VBA for EXCEL

VBA for EXCEL

Didn't find your answer?

I have been using excel for years, and lately, I am keen to learn VBA, but not sure where to start. Lots of people suggested that I should buy a book by John Walkenbach. However, I am not sure if this book is intended for general programming and it may not geared for Accountant. I also feel watching a video and doing exercise would be the easiest and fastest way to learn new stuff. If john’s book does not have practice exercises which are relevant to Accountant, I will get bored after reading a couple of pages, let alone go through 1200 pages. What is the best way to learn VBA for a beginner?

Appreciate any comment

Replies (5)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By User deleted
26th May 2010 18:10

Books & Videos

There are numerous books (and videos) on this subject and many of them have a CD containing examples and templates with exercises. Microsoft have free web tutorials on their site.

I don't know of any books specifically aimed at accountants.

Try Google. I am sure there will be many recommendations that give detailed reviews so you can make a better decision whether a particular book/video covers your needs.

OC

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Optegra
26th May 2010 20:22

Excel VBA

Hi

I am an accountant and not an IT specialist. I learned all my VBA skills by 2 means - recording macros and then analysing what the code was doing and asking questions on Tech Support Guys forum - http://forums.techguy.org/

I started out knowing nothing about VBA and have now built a whole program using VBA code as shown on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxwOxRqK-sI

Be careful for code that works in Excel 2007 that does not work in previous versions....

Hope that helps

Cheers

Jeremy

 

 

Thanks (0)
avatar
By adam.arca
27th May 2010 13:26

John Walkenbach - highly recommended

I'm totally self-taught on Excel VBA (like most people who do a bit of VBA programming, I suspect) and my starting point was Walkenbach. I have two (old) books of his, one in the Dummies range and one "Power Programming with VBA." Knowing what I do know, I'd go straight to the latter as it includes much of the material from the former plus more besides and I still refer to it now from time to time.

I don't think being accountant-specific is a requirement, in fact probably better not to be as it will force you to think through what you are trying to achieve more clearly and that is better for learning in the long run. Personally, I wouldn't recommend CD learning as you need to be actually doing it not just looking at it or (almost as bad) copying someone else and not really thinking about what you're doing.

I also wouldn't major too much on the macro recorder. It has its uses but is very limited in what it can record, I'd see it as more of a crutch than a help.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By ACDWebb
28th May 2010 14:17

Variously, I
recorded macros & analysed themresearched through sites like that by John Walkenbach & Chip Pearsonworked my way through Teach Yourself VBA in 21 Days - mind you I don't think I much bothered after day 15

This having spent years learning in a similar fashion Lotus 123 macros, before it was ditched by the firm in favour of MS Office

Thanks (0)
By Democratus
28th May 2010 15:53

Aah Lotus 123

Now there was a spreadsheet package that worked. It could deduce that +1-1 was equal to zero not 0.00000000000000002733345 as in Excel, and it realised that if i entered a number first in a cell it was likely to be a formula and i didn't need to start with an equals sign.

 

Sorry OP nothing to do with your question just enjoying a nostalgic moment.

Thanks (0)