dev:visual_basic_for_applications

Programming Language

Visual Basic for Applications

Visual Basic for Applications (programminglanguage)
Full NameVisual Basic for Applications
Short NameVBA
DescriptionCreate macros to automate repetitive word- and data-processing functions, and generate custom forms, graphs, and reports
CompanyMicrosoft
WebNo
MobileNo
EnterpriseYes
EmbeddedNo

What is VBA?

VBA is a programming language that is integrated into Microsoft Office applications, such as Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint. It allows users to automate repetitive tasks, create custom functions, and build applications that interact with other programs.

What can you do with VBA?

With VBA, you can automate repetitive tasks in Microsoft Office applications, such as formatting data, generating reports, and manipulating charts and graphs. You can also create custom functions, build user interfaces, and interact with other programs using APIs.

Is VBA still relevant?

Yes, VBA is still relevant for those who work with Microsoft Office applications. Many businesses and organizations use VBA to automate repetitive tasks and build custom applications that integrate with their existing systems. While newer languages and frameworks may offer more advanced features, VBA remains a valuable skill for those who work with Microsoft Office on a regular basis.

Can you learn VBA without programming experience?

Yes, VBA is designed to be easy to learn, even for those without any programming experience. The language uses a syntax that is similar to other programming languages, but is more forgiving and provides helpful suggestions and auto-complete features.

What resources are available to learn VBA?

There are many resources available to learn VBA, including online tutorials, books, and video courses. Microsoft also provides documentation and sample code on their website, as well as an active community of VBA developers who share tips and best practices.

Snippet from Wikipedia: Visual Basic for Applications

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is an implementation of Microsoft's event-driven programming language Visual Basic 6.0 built into most desktop Microsoft Office applications. Although based on pre-.NET Visual Basic, which is no longer supported or updated by Microsoft, the VBA implementation in Office continues to be updated to support new Office features. VBA is used for professional and end-user development due to its perceived ease-of-use, Office's vast installed userbase, and extensive legacy in business.

Visual Basic for Applications enables building user-defined functions (UDFs), automating processes and accessing Windows API and other low-level functionality through dynamic-link libraries (DLLs). It supersedes and expands on the abilities of earlier application-specific macro programming languages such as Word's WordBASIC. It can be used to control many aspects of the host application, including manipulating user interface features, such as menus and toolbars, and working with custom user forms or dialog boxes.

As its name suggests, VBA is closely related to Visual Basic and uses the Visual Basic Runtime Library. However, VBA code normally can only run within a host application, rather than as a standalone program. VBA can, however, control one application from another using OLE Automation. For example, VBA can automatically create a Microsoft Word report from Microsoft Excel data that Excel collects automatically from polled sensors. VBA can use, but not create, ActiveX/COM DLLs, and later versions add support for class modules.

VBA is built into most Microsoft Office applications, including Office for Mac OS X (except version 2008), and other Microsoft applications, including Microsoft MapPoint and Microsoft Visio. VBA is also implemented, at least partially, in applications published by companies other than Microsoft, including ArcGIS, AutoCAD, Collabora Online, CorelDraw, Kingsoft Office, LibreOffice, Reflection, SolidWorks, WordPerfect, and UNICOM System Architect (which supports VBA 7.1).

Public Sub Main()
  MsgBox "Hello, world!"
End Sub

Source: Wikibooks

## ToDo ##

  • FIXME
  • Macros
  • Procedures
  • Functions
  • Variables
  • Control structures
  • Object-oriented programming (OOP)
  • Classes
  • Inheritance
  • Polymorphism
  • Events
  • Forms
  • User interfaces
  • Controls
  • ActiveX controls
  • Input/output operations
  • File handling
  • Error handling
  • Debugging
  • Add-ins
  • Automation
  • Excel VBA
  • Access VBA
  • Word VBA
  • Outlook VBA
  • PowerPoint VBA
  • Automation Add-ins
  • COM (Component Object Model)

See also: Programming Languages

  • dev/visual_basic_for_applications.txt
  • Last modified: 2023/05/01 17:32
  • by Henrik Yllemo