How might one get started on learning VBA?

[maslin]

I have recently learned that excel has it's own programming language. How do I access this and are there any built in tools that would help me learn how to use it more quickly?

 

[Michael M]

To access the VBE press ALT + F11, this will open the area that lets you write and editmacros. If you want to learn to automate simple tasks have a look at the macro recorder...you will need the Developer tab activated.
Best way to learn is hav a project that you can automate some tasks.
You can also learn by hanging out on this forum and using some of the codes posted and trying to modify / edit them to your needs
AND finally here is a list of VBA resources kindly compiled by @hiker95
There are also some good tutorials around, have a look at DataPigTechnologies
Good luck and welcome aboard !!

What Is VBA?
VBA is an acronym for Visual Basic for Applications. VBA should not be confused with VB, which is standard Visual Basic. Visual Basic for Applications is a programming feature designed by Microsoft for use with their Microsoft Office

MrExcel's Products: Books, CDs, Podcasts Discuss topics related to Holy Macro! Products: Learn Excel from MrExcel, VBA and Macros for Microsoft Excel,Holy Macro! It's 2500 VBA Examples CD, Guerilla Data Analysis Using Microsoft Excel and Excel Knowledge Base CD and the MrExcel Podcasts.
MrExcel's Products: Books, CDs, Podcasts

There are over 1800 Excel videos/tutorials here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ExcelIsFun

Getting Started with VBA.
DataPig Technologies

If you are serious about learning VBA try
http://www.add-ins.com/vbhelp.htm

Excel Tutorials and Tips - VBA - macros - training
MrExcel.com | Excel Resources | Excel Seminars | Excel Products

MrExcel's Excel Tutorial Listing
MrExcel.com | Excel Resources | Excel Seminars | Excel Products

Excel VBA MACRO Kick-start Course for absolute beginner

Free VBA Course
Free VBA Training Course

Excel 2007 VBA materials to learn here:
VBA for Excel 2007 tutorial-VBA programming?

The macro recorder actually is your friend but look here:
Beyond Excel's recorder

Introduction to Variables, Constants and Data Types
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...(v=vs.60).aspx

Here's a good primer on the scope of variables.
Understanding Scope

Using Variables in Excel VBA Macro Code
Excel VBA Variables. Using Variables in Excel VBA Macro Code

See David McRitchie's site if you just started with VBA
Getting Started with Macros and User Defined Functions

What is a VBA Module and How is a VBA Module Used?
What is a VBA Module and How is a VBA Module Used?

Events And Event Procedures In VBA
Events In Excel VBA

Here is a good introductory tutorial using a VBA Class:
Classes In VBA

There's a chapter on classes in VBA Developer's Handbook which is also good.
http://www.amazon.com/VBA-Developers.../dp/0782129781

Ron's Excel Tips
Excel for Windows Tips

Ron de Bruin's Mail from Excel and make/mail PDF files (Windows)
Mail from Excel and make/mail PDF files (Windows)

How do I create and use a PERSONAL file for my VBA code
How do I create and use a PERSONAL file for my VBA code

Anthony's Excel VBA Page - Excel Application - Excel Consultant - Excel Consulting (see 3 tutorials in Excel VBA Basic Tutorial Series)

BET: Microsoft Excel Visual Basic

Debugging VBA
Debugging VBA

Debug Excel VBA Macro Code
Debug Excel VBA Macro Code

TechBookReport - Debugging Excel VBA Code
TechBookReport - Debugging Excel VBA Code

Here are some general links on performance improvement:
https://www.soa.org/News-and-Publica...s42-roper.aspx
Optimize Slow VBA Code. Speed Up Efficient VBA Code/Macros
Excel VBA Performance Coding Best Practices - Office Blogs
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa730921.aspx

Start at the beginning...

Creating An XLA Add-In For Excel, Writing User Defined Functions In VBA
Creating An XLA Add In

Build an Excel Add-In
VBA Tips: Build an Excel Add-In

Creating custom functions
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...117011033.aspx

Writing Your First VBA Function in Excel
http://www.exceltip.com/st/Writing_Y...Excel/631.html

VBA for Excel (Macros)
Excel Macros (VBA) Tutorial

Excel Macros Tutorial
Excel Macros (VBA) Tutorial

Excel Macros & Programming
EXCEL Macros Tutorial

VBA Lesson 11: VBA Code General Tips and General Vocabulary
http://www.excel-vba.com/vba-code-2-1-tips.htm

Excel VBA -- Adding Code to a Workbook
http://www.contextures.com/xlvba01.html

Beyond Excel's recorder

Helpful as a simple concise reference for the basics, and, using the macro recorder is endlessly powerful.
http://www.techonthenet.com/excel/cells/index.php

Learn to debug:
Debugging VBA

How To: Assign a Macro to a Button or Shape
How To: Assign a Macro to a Button or Shape - Peltier Tech Blog

User Form Creation
http://www.contextures.com/xlUserForm01.html

Build a UserForm for Excel
http://www.fontstuff.com/ebooks/free/fsuserforms.pdf

When To Use a UserForm & What to Use a UserForm For
When to use Userform & What To Use Them For. Excel Training VBA 2 lesson 2

UserForms in Excel VBA - UserForm Basics; Add Controls dynamically at run-time using the Add Method; UserForm Controls (A Snapshot)

Excel VBA how to Personalise the Ribbon
excel vba how to personalise the ribbon - Bing video

Excel Tutorials / Video Tutorials - Functions
http://www.contextures.com/xlFunctions02.html

How to insert Buttons, radio buttons and check boxes in Excel
How to insert Buttons, radio buttons and check boxes in Excel - Bing video

INDEX MATCH - Excel Index Function and Excel Match Function
http://www.contextures.com/xlFunctions03.html

Multi or two way vlook up and index match tutorial
http://www.get-digital-help.com/

Excel Data Validation
http://www.contextures.com/xlDataVal08.html#Larger
http://www.contextures.com/excel-dat...ation-add.html

Excel -- Data Validation -- Create Dependent Lists
http://www.contextures.com/xlDataVal02.html

Create dependent drop down lists containing unique distinct values in excel | Get Digital Help - Microsoft Excel resource

Your Quick Reference to Microsoft Excel Solutions
XL-CENTRAL.COM : For your Microsoft Excel Solutions

New! Excel Recorded Webinars
DataPig Technologies

MS Excel: VBA Functions - Listed by Category
MS Excel: ALL Formulas/Functions - Listed by Category

Fuzzy Matching - new version plus explanation
Fuzzy Matching - new version plus explanation

Programming The VBA Editor - Created by Chip Pearson at Pearson Software Consulting LLC
This page describes how to write code that modifies or reads other VBA code.
Programming In The VBA Editor

VBA and Macros for Microsoft Excel, by Bill Jelen "Mr.Excel" and Tracy Syrstad

Excel Hacks 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools, by David & Traina Hawley

VBA and Macros for Microsoft Excel 2007, by Bill Jelen "Mr.Excel" and Tracy Syrstad

John Walkenbach's power programming with Excel books.

Excel 2010 Power Programming with VBA, Mr. Spreadsheet's Bookshelf

by Stephen/ Bovey, Rob/ Green, John Bullen (Paperback - Feb 11, 2005)
Professional Excel Development

by Rob Bovey, Stephen Bullen, John Green, and Robert Rosenberg (Paperback - Sep 26, 2001)
Excel 2002 VBA: Programmers Reference

Professional Excel Development by Rob Bovey, Dennis Wallentin, Stephen Bullen, & John Green

DonkeyOte: My Recommended Reading, Volatility
Volatile Excel Functions -Decision Models

A list of Reference Books
AJP Excel Information

Sumproduct
http://www.xldynamic.com/source/xld.SUMPRODUCT.html

Arrays
VBA Array Basics
VBA Arrays
Excel: Introduction to Array Formulas - Xtreme Visual Basic Talk
Excel VBA Lesson 21: Array in Excel VBA
The Complete Guide to Using Arrays in Excel VBA - Excel Macro Mastery

Array Dimensions in Visual Basic - Working with Dimensions (code and graphics)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...(v=VS.80).aspx

Visual Basic Array Tutorial written by Adam Wehmann
Visual Basic Arrays Tutorial

Shortcut Keys in Excel 2000 through 2007

Pivot Intro
Using Pivot Tables in Microsoft Excel - Peltier Tech Blog
Office 2010 Class #36: Excel PivotTables Pivot Tables 15 examples (Data Analysis) - YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMGILHiLqr0
Getting Started with Pivot Tables
http://www.contextures.com/xlPivot01.html#Start
Overview of PivotTable and PivotChart reports
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/ex...010342752.aspx
Build a Pivot Table in Excel VBA
Build a Pivot Table in Excel VBA : Microsoft Excel

Excel 2013 PowerPivot Basics #01: Introduction To PowerPivot for Excel 2013 - YouTube

Conditional Formatting
http://office.microsoft.com/en-001/e...102809768.aspx

Email from XL - VBA
Mail from Excel example pages

Outlook VBA
Writing VBA code for Microsoft Outlook

Mail a message to each person in a range
Mail a message to each person in a range

Excel Function Dictionary by Peter Noneley
http://www.xlfdic.com/
http://www.hoffits.com/

Function Translations
Excel function name translations - Dictionary Chart Front Page

Dynamic Named Ranges
http://www.contextures.com/xlNames01.html

How to create Excel Dashboards
http://www.contextures.com/excel-dashboards.html
Excel Dashboards - Templates, Tutorials, Downloads and Examples | Chandoo.org - Learn Microsoft Excel Online
Excel Dashboards - Templates, Tutorials, Downloads and Examples | Chandoo.org - Learn Microsoft Excel Online
Free Microsoft Excel Dashboard Widgets to Download
Gauge

Excel Dashboard / Scorecard Ebook
http://www.qimacros.com/excel-dashboard-scorecard.html

Mike Alexander from Data Pig Technologies
http://www.amazon.com/Excel-2007-Das...5564958&sr=1-1

Templates
CPearson.com Topic Index
http://www.contextures.com/excel-tem...lf-scores.html
Free Microsoft Excel Template Links & Search Engine

Financial Model Template
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...finance&page=1

Microsoft Excel Cascading Listboxes Tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAMvLJRwZdI

Date & Time stamping:
McGimpsey & Associates : Excel : Time and date stamps

Get Formula / Formats thru custom functions:
Show FORMULA or FORMAT of another cell

A nice informative MS article "Improving Performance in Excel 2007"
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa730921.aspx

Progress Meters
Progress meters
http://www.xcelfiles.com/ProgressBar.html

How to convert text to numbers in Excel
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291047

How to parse data from the web - Brett Fret has a video in YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H7tBL97orE

Excel VBA MAC shortcuts
Mac Shortcuts for Excel

Macintosh Keyboard Shortcuts to use in Microsoft Excel
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ma...102927337.aspx

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ex...010073848.aspx

Excel VLOOKUP Multiple Sheets • My Online Training Hub

Wise Owl Tutorials
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...3akx_gFMnpxTN5

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc837974.aspx
Merging Data from Multiple Workbooks into a Summary Workbook in Excel
Merge data from all workbooks in a folder
Merging a Range from Selected Workbooks
Merging a Range from Multiple Workbooks by Column
Merging a Range from Multiple Workbooks in a Folder with a Filter

You could do a Google search with “You Tube” and use the foollowing names, and/or, links:
YourProgrammingNetwork
ExcelVbalsFun
WiseOwlTutorials
ExcelScreencasts
ExcelVBAHelp
Andreas Thehos
LoeblComServices
Dinesh Kumar Takyar
VBA4Excel
I-Helped-U DoubleCheck
methodactor1982VBA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABXP...S5k4zsvnu2mkJC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHO5...3akx_gFMnpxTN5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd6Z...VH5Dq42RG9tlRP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIhK...suD6oNDaOk3vbR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z08z...Z_6brD5Gk1sVy_
https://www.youtube.com/user/ExcelVbaIsFun/playlists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_d8...lhXL_9m7EAgcMq
https://www.youtube.com/user/ExcelVB...ort=dd&view=50
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...o2SEPBLLPGOyBz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_1e...7lleNVtNeAhBVC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDYk...007E847B3E6658

Some other Threads where VBA learning was discussed:
Basics of Excel VBA and Code writting
Excel VBA
How to find which worksheet my macro is launched from [SOLVED] - Page 2
How useful are YouTube tutorials for VBA

Sending mail from Excel with CDO
Sending mail from Excel with CDO

And, as your skills increase, try answering threads on sites like:
MrExcel.com | Excel Resources | Excel Solutions
http://www.excelforum.com
Excel Templates | Excel Add-ins and Excel Help with formulas and VBA Macros
Expert Microsoft Help, with all of the Microsoft Applications from Excel programming, Access training to our free Microsoft VBA Forums
Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Word VBA Macro Automation Help

If you are willing to spend money for the training, then something here should work for you...
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...l_5givffg47i_b

Advanced Excel Training - Online Excel Course
http://www.udemy.com/advanced-excel/

Learn VBA Fast, Vol. I: Excel function design course, with practice exercises (The VBA Function Design Course Book 1)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00M6E8MBW

Excel VBA Programmer Interview - Excel Test for interview
Excel VBA Programmer Interview

Excel tests
Excel Skills | Excel 2010 | Free Skills Test
Skills Assessment / Training Needs Analysis (TNA)
https://www.wiziq.com/tests/ms-excel