Macros For Reflections
Christopher Guertin
VAMC – West Palm Beach, FL
Christopher.Guertin@VA.GOV
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Objectives
Define what a Macro is
 Tell the differences between VB and VBA
 Record a Macro
 Edit a Recorded Macro
 Create a Macro
 Explain when and why we would use a Macro
in Reflections
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What is a Macro
Macro (noun) Webster Dictionary
 a single computer instruction that stands for a
sequence of operations
 Sometimes referred to as: Macroinstruction
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VB vs VBA
VB –
Visual Basic
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Standalone
Can be used complied into
an executable and run
outside the host
Uses same syntax as VBA
VBAVisual Basic For Applications
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Requires an Application
Reflections
Excel
Word
Access
Is complied and run within
inside the host only
Uses same Syntax as VB
Why use a Macro
Saves Times
 Consistent Data
 Easy to make both minor and major changes
 Exportable / Importable
 Multiple + Easier to use interfaces
 Allows for User Input
 Software Already Available
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What a Macro Can Do
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Automating almost anything
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Mouse, Keyboard, Options on Menu
Creating Dialog Boxes or User Forms
 Passing Data Between Applications
 Error Checking and Handling
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Benefits of Macros for Reflections
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Examples:
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Change Screen Fonts, Color, Size
Assign Functions to Keys
Allow User Input for Fileman Reports
Allow Fileman Reports to be Dynamic
Clean up “Dirty Data”
Complete Repetitive Tasks
Works well with Fileman
Transfer Data to/from MS Office Products
No Programmer Access Required
Security
DO NOT put your username or password
into a macro to use as an AutoLogin
 Code Entered is generally not considered
Encrypted
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Sample Reflections Screen
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Naming a Macro
Must start with letter
 May Contain Numbers, Letters
 May use an Underscore
 80 Character Max
 No Special Characters or Spaces
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Example: INPT_WORKLOAD_2011
How to Record
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Macro  Start Recording
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Stop, Pause, Annotate
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Can Edit, Create button, Map to key
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How to Edit Macro
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Macro  Macros  Edit
Creating Macro
Macro  Macros
 Type in name under Macro Name:
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Assigning Macro to Key
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Setup  Keyboard Map
Assigning Macro to Mouse Button
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Setup  Mouse Map
Assigning to Button on Toolbar
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Right Click Tool Bar
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Setup  Toolbars Customize  New
Button
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After Recording – Check – Create Button
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Customizing Buttons
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Stopping a Macro
Macro  Stop Macro
 Ctrl+Break
 Create a Button
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Saving Macro
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File  Save As
Saving Tool Bars
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Setup Toolbar…  Settings
VBA – Adding to MS Office Products
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Customize Quick Access Toolbar
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Customize Quick Access Toolbar  More
Commands  Customize
Adding / Removing Object Libraries
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Tools  References
User Input
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Wait for Input into Reflections
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Message Box to Help
Input Box
 User Form
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Message Box
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Input Box
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User Form
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User Form
Could be a course all by itself
 Many Options
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Label
 Text Box
 Combo Box
 List Box
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User Form - WYSIWYG
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User Form – How the User Sees It
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Date Converter
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Converts Date to Format Useable by VISTA
Format Date / Time
Format()
 Format(expression[, format[, firstdayofweek[,
firstweekofyear]]])
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strDate = Format(strDate, "dddd, mmm d yyyy")
 Wednesday, Aug 3 2011
MyStr = Format(strTime, "hh:mm:ss AMPM")
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05:14:03 AM
Expressions
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Operators
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Arithmetic
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Comparison
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&, +
Logical
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>, < , =
Concatenation
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+, -, *, /
And, Not, Or
Variables
Variables
 Naming
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Must start with letter
 Can be up to 255 characters
 Cannot contain a Space but can use underscore
 Cannot contain Operators or Special Characters
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Variable Life
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Should be declared
Procedure
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Private
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All Procedures in the Module
Private strDRUG as String
Public
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Only for that Procedure
Automatically declared
Dim strDRUG as String
All Procedures in All Modules of Project
Public strDRUG as String
VB Codes
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Ascii Codes
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Message Box
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Statements
If - Then
 If – Then – Else
 If – Then – ElseIf – Else
 GoTo
 Select Case
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Loops
For – Next
 For Each – Next
 Do While – Loop
 Do – Loop While
 While – Wend
 Do Until – Loop
 Do – Loop Until
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Comparison Operators
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Logical Operators
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Functions
Format
 Transmit
 WaitForString
 Ucase
 Lcase
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Able to create your own
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Allows for only one set of code(refer to it)
Good Habits
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‘ Apostrophe
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for comment(will not run)
Comment
Top: User, Date, Explain Function
 After Code
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Declare Variables at Top
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TALLman Lettering
Use Error Handler
 Try to make more universal
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Good Habits
Create in Test Account if possible
 Be careful and use checks when user will be
creating orders
 Validate Data
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Switch Column Size
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Create Buttons to Change Column Size
Screen Capture to Text File
Logging On/Off
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Changing the Color of the Screen
Differentiate Screens
 Allows users to easily change to preferred
color scheme
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How to Run Macro
Macro  Macros
 Select from list and click Run
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Run a Macro
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Click on Button Created
Code Behind the User Form
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From a Macro you can Load a User FormAuto-Populate Fields Then Send User Input
back to Original Macro
Macro has Started
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The Code will start running and user input
will be requested as needed
User Input
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Many Input boxes can be used or one user form
Default Values may be set
User Input
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Many Input boxes can be used or one user form
Default Values may be set
The user input is then used
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The user input is captured and then added to
the Fileman routine
The routine is run
The routine appears to be done but more
actions are preformed in the background
 May have a final stop to allow it to be aborted
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What is happening Behind the Scenes
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The Results from the Macro
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From .TXT to Excel
Shawn Toy Created an Amazing Add-In for
Excel that will allow text that wraps to be
flattened out
 http://vaww.infoshare.va.gov/sites/vapharmacyi
nformatics/WIKI/FileMan/FileMan_TextCaptur
e_Tools.aspx
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How to use Add-In
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Add-In  FileMan Tools  File Import Interm
Delimited Data
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Easy as 1, 2, 3
The Final Results
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The header will confirm when it was run and
what user input was entered
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The data can be copied over to a new sheet
or the top part can be deleted to make the
headers active
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Help File
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Can be useful to learn Syntax and Concepts
Help File
Methods
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Properties
Events
More Help
Pharmacy ADPAC Email Group
 Visual Basic Books / References
 VBA Books
 Google
 SharePoint (Future)
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The Future
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SharePoint Site
http://vaww.infoshare.va.gov/sites/vapharmacyinformatics/WIKI/VBA/Home.aspx
Share Design Ideas
 Integrate Fileman Routines
 Seamless Data Transfer to MS Office Products
 VBA / Macro Education Series
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Reflections
 MS Office
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Questions
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