Introduction

Introducing Speech Bubbles for Excel

Interactive, Draggable, Modal or Modeless Speech Bubbles to use in Excel 2016 (32bit or 64bit, Version 16) · Build Beautiful, Modern UserForms for Excel

If you want to have a really nice, modern looking Speech Bubbles for Excel then how about using my Speech Bubbles Software giving you the Code and methods to download Vector Images and change them into a sleek, different MsgBox. Speech Bubbles use my minified Extensibility Class for Excel (redacted from my UserForm-Extensibility Class) to make some aspects of interactivity easier like adding a Hand Cursor to a Close Cross or allowing a UserForm or parts of a UserForm to be transparent and / or dragged by the Mouse. All of the Credits for Images are in the Download File together with links for Purchasing Vectors (where I have used Pro licenses myself) to enable you to develop this Software further should you so wish

You are purchasing Speech Bubbles v1 which includes various examples of different Speech Bubbles, the Extensibility Class, one-size '.BMP' Images and '.PNG' transparent Close Cross, Buttons and Icon. More importantly, you get a method using my Code to download and create your very own alternative Bubbles should you want to

If you love Speech Bubbles, you may also like any of the following Software. Boho MP3 Player uses UserForm Extensibility as the interface for all of its dialogs

Info Bubble · Warning Msg · Info Msg · Question Msg · Error Msg · Userform Extensibility · Boho MP3 Player · Mint UserForm · Slate UserForm · Lightbox UserForm · Dark UI · Blue UI · Carbon UI · UserFOrm UI · BoX · Flat UI · UserForm Slider Buttons

Prerequisites

Microsoft Excel 2016 Version 16 (32bit or 64bit) · designed for Office 365 Windows 11
Basic to moderate Excel Skills and some basic VBA skills
Windows PC · NOT a Mac!
No support is provided for customization of this Software

Features

Self.RemoveCaptionBordersAndSetTransparency - remove the Caption, Borders from a UserForm and sets the Transparency so that you can use a .BMP and make the White parts transparent in Excel
Self.AllowDrag - creates a draggable UI Interface, move the UserForm (or other Controls on the UserForm) around with the Mouse
Use with both Modal or Modeless UserForms
Use the Escape Key {ESC} to exit
Interactive Close Cross - changes colour when the Mouse rolls over it and shows the Hand Cursor via the Extensibility Class
Messages as a Label Controls - Change the Text, Text Size, Weight and Colour of your Speech Bubble Messages
Free Close Cross Icon in various Colours
Isolated, extracted and manipulated .BMP's (Bitmaps) that can now be loaded directly into a UserForm
Three folders, 'bmps', 'affinity' and 'transparent images' containing all of the images used in this Software

Speech Bubbles. You get isolated and manipulated .BMP's (Bitmaps) that can be loaded directly into a UserForm. You also get various Transparent .PNG Images that you can load into Image Controls via my ImageTransparency.xlsm Software (included with the download)

These Speech Bubbles come with an Icon, interative Button and Close Cross

Installation

Right-click and extract the contents of the File SpeechBubbles.zip. Original Affinity images are stored in the 'affinity' Folder, Bitmaps are stored in the 'bmps' Folder, Transparent .PNG's are stored in the 'transparent images' Folder. Open SpeechBubbles.xlsm and test the Examples

To use Speech Bubbles in your own Projects open SpeechBubbles.xlsm and your own Macro-enabled Project. Then open the VBE (Visual Basic Editor) and drag the Extensibility Class and any of the UserForms into your Project. Add and configure any of the Example Code in the Examples Code Module to use each Speech Bubble

Take some time to examine how Speech Bubbles works and read the 'Usage' Section in this online documentation before you begin to create your own Speech Bubbles for Excel or before turning to Support

Usage

How to use Info Bubble

Quick How To...
To use Speech Bubbles in your own Projects open SpeechBubbles.xlsm and your own Macro-enabled Project. Then open the VBE (Visual Basic Editor) and drag the Extensibility Class and any of the UserForms into your Project. Add and configure any of the Example Code in the Examples Code Module to use each Speech Bubble

Speech Bubbles, Example 1 with a interactive Close Cross
The first example demonstrates two similar Speech Bubbles, one loaded as a Bitmap directly into a White UserForm and one loaded using my ImageTransparency Software in a slightly lighter shade used by the Speech Bubble background. This allows you to control the way that any irregular Window Shape used as a UserForm interacts with its background Colours. The standard White Colour used for transparency will leave a fine, jagged White Pixel Border, whereas changing the transparency colour to a lighter shade of the Speech Bubble (and loaded using my ImageTransparenct Software) gives a nicer transition on different coloured backgrounds. I demonstrate both options here but from then on I will load the Bitmap images only into a White UserForm with a White transparency Colour as for most usage you will be using the Speech Bubbles ontop of an Excel White Workbook one assumes. Example 1 features an interactive Close Cross. To display the first Speech Bubble in your own Excel Workbook simply use Code like this in any standard Code Module:

Public Sub Example1()
   With SpeechBubble1
      .Message.Font.Bold = True
      .Message.Caption = "This is a Speech Bubble" & Chr$(10) & "- you can change the Font and add your own text here"
      .Show 0
   End With
End Sub

Loading an isolated image that has then been changed from a transparent .PNG into a .BMP, as a Bitmap directly into a White UserForm using a White transparency colour - this is the method I use throughout after the initial Example 1 demonstration

Changing the transparency colour to a lighter shade of the Speech Bubble (loaded using my ImageTransparenct Software) gives a nicer transition on different coloured backgrounds

Speech Bubbles, Example 2, a Different Bubble
The second example demonstrates using a different Bubble as a container with the Font Consolas. It still has the interactive Close Cross to allow you to close the UserForm, but you can also use the Escape '{ESC}' key as well. I liked the shape of this Bubble with its 'stitched' appearance and it really demonstrates the irregular Dialog Boxes that you can create for Excel. To display this in your Excel Workbook simply use Code like this in any standard Code Module:

Public Sub Example2()
   With SpeechBubble2
      .Message.Font.Bold = True
      .Message.Caption = "This is a Speech Bubble" & Chr$(10) & "- you can change the Font and add your own text here"
      .Show 0
   End With
End Sub

Speech Bubbles, Examples 3 and 4
In Examples 3 and 4, I changed the Bubbles again just to give you an idea of the different types of Bubbles out there that you can use

In Examples 3 and 4, I changed the Bubbles again just to give you an idea of the different types of Bubbles out there that you can use. A Skewed 3D style

In Examples 3 and 4, I changed the Bubbles again just to give you an idea of the different types of Bubbles out there that you can use. A Frame style

Speech Bubbles, Examples 5 and 6
In Examples 5 and 6 I created a set of Bubbles using an .EPS downloaded from Vecteezy that I liked in 4 different Colours. Each Bubble has an Icon, a Button and a Close Cross. The Buttons and Close Cross are interactive and both close the Dialogs. I had to create a lot of different images both .PNG and .BMP alike to do this. The interactivity is handled by Event Handlers in the Code and by my Extensibility Class. Here are a couple of examples of the lovely Speech Bubbles you can use in your Projects for Excel

In Examples 5 and 6 I created a set of Bubbles using an .EPS downloaded from Vecteezy that I liked in 4 different Colours. Each Bubble has an Icon, a Button and a Close Cross. The Buttons and Close Cross are interactive and both close the Dialogs. I had to create a lot of different images both .PNG and .BMP alike to do this. The interactivity is handled by Event Handlers in the Code and by my Extensibility Class

Extensibility Class
The Extensibility Class is required for Info Bubble to remove the Caption and Borders from a UserForm. It also allows the White colour to become transparent so that you can use irregular Window Sizes for the UserForm via .BMP's. It allows a number of simple ways to extend your UserForms, for example to make them (or any Control) draggable use the following Code:

Option Explicit

Private Self As New Extensibility

' UserForm
Private Sub UserForm_Initialize()
   Set Self.Assign = Me
End Sub

Private Sub UserForm_MouseDown(ByVal Button As Integer, ByVal Shift As Integer, ByVal X As Single, ByVal Y As Single)
   Self.AllowDrag
End Sub

To show a hand Cursor use the following Code:

Option Explicit

Private Self As New Extensibility

' UserForm
Private Sub UserForm_Initialize()
   Set Self.Assign = Me
End Sub

Private Sub Close_Cross_Active_MouseMove(ByVal Button As Integer, ByVal Shift As Integer, ByVal X As Single, ByVal Y As Single)
   Self.AddCursor IDC_HAND
End Sub

To remove the Caption, Borders and allow Transparency of White (a Long Colour Code) use the following Code:

Option Explicit

Private Self As New Extensibility

' UserForm
Private Sub UserForm_Initialize()
   Set Self.Assign = Me
   Self.RemoveCaptionBordersAndSetTransparency 16777215  
End Sub

Modal or Modeless?
To change the Info Bubble from a Modeless UserForm to a Modal UserFrom simply change the zero (0) after the Code '.Show' to a 1 like this:

Public Sub Example1()
   With SpeechBubble1
      .Message.Font.Bold = True
      .Message.Caption = "This is a Speech Bubble" & Chr$(10) & "- you can change the Font and add your own text here"
      .Show 1
   End With
End Sub

Image Processes - Loading in a Bitmap to a UserForm or Control
An easy way of getting an image into a UserForm or one of its Controls is to load a '.BMP' (Bitmap) directly. Use the 'Picture' member to Browse and load the File. To create a Bitmap you can use Photoshop to take any Transparent Image saved as a '.PNG' and convert it by using 'Save As' into a Bitmap, choose Format 'BMP (*.BMP;*.RLE;*.DIB)', File Format 'Windows' and Depth '24 Bit'. Where you need to have the Background Colour a different Colour from standard White '255, 255, 255' for your Bitmap, because for example you are using White as the Transparent Colour, which would cause holes in your image, then use the Paint Bucket Tool, selecting an alternative Colour by entering the RGB Values ie. '254, 254, 254' together with settings, Opacity '100%', Tolerance '30' and tick the Anti Alias checkbox

Image Processes - Loading in a Transparent PNG to a UserForm or Control
A trick I use all of the time is to use my Free ImageTransparency.xlsm Software to load in a Transparent '.PNG' File into a UserForm or one of its Controls - you can download this free here. This technique allows you to load any PNG and then Paste it into the Picture memeber of the UserForm or Control. You MUST set the background Colour 'BackColor' of the UserForm or Control in the single UserForm within the ImageTransparency.xlsm File first and this should be a VB Hex Colour - use a great Tool like 'InstantEyeDropper' to do this, it's free and can be downloaded from here. Now press the 'Copy to Clipboard' Button in the ImageTransparency.xlsm Software to Browse and load in the PNG File. Switch to Excel and Paste into the Picture member. The PNG image will now be added to the UserForm or Control and the Transparent Colour will be replaced by the VB Hex Colour that you used for the BackColor of the UserFrom or Control

Screeen Shots

Here is an Information Speech Bubble in Blue with an Icon, interactive Button and Close Cross

And, here is another Bubble in Yellow with an Icon, interactive Button and Close Cross

Speech Bubbles for Excel, making UserForms beautiful! Add more Message Controls to section the Text and move it around the Bubble more easily

Speech Bubbles variations. You get isolated and manipulated .BMP's (Bitmaps) that can be loaded directly into a UserForm. You also get various Transparent .PNG Images that you can load into Image Controls via my ImageTransparency.xlsm Software (included with the download)

Info Bubble. You get isolated and manipulated .BMP's (Bitmaps) that can be loaded directly into a UserForm. You also get various Transparent .PNG Images that you can load into Image COntrols via my ImageTransparency.xlsm Software (included with the download)

Two more Speech Bubbles Demonstrating how you can use them on different Coloured Backgrounds by changing the Transparency Colour used and loading in using my Free Image Transparency Software (included)

Here are some Speech Bubble Variations with an Icon, interactive Button and Close Cross

FAQ

* There are currently no FAQ for Speech Bubble

Speech Bubble Videos

This is a video of the Speech Bubbles Software. Music is 'Hallow's Beach - Quincas Moreira'. View this video on YouTube

Support

Please remember you have purchased very affordable Software and you have not paid for a full-time Software design agency - I am but one man. Occasionally I may help with small tweaks, but these requests will be put on a much lower priority due to their nature. You have not PAID for Support, Support is 100% optional and I provide it for your convenience, so please be patient, polite and respectful

Support (limited) for my Software includes

Responding to questions or problems regarding the Software and its features
Fixing valid (replicated) bugs and reported issues for the VERSION I HAVE WRITTEN

Software support does not include

Customization and installation services
Support for third party software or ANY kind of development whatsoever

Before seeking support

Make sure your question is a valid Software Issue and not a customization request
Make sure you have read through the FAQ's, online documentation and any related video guides before asking support on how to accomplish a task
Ensure that you access to the VBOM is allowed and that Macros can run in Excel
Make sure to provide 'proof of purchase' and state the name / version of the Software that you are having issues with when requesting support by Email or via Facebook

How to get Support

Contact Mark Kubiszyn on the Email address provided when you purchased the Software, including the Order Number
...or Contact Mark Kubiszyn via our Facebook Page - remember to be patient, if there has been an issue with your download, Mark will always respond within 48 hours and will Email you the File directly if neccessary or via Messenger. For other issues the response time may be considerably longer and I may choose to respond to specific questions only (as is my right), depending on what has been asked

Future Builds

* I may chose to include '.EPS' and '.AI' image files with this Software

Bug Fixes

* There are currently no bugs identified for Info Bubble

Changelog

Read more information on the status of each release below. The latest Version including a description of any changes is shown first


12.03.2023 - (Version 1)

General release of Speech Bubbles