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Hi, everyone! Thanks to all who attended today's webcast! To those who wanted to but couldn't make it, the recorded version should be available as early as later today or tomorrow.
Well, we covered a HUGE amount of stuff -- much more, I know, than most folks would entirely absorb in 90 minutes (if you are brand new to VBA in particular) -- but I wanted to give you a solid overview of VBA basics -- enough info to be able to read and write basic code that can save you time right away.
My theory for packing in so much today is that, since you can download the samples I'm posting here as promised (all the macros I wrote that we looked at today) - and you can go back and review any part of the webcast while having those samples in-hand ... better to give you more info than less, so that you can use the webcast as a learning resource for as long as you want to.
So, lots of promised follow-up in this post with additional resources to help you use the information in this session...
Meanwhile, if you don't find what you need in this post, please post a comment to this article and I'll try to help. If you have trouble registering to leave a comment (that functionality is new on this blog), drop me an email - link is at the bottom of the blog page.
Sample files:
Table sample for the formatting sample macros in Word
Start by saving the zip file to your computer and extracting the .bas, .frx and .frm files from it). Then, open the VB Editor in Word (Alt+F11 from the Word document window). Right click on Normal where you see it in the project explorer (or any other open document or template where you want to save these macros) and select Import File. Browse to and select this file SampleMacros.bas, and the module will appear in your template. Repeat the action for the frmSample.frm file-- adding it to the same module. The .frx file needs to be in the same folder as the .frm file when you import the form -- but you won't have to do anything with the .frx file.
The memo document to go with that sample dialog box macro.
Sample PowerPoint file with related macros in the file
For this file, and the Excel file below, make sure that your macro security in the applicable program is set to medium (Tools, Macro Security) - or they won't be enabled when you open the file. When it is set to medium, you will be prompted to enable the macros as you open the file. Also, 'remove personal information from the file on save' is selected in both files -- in PowerPoint and Excel, this setting causes a prompt anytime you save the file telling you that it contains macros -- that's not a problem -- just click OK.
Excel hidden rows worksheet and related macro
Link to KB article with the macro to extract data from an Excel chart. This article says its for Excel 2002, but as you saw today -- works great in 2003 as well. KB article is better in this case than the sample I made, because it has explanatory details and information on how to use the macro.
Links for more VBA help on this blog:
Using the Immediate Window (and examples)
Links to other VBA resources:
Good article about declaring variables on Chip Pearson's site (Excel MVP), as mentioned during the session
Articles in the MSDN library about how to create and automate dialog boxes
Downloadable VBA language references
This link goes straight to the download site for the Word 2003 VBA language reference. At the bottom of that page, you'll see links for the other Office 2003 language references as well, all downloadable.
Office Discussion Groups -- Word and Excel have programming-specific newsgroups ... but you can ask a VBA question about any Office program that has VBA (such as asking a PowerPoint VBA question in the general PowerPoint discussion group). Get help from a wide range of experts, including some who are more experienced with VBA than myself -- such as Word MVP Doug Robbins who I mentioned during the broadcast today ... and Excel MVP Jon Peltier.
For books on VBA, there's not a lot yet out there for Word or PowerPoint (unless you want books written for programmers) ... but there is a fair amount on Excel programming. One good choice for confident VBA beginners who are comfortable diving into the deep end just a bit ... Excel 2003 Programming Inside Out by Curt Frye (the Excel MVP I mentioned today) and others.
For the folks who asked about Visual Studio:
The Visual Studio express editions -- for Visual Basic, Visual C#, and Visual Web Developer respectively, are free for 1 year - downloadable -- and you get links to great e-books from MS Press (the ones I mentioned during the broadcast). This is a good first step for those who want to move on from VBA into managed code (or learn managed code solutions as well). The express editions are very limited and designed for the hobbyist -- a pretty cool offering. You can also buy for quite little $ a CD version and\or the hard copy of the book at Amazon.
Here are the links with some options:
Download express editions for free
Get the e-book and other utilities when you register your free version here.
Buy the air-boxed version of Visual Basic 2005 express with printed book ($38 at Amazon)
You can also buy just the printed book from Amazon if you download the software for free ($12)
Additional resources for user features of Office and more...
Access many of my favorite Office info links from my links page
If you want help with any of the end-user features (like formatting tables, creating complex charts, working with pictures) - check out one of my advanced Office webcasts. A series of 3 you'll find toward the top of the list on this link are sessions I gave last month around financial pitch books -- they cover Word, Excel, and PowerPoint\Visio respectively -- touching on the user-end of all features used today at a Power User level.
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Remember, if your question wasn't answered in this post or you need more info on anything here or mentioned today, just post a comment. If you have trouble registering to post a comment, send me an email (link at the bottom of the page) and I'll be happy to help you sign in so that you can comment. Please post questions in comments, though, rather than emails if possible - so that others can benefit from the answer.
Happy Thursday! See you next week for Advanced train-the-trainer tips for Office Documents
Posted by Stephanie
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