1. Visual Basic for Applications: Introduction
Craig K. Tyran
Western Washington University
Fall 2002

2. Agenda Background Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
VBA Development Environment
Macro Recorder
Macros and Toolbars
Macro Security
Hands-on Exercise

3. A. Visual Basic: Background
Beginner’s All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code
Mid-60s: Initially created as a teaching tool
Enter Microsoft …
Mid-70s: Adopted/promoted a version of BASIC as a programming language for the early PCs
Late-80s: Included BASIC as part of MS Word
Early-90s: Modified BASIC to work with Windows environment
 “Visual Basic” (VB)

4. A. VB: Background (cont.)
3. Visual Basic (VB)
Based on BASIC programming language
Added editor
Added visual, graphical “controls” (e.g., command buttons, check boxes, etc.)
Recent survey: VB is the most popular IS development environment
4. Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
Mid-90s: Microsoft introduced VBA
 Support a standard “development environment” for MS Office products

5. B. VBA 1. Current status 2. Why learn VBA?
Now a part of all MS Office products
E.g., Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint
Non-Microsoft companies have licensed VBA to include in their applications
2. Why learn VBA?
Leverage VB skills with MS Office products
VBA  The standard programming language for many Windows-based desktop applications
Allows one to easily customize applications for users
E.g., Create a professional, user-friendly DSS using Excel
Helps developers to integrate different applications
E.g., Connect an Access database to an Excel-based DSS

6. Excel/VBA Example: User Friendly Car Loan DSS

7. C. VBA Development Environment
VBA program code is displayed and edited in the “Visual Basic Editor” (VBE)
Windows displayed inside of VBE may include:
Project Explorer window
Code Module window(s)
Properties window
Other information …

8. Visual Basic Editor Example

9. D. Excel Macro Recorder A“macro” Macro Recorder
Another name for a set of VBA code statements (i.e., a VBA program)
Macros can automate simple tasks
A macro can be executed in several ways
Use the Tools | Macro menu approach
Assign a “short cut” key (e.g., ctrl-a)
“Attach” macro to a toolbar button
Macro Recorder
A tool that automatically converts Excel keystroke/mouse actions into VBA code
Can be a useful way to quickly “record” and create VBA code associated with basic Excel tasks

10. D. Excel Macro Recorder (cont.)
The program statements created by the Macro Recorder are stored in a code “Module” inside of the Visual Basic Editor
It is easy to review (and modify) the code

11. E. Macros and Toolbars
Adding a toolbar button – and attaching a macro to a toolbar – is surprisingly easy
The approach we will use
Create a new toolbar
Add a new toolbar button to the toolbar
Attach a macro to the toolbar button
Add a “Screen Tip” to the button
Descriptive text that appears when cursor hovers over the button

12. F. Macro Security Viruses can be hidden in macros
For protection, Microsoft has created a security feature which alerts a user that a macro is included with a file
When opening up an Excel file, “Security Level” setting needs to be selected to enable a common macro to be included with a file
Procedure to use when working with files w/macros on WWU’s PCs
Open file
Change security setting to “Medium” via Tools | Macro | Security
Save and close file
Reopen file and “Enable Macros” when prompted

13. E. In-class Exercise
Let’s get started!!!