Access 2019 Bible

CHAPTER 24Getting Started with Access VBA

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Working with VBA
• Reviewing VBA terminology
• Understanding VBA code basics
• Creating your first procedure
• Adding branching constructs
• Learning looping constructs
• Understanding objects and collections
• Exploring the Visual Basic Editor

Most Access developers use macros now and then. Although macros provide a quick and easy way to automate an application, writing Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) modules is the best way to create applications. VBA provides data access, looping and branching, and other features that macros simply don't support—or at least not with the flexibility most developers want. In this chapter, you learn how to use VBA to extend the power and usefulness of your applications.

ON THE WEB

Download the database file Chapter24.accdb from this book's website.

 

The Limitations of Macros

The biggest limitation of Access macros is that they can only be used in Access applications. If your application will always be in Access and a macro does the job you need it to do, then a macro is an excellent way to extend your application. In recent versions of Access, macros have become even more powerful, adding variables and simple error handling. Plus, there are two areas where macros can't be beat: data macros in tables and embedded macros on forms and controls. The ability to embed macros in tables and forms make macros much more attractive than in versions prior to Access 2007.

However, there ...