Excel VBA: An Introduction
November 30, 2010
For more info on Excel VBA
• My favorite Excel VBA book is on reserve, and
is available as an electronic resource through
Mirlyn:
– Walkenbach, John. Excel 2007 power
programming with VBA / by John Walkenbach.
[Chichester : John Wiley, distributor], c2007.
– Location: Art Architecture & Engineering Course
Reserve - 2nd Floor HF 5548.4 .M523 W34486
2007 (Full Mirlyn Record)
Absolute vs. Relative References
• Let’s make an addition table in Excel:
 I have created row and column headers of the numbers
from 1 to 9 and added the formula “=A2+B1” into cell B2.
 Watch what happens when I copy and paste this formula
to the rest of the cells:
• Not the addition table I learned! What went wrong?
• Let’s look at the formula in cell C2:
• B2+C1! For the addition table, it should be A2+C1.
• When I copied the formula from B2 (=A2+B1) and
pasted it into C2, Excel used a relative reference,
changing A2 to B2 to match the changed column (B
to C).
• This is usually what we want when we copy and
paste formulas, as shown in the following example:
Why relative references are the default
• In the example below, I copied the formula from cell D2 into
cells D3 and D4.
• Excel changed the row number 2 from the original formula into
3 and 4 in the pasted version.
• In this case, it works: subtotal equals Price * Quantity in all
rows.
• This is usually what we want, which is why this type of copypaste is the default for Excel.
• These are called relative references, because the formula is
adjusted relative to where it is pasted.
Absolute References
• In the addition table, however, we always want to
add the number in the first row to the number in
the first column.
• To do this, we use absolute references.
• In Excel, absolute references are created using
the dollar sign ($).
• As we paste a formula into a new column, we still
want the first number to come from column A.
• And when we paste a formula into a new row, we
still want the second number added to come
from row 1.
• By changing the formula for cell B2 from “=A2+B1”
to “=$A2+B$1”, we are saying…
• Don’t change the column (A) for the first number
when you copy/paste this formula, and
• Don’t change the row (1) for the second number.
• Does this work?
It works!
• Note that the formula for J10 is now
“=$A10+J$1”
• The column for the first number added is still
A, and the row for the second number is still J.
•
•
•
A simpler absolute reference
example
I want to be able to
apply a discount to the
subtotals in column D.
The discount goes in
cell H1.
From the formula in
the middle, I don’t get
any discount when I
copy the formula,
because the default
relative references
point to empty cells.
Making the discount
absolute to cell H1
(with “$” in front of
both the row and
column, makes the
formula copy and paste
properly.
Relative vs. Absolute Reference
Summary
• By default, Excel creates relative references for
formulas when you copy and paste them.
• You can override this behavior by putting a dollar sign
in front of the row and/or column that you don’t want
to change during copy/paste operations.
• Absolute reference formulas work just like relative
reference formulas;
• The only difference comes when they are copied and
pasted.
• If the row or column reference is absolute, it will not
change no matter where it is copied and pasted to.
Macros
• Most Excel users’ first exposure to VBA comes when they
try to record a macro.
• To a beginner, a macro is simply a set of recorded
commands used to simplify repetitive commands.
• Technically, a macro is a subroutine that doesn’t take any
parameters.
• Most macros start with the macro recorder; a tool in Excel
which records your actions in performing a task.
• For simple, repetitive tasks, the macros created by the
macro recorder may be enough.
• Power users, however, need to know how to edit and
expand upon recorded macros to create truly powerful
Excel applications.
Recording a Macro
• Developer Tab
• Record Macro
• Enter Name, Shortcut Key, and Description (if
needed)
• Perform Excel tasks
• When done, go to Developer Tab, Stop
Recording
Running the Macro
•
•
•
•
Go to Developer Tab
Macros
Select Macro, click Run
Or use the shortcut key
Editing Macros
• Macros are recorded in VBA code
• To find the code for a macro, go to Developer tab,
Macros, select the macro, and click Edit.
• Or hit Alt+F11 to bring up the VB window, and
search for the macro in the code.
• Recorded macros are limited in what they can do.
• Real power comes from using non-recordable
VBA features like loops, if-thens, and select-cases.
Start by Recording, Then Edit
• Recording a macro gives you a big head start.
• You won’t know what Excel calls everything;
the macro recorder does.
• The recorded macro gives you the names of all
the objects and constants you may want to
use.
Saving Workbooks with Macros
• If a workbook contains macros, it is saved with
a different extension than if it isn’t.
• For Excel 2007, regular workbooks are saved
with an “.xlsx” extension.
• Workbooks with macros use a “.xlsm”
extension.
• If you try to save a workbook with macros,
Excel will prompt you to save it in the “.xlsm”
(macro-enabled) format.
VBA vs. VB.NET
• Excel and the other Office applications use Visual
Basic for Applications (VBA). VBA is basically the
same as Visual Basic 6, a version of Visual Basic
introduced in 1998.
• VB.NET is what we have been using for this class.
It was originally introduced in 2003, and has been
updated a few times. We are using VB.NET 2008.
• There are numerous differences between the two
languages internally; we’ll look mainly at the
programming differences.
VBA is less picky
• VBA does not require that variables be declared or have specified
data types. For example, you can just write a line of code that says
x=4
• VBA will assume that x is a variable, and that it is an Integer
because you have put one in it.
• If instead I had written
x = “Four”
• VBA would assume that x is a String.
• VBA does automatic data type conversions without needing Cint,
ToString, or other conversions.
• You might think that this would make it easier to write code in VBA,
but there is a downside, which is…
VBA is less helpful
• Since VBA allows you to type so many different variations on code,
it rarely knows when you are making a mistake.
• Therefore, there is almost no Intellisense in VBA; the code editor
will not help you write the code.
• Because of this, it is very easy (too easy) to write bad code. When
you write bad code in VB.NET, the compiler usually catches it before
you try to run it, and will underline the offending code.
• In VBA, the bad code will run, causing runtime errors, or worse,
logical errors (code that “works” but doesn’t do what you want it
to). These are much harder to debug, especially since…
• The debugging tools in VBA are much less powerful.
• However, you can still use breakpoints, stepping through code, and
watches.
VBA is less powerful
• Compare the toolbox in VBA to that in VB.NET:
 There are far more tools in the
.NET toolbox, and they’re
better tools, too!
 .NET contains hundreds of
other Classes that are not
available in VBA, such as the
Generic.List.
Writing Functions in VBA
• In VB.NET, functions can return values in one
of two ways:
1. Use the Return statement, or
2. Assign a value to the function’s name.
• In VBA, only the second method works—
there is no Return statement.
• You must assign a value to a function’s name
for it to return a value.
Parameters in VBA
• Subs and functions offer two ways to pass parameters:
1. In order. This is the only way to pass parameters in VB.NET.
The order of the parameters passed must match the order
declared in the sub or function header. For example,
here’s a sub header:
Sub DoSomething(x As Integer, y As Integer)
And here’s the sub being called:
DoSomething 4, 7
In the sub’s code, x will have the value of 4, and y will have the value of
7.
–
Note that the parameters for a subroutine call are NOT in
parentheses in VBA. (For functions, you put the
parameters in parentheses just like in VB.NET.)
Parameters in VBA
• You can also pass parameters specifically by name,
ignoring order. For example, given the previous sub…
Sub DoSomething(x As Integer, y As Integer)
We can call it this way:
DoSomething y := 4, x := 7
• In this case, y will be 4 and x will be 7, ignoring the
order of x and y in the sub’s declaration.
• Since VBA doesn’t offer much intellisense to help you
remember the order of parameters, this “:=“ method
can make your code more readable:
DrawRectangle Width := 6, Height := 4
“Setting” object references
• VBA doesn’t generally allow shortcuts to object
creation. In VB.NET, you can do this:
Dim FSO As New System.IO.FileInfo(Filename)
• In VBA, you need to do this:
Dim FSO As FileSystemObject
Set FSO = New FileSystemObject
• Not only can you not combine the variable declaration
with “New”, you must use the word “Set” whenever
you are assigning a value to an object variable (any
variable that isn’t of one of the simple built-in types
like Integer, String, or Boolean).
So why use VBA?
• VBA is built in to Microsoft Office applications, and many
other programs as well, such as AutoCAD and Corel Draw.
• Therefore, anyone who has one of these programs can
write VBA code without having to purchase Visual Studio.
• In addition, it is tightly integrated with these programs,
meaning that you can write macros and other code that can
extend the functionality of the applications.
• In fact, the introduction of VBA in Excel is the main reason
that Excel became the dominant spreadsheet program. In
the early 1990’s, Excel’s competitors Lotus 1-2-3 and
Borland Quattro Pro did not offer such powerful macro
languages for their spreadsheets.
In many ways, they’re the same
• VBA code looks very much like VB.NET code.
• Most of the common code patterns that you have
used in VB.NET work in VBA:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
If Then
Select Case
Loops
Subs
Functions
Classes
Properties
Object Models
• VBA works with applications like Excel through
something called an Object Model.
• Excel’s Object Model contains lots of Classes
which encapsulate most of the features that you
see in Excel: Workbooks, Worksheets, Cells,
Ranges, Charts, Pivot Tables, and much more.
• The simplest way to determine the names of the
objects in the Object Model is to record macros;
that is, if you want to learn how to write VBA
code that modifies charts, record a macro that
modifies a chart, and examine its code.
VBA Resources
• There are many books available on using Excel VBA, and
Excel in general.
• I strongly recommend the books written by John
Walkenbach, several of which are available as online
resources through Mirlyn.
• For VBA, search for Walkenbach’s “Excel 2007 Power
Programming.”
• Don’t worry—you won’t need to read that book to do
assignment 6. But if you find that you need to know more
about Excel or VBA for a course or a job, Walkenbach’s
books are excellent resources.
• There are other resources available in
Ctools/Resources/Excel VBA Resources.
Demonstration
• Watch this demonstration:
– I’ll display the Excel window on part of the screen,
and the VB editor on the other part.
– Now watch what happens when I record the
macro:
• Module is added if there isn’t already one
• Sub is created in the module, with comments
identifying it as a macro
• Every step I take recording the macro is added to the
code
• Lots of extra code is generated
Notes on Macros
• Macros are subroutines (subs)
• They take no parameters; however, they can
call subs or functions that do take parameters
• Even if you end up changing every line of
code, it is usually easiest to start writing a
macro by using the recorder.
Debugging a Macro
• Adding a breakpoint—click in the left margin;
a red circle appears.
• When you run the macro, code execution will
stop at the breakpoint.
• Hit the F8 key to step through the code line by
line. This is fun to do if you arrange the Excel
window and the VBA window side-by-side on
the monitor!
The object browser
• When in the VBA window, hitting F2 will open
up the object browser.
• Example:
– Open the object browser. Where it says “<All
Libraries>”, change it to “Excel”.
– Under Classes, scroll down to “Worksheet”
– Check out the members of Worksheet: Cells,
Columns, Rows, Name, etc.
Macros can do Anything!
• In Excel, at least
• All of Excel’s powerful features—charts, pivot
tables, solver, and more—can be manipulated
by macros.
• You can even use Excel VBA to write programs
that have basically nothing to do with Excel
(I’ll show you one on Thursday).
• Unfortunately, we don’t have time to learn
about most of Excel VBA’s power in this class.
User-Defined Functions
• User-Defined Functions (UDF’s) are an easy and
excellent use of VBA in Excel.
• Have you ever tried to enter a complicated
formula into a cell in Excel? You combine typing
with clicking on cells, and end up with a
practically unreadable string of cell references
and operators (+, *, etc.).
• UDF’s provide a much neater and simpler solution
for those who know even a little bit of VB.
• I’ll refer to “Function Examples.xlsm” for this part
of the lecture.
Examples
• Gravity
• BMR
UDF Examples: Too Simple
Simple but Useful
Something’s Missing?
• What do these functions lack?
More UDFs
More UDFs
More UDFs
Spreadsheet Applications
• According to John Walkenbach*, a
spreadsheet application is:
– a spreadsheet file (or group of related files) that is
designed so that someone other than the
developer can perform useful work without
extensive training.
* Walkenbach, John. Excel 2007 power programming with
VBA / by John Walkenbach. [Chichester : John Wiley,
distributor], c2007. Page 98
Good Apps
• Also according to Walkenbach*, a good
spreadsheet app has the following
characteristics:
– Enables the end user to perform a task that he/she wouldn’t
be able to do otherwise.
– Provides the appropriate solution to the problem. (In some
cases, an Access database or a full-fledged VB program might
be better than Excel VBA.)
– It does what it is supposed to.
– It produces accurate results without bugs.
– It uses appropriate and efficient methods and algorithms.
– It traps errors before the user is forced to deal with them.
* Walkenbach, John. Excel 2007 power programming with
VBA / by John Walkenbach. [Chichester : John Wiley,
distributor], c2007. Page 98
Basic Spreadsheet Types*
• Quick-and-Dirty: Solve a simple problem in a few
minutes.
• For Your Eyes Only: A more permanent
spreadsheet, but used only by its creator: tax
records, music collection, etc.
• Single-user application: Still used only by the
developer, but uses many of Excel’s and VBA’s
most powerful tools.
• Spaghetti app: A multi-user spreadsheet that has
grown over time to the point where nobody
really knows how it works. (Not recommended!)
* Walkenbach, John. Excel 2007 power programming with
VBA / by John Walkenbach. [Chichester : John Wiley,
distributor], c2007. Pages 103-107
Spreadsheet Types (cont.)
• Utility Apps: Tools designed to extend Excel’s
capabilities that can be widely used.
• Add-ins that contain functions: Excel’s answer to
VB’s shared function classes (like the Math class).
Putting all of a business’s frequently-used
formulas into a single spreadsheet can simplify
using them with any other spreadsheet.
• Single-block budgets: Maybe the most common
type of spreadsheet—a single block of cells that
performs budgetary or similar calculations
(gradebooks?).
Spreadsheet Types (cont.)
• What-if models: Excel provides the means to quickly
determine the “bottom line” when any number of inputs
are being manipulated; it also offers (through Solver) the
ability to find optimum inputs for a desired output.
• Data storage: Excel is certainly one of the most widely-used
database management systems for small database. Not the
best, but very popular and frequently useful.
• Database front ends: Excel sheets can be linked directly to
tables and queries in databases from most common
DBMS’s.
• Turnkey applications: While I prefer VB.NET for creating
truly powerful Windows programs, Excel has the tools,
including VBA, to create powerful, user-friendly
applications for just about any purpose on a Windowsbased computer.
Controls and User Forms
• Aside from Macros and User-Defined
Functions, VBA can be used very much like
VB.NET.
• You can create user forms and add controls to
them, just like in VB.NET.
• This is part 3 of assignment 6.
Create a User Form
• From the Developer tab, open up Visual Basic..
• From the menu, choose InsertUserForm.
• Very much like VBA, a blank form will appear, along with a
Toolbox.
• Many of the standard controls that you are familiar with
are in the Toolbox: Labels, Textboxes, Comboboxes,
Listboxes, Checkboxes, Radiobuttons, and more.
• To add a control to the form, drag it from the Toolbox.
• Note that the Properties window works basically the same
as it does in VB.NET.
• A few properties have different names from what you are
used to: Forms and Labels have a “Caption” property
instead of “Text”.
User Forms and Excel
• User forms can be used to control Excel.
• The simplest way to get started with this is to
record a macro, and then paste its code into a
CommandButton click event.
• Note that in VBA, event handlers are matched
with controls by their names, not by using
“Handles”.
Putting Controls on Spreadsheets
• You can add buttons and other controls
directly to worksheets (without a user form)
• Go to the Developer tab;
• Click the down arrow under Insert.
• Select the control.
• Double-click on the control to write code for
it.
Design Mode
• When you add controls to a worksheet, Excel
switches to Design Mode.
• You will see this on the Developer tab—the
Design Mode icon will be highlighted.
• In design mode, you can move and resize
controls, but you can’t use them.
• To test your code, click the design mode icon
to turn it off; then click the button.
Example
• Here I have put a CommandButton on a
spreadsheet.
• Here’s the code:
Editing Properties
• To edit the
properties of a
control on a
worksheet, make
sure that you are in
design mode, then
right-click on it and
select “Properties”.
Properties!
• Note that in
VBA, many
controls
(buttons,
labels) have
a “Caption”
property
instead of
“Text”.
Tables
• You are familiar with tables from database design.
• Excel uses tables as well, although it is not as picky as
Access.
• In Excel, a table is a rectangle of cells, generally with
column headers. The data in the rows is related.
• Excel 2007 allows you to “Format as Table”, which
provides several cool features:
– Cool color schemes.
– Columns can be automatically sorted or filtered.
– Typing a formula in a cell adjacent to the table causes the
formula to automatically be copied to all rows.
Using Names
• Rows, columns, cells, tables and other ranges
in a spreadsheet can be assigned names.
• This can make your formulas easier to read
and some development tasks simpler.
Using Names
• Rows, columns, cells, tables and other ranges
in a spreadsheet can be assigned names.
• This can make your formulas easier to read
and some development tasks simpler.
• The Name Manager is found on the Formula
tab in Excel:
The Name Manager
Pivot Tables
• Pivot Tables are a popular Excel feature.
• They allow you to quickly organize summary
data according to the categories that you
want.
• Creating a useful pivot table is part 4 of
assignment 6.
• I will demonstrate using the Elements table.
The Key to a Useful Pivot Table
• Pivot tables are best at organizing subtotals according
to categories.
• Categories are usually either enumerated values
(Freshman, Sophomore…; North, East, South, West) or
time periods (years, quarters, months).
• The subtotals are aggregate values (sums, averages,
minimums, maximums, etc.) that you want to analyze
based on various combinations of categories.
• If your Excel data table doesn’t include AT LEAST three
category columns and AT LEAST one numerical value
that can be aggregated (summed, averaged, etc.), the
pivot table will likely be useless and dull.
Examples of Useful Pivot Tables
• In a table of students
– Categories:
•
•
•
•
Year in School
Major
Gender
Resident Status
– Values to be aggregated:
• Grades (in grade points)
• Credits
• Financial Aid
Examples of Useful Pivot Tables
• In a table of baseball players:
– Categories
•
•
•
•
Team
Position
Nationality
Years Played
– Values to be aggregated:
•
•
•
•
Batting Average
Home Runs
Salary
Etc.
In a table of Universities
• Categories
– Public/Private
– State
– Size Category
– Values to be aggregated:
– Graduation Rate
– Rate of Job Placement
– Rate of Admission to Grad School