Microsoft Excel 365 Bible

CHAPTER 39Introducing Visual Basic for Applications

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Introducing VBA macros
• Creating VBA macros
• Recording VBA macros
• Writing VBA code
• Learning more about VBA

This chapter introduces the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macro language—a key component for users who want to customize and automate Excel. This chapter teaches you how to record macros and create simple macro procedures. Subsequent chapters expand upon the topics in this chapter.

Introducing VBA Macros

A macro is a sequence of instructions that automates some aspect of Excel so that you can work more efficiently and with fewer errors. You may create a macro, for example, to format and print your month-end sales report. After you write the macro, you can then execute it every month. Not only does this save you from having to repeat the formatting steps every month, it also ensures that the exact same formatting is applied.

You don't have to be a computer programmer to create and use simple VBA macros. Once they understand a few basics, even casual users can simply turn on Excel's macro recorder to record their actions and convert them into a VBA macro. When you execute a recorded macro, Excel performs the actions again. Once you get the hang of recorded macros, you can write macros from scratch, including code that performs tasks that can't be recorded. For example, you can write procedures that display custom dialog boxes or process data in a series of workbooks and even create special-purpose ...