Microsoft KB Archive/46519

{| = Excel: Using the WAIT Macro Function =
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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994

Article ID: Q46519

SUMMARY
The WAIT macro function in Microsoft Excel suspends the execution of a macro, allowing you to introduce a pause or delay. The WAIT function takes an argument in the form of a serial number. The macro resumes execution at the time specified by the serial number.

The following is a method for specifying a pause:

  Calculate the duration of the desired pause in serial number form, that is, as a decimal fraction of one day, as in the following example: Time Interval       Serial Number Form -       --

1 day              1 1 hour             1/24 = 0.04166667 1 minute           1/(24*60) = 0.00069444 1 second           1/(24*60*60) = 0.000011574 10 seconds          10/(24*60*60) = 0.00011574   Add that time to the present time by entering the WAIT function, as follows: =WAIT(NOW+0.00011574) You also can combine the steps in one statement, as in the following example: =WAIT(NOW+10/(24*60*60) Both of these macro statements pause the macro for 10 seconds and then resume. 
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