Anyone else think Visual Basic Help sucks?

[Mightystomp]

I rarely find any answers when looking up problems in there. It returns a million hits which really dont have anything to do with my problem.

 

[mrhartley]

Agreed, I have always tried help files before bothering anyone else with my problems but now I dont even bother looking at help at all.

It might be just down to me now knowing what to look for in help along with the inability to understand what it is trying to tell me but from my point of view, I agree with you, "Visual Basic Help Sucks"

That said, there are probably a zillion books, web sites and other help resources that are easily got at.

Mark

 

[Mightystomp]

Ive got the "Excel 2002 VBA, Programmers Reference". That one helps a bit. Still it would have been nice with a better help function. I dont have the same problem with the regular Excel help.

EDIT : Fixed a typo

 

[Richard Schollar]

The Object Browser - accessible via F2 in the VBE is very useful, however. I do agree that the Index and Answer Wizard tabs are often less than helpful, but I have been finding the Contents tab much more useful (this is all offline VB help), since you can search thru easily for help on your specified function. I think the book you mentioned is very good by the way - the Bill Jelen one is also very good, and also the other Bullen/Bovey book, which is more aimed at professional excel developers (and is thus fairly advanced, but still very informative).

Richard

 

[Cbrine]

The worst part that I've have found with the online help, is that it used be at least adeqeute in version 97. When I upgraded to 2003, it's like you say, about a 100 hits on each term. To even find help on a specific function, you need to check through all that crap! Lucky for me I learned on 97! I wouldn't want to try wade through the info overload that Excel gives you now. I would say this forum is much more helpful then the online help.

Cal

 

[Legacy 98055]

I don't know how you guys are searching? I can usually find exactly what I'm looking for immediately by simply placing the cursor on an item in code and pressing F1. What kind of search terms are you entering??? Just curious..

Tom

 

[Cbrine]

Right_click,
The context sensitive help you are referring to works well. It's when you actually type a function or term into the help box and do a search that you end up with information overload. Trying doing a search for SUM() in the help text box and press search. You will be presented with over 30 different options. This is a minor case, I've done searches on some pretty refined terms and I'm still presented with 50+ links, that you need to search through 1 by 1, and it still may not give you what you are looking for.

Cal

 

[Legacy 98055]

I see...

 

[davestewart]

I think MS are aware that their help sucks, and are trying to do something about it with the new .net documentation.