- #Visual basic for applications for dummies how to#
- #Visual basic for applications for dummies code#
- #Visual basic for applications for dummies windows#
You're probably aware that a toolbar contains on-screen buttons, icons, menus and other similar elements that you can use while working with the VBE. Take a look, for example, at the Debug menu and notice all the keyboard shortcuts that appear on the right side of this image:Īgain, if you're a computer user, a toolbar is an item that you've probably seen many times before. One thing you'll notice when clicking on any menu, is that several commands have a keyboard shortcut that is displayed at that point. Each of the drop-down menus contains commands that you can use to interact and do things with the different components of the Visual Basic Editor. The menu bar, basically, contains several drop-down menus. If that's the case, the VBE menu bar is not very different from the other menu bars you've seen before. If you've been using computers for a reasonable amount of time, you're probably quite familiar with menu bars. Let's dive right in and understand the 6 main components of the Visual Basic Editor. The Visual Basic Editor allows you to, for example: I explain how you can easily unhide it below.Īs you get more familiar with the VBE, you'll notice that you have a lot of flexibility regarding how the interface looks like. The reason is that this particular window (known as the Immediate Window) is, by default, hidden. In fact, if this is the first time that you're opening the Visual Basic Editor, you probably can't see element #6 that appears in the lower part of the image above. In reality, there are more components than those which appear in this screenshot (such as the Locals and Watch Windows) but, since they're more advanced, I'll cover them in a future Excel tutorial.Īs a consequence of the above, there is the possibility that your VBE window doesn't look exactly as the screenshot above. The basic VBE window can be divided in the following 6 sections, all of which I explain below.
#Visual basic for applications for dummies how to#
#Visual basic for applications for dummies code#
#Visual basic for applications for dummies windows#
The place where you'll find those Code Windows is the Visual Basic Editor. This is a pity because, in practice, you're likely to constantly work with the VBE on your way to becoming a proficient VBA user. I know it because, as explained above, that happened to me. Many people who are interested in learning macros and Visual Basic for Applications feel confused the first time they open the Visual Basic Editor. The truth is that, as of the time of this writing, there are not that many online resources covering this in detail. However, sometimes I take a look around the Internet to see if I can find a good and comprehensive Excel tutorial about the VBE. Nowadays, I have no problems using the Visual Basic Editor and feel quite comfortable working on it. Obviously, in the last few years I've come a long way. At the time, I really wished I had access to an Excel tutorial that explained the main features of the VBE comprehensively. The first few times I opened the Visual Basic Editor I had no idea what I was looking at or what I was supposed to do. However, if you're anything like me, your answer will be the Visual Basic Editor (or VBE). What is the aspect about learning macros and Visual Basic for Applications that you find more intimidating?įor some people, the answer will revolve around having to learn a new programming language and coding.