The developer tools in Excel are helpful when you need to add small bits of code to your Excel workbooks.  These might be Macros or Visual Basic (VBA) code.  A macro is developed by recording the clicks you perform to complete a relatively simple task.  VBA code are more elaborate programs that can be used to automate repetitive tasks on similar data.  (In actuality, a macro is a bit of VBA code that is made using the macro recorder to encode the task.)

Setting up the Developer Tools is relatively easy if you follow the steps below.

Setting up the Developer Tools

To show the Developer tab, you need to right click on the ribbon, then click on “Customize the Ribbon…”

Once you do this, the Excel Options window will open.  Use the left hand radio box to select all tabs, then look for the Developer selection listed in the left hand column.  Click on this, and it should be highlighted.  Then press the Add >> button in the middle of the screen.  Click OK near the bottom.  Once this is done, you will have a new tab labeled “Developer” in Excel.

This method can be used to add other commands or groups of commands to your toolbar. If there is a particular command you use often, it is helpful to add it.