VBA book

[jc52766]

Hi

Would appreciate some advice. As a complete VBA newbie i was going to head out to get "Excel 2007 VBA programming for dummies".

From what i've heard and read this is the best 1 for getting started with VBA using simple language.

Any other suggestions??

 

[pplstuff]

You should just get Walkenbach, Power Programming. He goes over everything in the For Dummies book again in PowerProg. I went through the entire For Dummies book (about 3 months ago), and I'm about 1/2 way through PowerProg. (I do all the examples)

Honestly, I don't think you can learn VBA through these books. You need a meaningful project to work on, and you'll learn VBA as you complete the steps to various tasks.

The books will give you background on VBA (such as the different variable types, and how to declare objects, etc.) but they won't teach you how to program! Think of the books as a platform, they'll give you a foundation but won't show you how to implement your own ideas.

I guess what I'm saying is, don't buy the book and expect to know anything about programming. You should buy the book with the expectation that you'll learn some of the foundations and best practices. If you have prior programming experience, it might be different (I had zero programming exp.)

The short version of what I said:
-Walkenbach will only show you the basics (very basic)
-Find a challenging (yet realistic) problem, and solve with VBA <-this will be the best way to learn.

 

[jc52766]

Makes sense

Thanks mate.

I've been reading some stuff over here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee814737.aspx

Some really basic examples which i find is definitely the best way to learn.

Thanks

 

[pplstuff]

Sorry to double post...

I wanted to add, after reading and going through all these exercises, I still could never program anything with any depth or complexity. I'm a fairly savvy Excel user, too. When people post code, I can understand a bit of it, but could never write it from scratch.

One thing that most people don't realize is that VBA is useful for two main reasons:
1) Defining custom functions
2) Automating repetitive tasks

Too often, people want VBA to solve their problems. But it's faster to just do somethings the old fashion way... with formulas. I've worked in excel 40+ hours a week for work for about a year (doing data analysis and financial modelling) and I've NEVER needed VBA to complete any task. The reality is, if you're not doing anything repetitive you don't need it (although, it can't hurt to learn!)

An example of VBA's prime use: A co-worker had to analyze weekly P&Ls. He turned it from three full-time employees doing it, to one person clicking a single button on Monday night and the results would be ready Tuesday morning. (This marco pulled all sorts of data from the ERP system, spit it into various dashboards, and emailed it to everyone who needed it). Needless to say he was promoted and two other people were let go.

 

[chuckles1066]

Just browse (for free) the thousands of excellent examples provided here?

 

[Mahesh_P]

Hi
You can download below books from below link
1.Excel 2007 VBA Macro Programming
2.Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) 2010 Study Guide for Microsoft® Excel
3.Vba_for_Excel_Made_Simple_(Made_Simple_Programming)

http://excelvbaandmacros.blogspot.in/2012/02/excel-vba-learning-mos-2010-study-guide.html

 

[Derek Brown]

This should also be useful:
http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2676997&postcount=5

 

[rs2k]

The 'Live Lessons Excel VBA and Macros with MrExcel' DVD was a god send for me, I have many books and read many on line tutorials about VBA and always stuggled with it, this DVD actually shows you step by step and it finally statrted to sink in. I can highly recomend this as a starting point.

Go to the products store and order a copy from there,

HTH
Colin

 

[NamelessL]

well said sir, could you pleas tell me how to learn data analysis and financial modelling with Excel? I wish to build my career as an Excel expert/consultant on financial modelling and data analysis. BTW I am have no financial background, I study logistics engineering.

 

[NamelessL]

well said sir, could you pleas tell me how to learn data analysis and financial modelling with Excel? I wish to build my career as an Excel expert/consultant on financial modelling and data analysis. BTW I am have no financial background, I study logistics engineering.

Sorry to double post...

I wanted to add, after reading and going through all these exercises, I still could never program anything with any depth or complexity. I'm a fairly savvy Excel user, too. When people post code, I can understand a bit of it, but could never write it from scratch.

One thing that most people don't realize is that VBA is useful for two main reasons:
1) Defining custom functions
2) Automating repetitive tasks

Too often, people want VBA to solve their problems. But it's faster to just do somethings the old fashion way... with formulas. I've worked in excel 40+ hours a week for work for about a year (doing data analysis and financial modelling) and I've NEVER needed VBA to complete any task. The reality is, if you're not doing anything repetitive you don't need it (although, it can't hurt to learn!)

An example of VBA's prime use: A co-worker had to analyze weekly P&Ls. He turned it from three full-time employees doing it, to one person clicking a single button on Monday night and the results would be ready Tuesday morning. (This marco pulled all sorts of data from the ERP system, spit it into various dashboards, and emailed it to everyone who needed it). Needless to say he was promoted and two other people were let go.