What is Visual Basic for
Applications or VBA?
- Visual Basic for
Applications or VBA is a computer programming language which
is used to control Microsoft Office products or any other
program for that matter that is VBA compatible.
- VBA programs are
also referred to as macros, VBA Macros, Excel
macros, Word macros...
- Microsoft Excel as
well as all major Microsoft Office products like
Word, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook come standard with
VBA. You do not have to purchase it.
- Do not confuse VBA with
VB.Net. VB.Net is VBA's "big brother" and while it shares
many of VBA's good attributes, it is a lot more difficult to
use and requires a lot of time and knowledge to master.
- VBA on the other
hand is very easy to operate and learn and can be
used as a jumping off point to get into VB.NET once
you have used it for a bit.
- VBA is used to control a
program's functionality automating hundreds of tasks at
once, performing calculations...etc.
- VBA controls a program like
Microsoft Excel or Word by means of writing and running a
procedure which is also referred to as a macro.
- In order to command a
program effectively using Visual Basic for Applications
(VBA), the program's operational capabilities must be well
understood along with its program elements.
- In Excel, advanced
formula construction beyond basic algebra knowledge
is not required since VBA basically eliminates the
need to create those 1000 character mega formulas.
For example, the computer code below,
called a Sub procedure, reads the Data worksheet in
Microsoft Excel and if it finds A in column A on that sheet, it
copies and pastes that row to the Output worksheet. You write
these procedures in the Visual Basic Editor in what are called
modules which can be viewed by pressing Alt+F11 in Microsoft
Excel.
Excel VBA Code
How is VBA Code Stored?
VBA code is stored in the file type it
was created in. For example, if you type VBA code while you are
in Excel, it is stored in a workbook file. If it was typed in
Word, then it will be stored in a document and so on. When you
are typing the code in a module in the VBA Editor that is when
you decide what file to put it in if you have multiple files
open at once. You always need both the program and the file on
the users computer if they want to run the VBA code you typed.
The file has to be open in the program in order to run its code.
How Does One Use VBA in
Microsoft Excel and Other Microsoft Office Products?
Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications
(VBA) can be used in conjunction with Microsoft Excel to
construct automated tools. Using VBA with Excel, powerful
analysis tools can be developed quickly and with minimum cost.
VBA can be used for important tasks like data processing, model
analysis, automating Excel's features and chores, chart
creation, report generation, dashboard creation, controlling
other programs, communicating with databases, the list is
endless.
Beyond just simple programs, Microsoft
Excel and VBA can also be used to construct complex dashboard
driven analysis and data processing tools that rival any program
on the market today. We can say this because we develop complex
integration systems for our customers using Excel and VBA after
they have tried other various means and failed. These tools can
go far beyond simple macros becoming actual programs. Excel has
a vast array of automated features like drawing shapes, ActiveX
controls, worksheets, userforms and cell ranges that when
combined together with VBA allow these sophisticated dashboard
driven programs to come alive. When you tie other programs and
computer languages to Excel through VBA like Word, PowerPoint,
Access, SQL Server, C and VB .Net, Excel VBA can tap into these
environments obtaining the functionality it does not have. If
you were using VBA in another Office product like PowerPoint,
then this thinking process also applies.
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