cursor over the variable name.

To manually set a breakpoint, see http://www.wiseowl.co.uk/blog/s196/breakpoints.htm

Lewis

[John19]

thank you for that, BUT I'm completely lost.

What does this do? where do I put it and how?

I downloaded your file and clicked it but didn't understand a thing about.

All I want is a countdown timer to show how long I have to wait.

Please give me the very basic of instructions to get this to work.

thank you

[LJMetzger]

It's difficult to answer your question, especially since you apparently do not have the skills to implement a solution yourself, which is OK. That is why we are here to help.

To get more information, you are going to have to upload a sample workbook.

Make sure there is just enough data to demonstrate your need. Include a BEFORE sheet and an AFTER sheet in the workbook if needed to show the process you're trying to complete or automate. Make sure your desired results are shown, mock them up manually if necessary.

Remember to desensitize the data.

Click on GO ADVANCED and use the paperclip icon to open the upload window.

View Pic