Automation using Excel Visual Basic for ApplicationsIT Short Courses

Introduction

Most people express a modicum of a surprise when told that Excel, like Access, can be enhanced with Visual Basic. But it should be no surprise at all since both programs share a similar structure. Increasingly, VB is being used to enhance Excel’s basic functionality and create (almost) intelligent spreadsheets and financial models.

This course aims to introduce VBA in as non-threatening a manner as possible. Beginning with wizards and macros, participants are led through the methods and syntax of simple programming in VB, culminating in writing custom code, customizing Excel elements and debugging.

Key Takeaways

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to;

• This course aims to introduce Visual Basic Application (VBA) in as non-threatening a manner as possible
• Beginning with wizards and macros, participants are led through the methods and syntax of simple programming in Visual Basic (VB), culminating in writing custom code, customising Excel elements and debugging

Who Should Attend

Anyone who wishes to harness the power that Excel can demonstrate when combined with programming in Visual Basic.

Programme Outline

Module 1: Recording Macros

• Macro Recorder Overview
• Recording Formatting Macros
• Recording Calculation Macros
• Testing Macros
• Relative Recording
• Assigning Macros to Toolbars
• Viewing Macro Code
• Modifying Recorded Macro

Module 2: Introduction to VBA

• Overview of VBA
• Modifying Existing Code
• Setting General Options
• Modifying Existing Code
• Creating Reference to Object
• Setting Object Properties
• Using With…End With Structure
• Commenting Statements

Module 3: Variables, Data Types & Constants

• Variable Naming Rules
• Declaring Variables
• Defining Data Type
• Scoping Variables
• Working with Constants

Module 4: Using Excel Objects

• Excel Object Model
• Using Workbook Objects
• Using Worksheet Objects
• Using Range Objects
• Objects in Procedures

Module 5: Programming Techniques

• Communicating with the User
• Prompting for User Input
• Creating Conditional Statements
• Testing for Multiple Conditions
• Looping/Repeating Statements

Module 6: User-Defined Functions

• Creating Custom Functions
• Passing Arguments
• Creating Add-Ins

Module 7: Creating Custom Forms

• UserForm Overview
• Creating Custom Form
• Modifying Form Properties
• Adding Controls to Form
• Control Properties
• Running a Form

Methodologies

Participants must be familiar with Excel when attending this course – this is NOT a course for beginners. Some programming experience or knowledge of another programming environment is advantageous though not essential.

A combination of lectures, explicit teaching, practical demonstrations and peer teaching is applied for this course.