EXCEL VBA

EXCEL VBA
Step-By-Step Guide To Learning Excel

Programming Language For Beginners
Jason Jay
© Copyright 2017 by Jason Jay - All rights reserved.
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TABLE OF CONTENT
EXCEL VB A 1
Introductio n 5
CHAPTER 1 7
VBA Developer TA B 7
Accesing to the Developer TA B 7
Quiz 1 8
CHAPTER 2 9
Macro s 9
Creating a Macr o 9
Relative Reference s 11
Running the Macr o 12
Saving a Macro-Enabled Workboo k 12
Quiz 2 14
CHAPTER 3 16
Starting with VB A 16
What if I need to fill the cells up to 100 ? 19
Insert Form Butto n 21
Simple things a Macro can’t do . 22
Insert ActiveX Butto n 22
Variables, Do and Loop . 23
What is the advantage of declaring variables as byte, integer or any other ? 31
APPs Performanc e 35
MSGBO X 39
If and Select Cas e 40
Quiz 3 43
CHAPTER 4 45
Project: Creating a Simple Calculator using Active X 45
What is a Module ? 45
How to create a Modul e 46
Adding Letters ? 58
Quiz 4 59
CHAPTER 5 60
Project: Calculator using Form s 60
Revie w 60
FORM S 61
Commmand Buttons cod e 65
Excel Formulas on VB A 74
Combining VBA and a Spreadshee t 75
Starting with Declarations : 78
Open and Close declarations: Displaying a form without looking any spreadshee t 81
Macro Securit y 87
Comment s 89
The whole code for Calculator Projec t 94
Command Buttons Orde r 101
Adding Password to VBA Code . 102
Quiz 5 104
Interacting with other Applications . 105
Opening other apps from Exce l 105
Sending an Outlook e-mail from Excel : 108
Exercises Solutions : 111
Answers Chapter 1 111
Introduction
If you already know how to use Microsoft Excel but there’re a few things you
can’t do, it is time to learn the strongest functionality it has, Visual Basic for
Applications (VBA).
Visual Basic for Applications is a programming language incorporated in
Microsoft Excel, Access, PowerPoint and even Word, which let you do all things you
already know about them and much more. For example, you want that every time you
open a specific Microsoft Word file it writes automatically the current date two lines
below where you left last time. Or maybe you want a whole spreadsheet of Excel
without formulas on it and still applying them as if they were there. How would you
do that? All these things and much more are done with Visual Basic for Applications
for Microsoft Office.
Look at the example below:
It looks like a program made for analysis, and it does. Guess what program it
is? Probably you are thinking it is not any Microsoft Office program, but let me tell
you that it was made with Microsoft Excel, how would you do something like that
without programming? There’s no way!
You’ll learn much more than that and will be able to create your own programs
using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).
If you need a very specific program for your business analysis, something for
personal use, or even just for having fun, you need Visual Basic for Applications
now!
CHAPTER 1
VBA Developer TAB
Every programming language has similarities between their fundamentals. The
functions IF, Then, Loop, Close, Open, are just some of them. We’ll learn the basic
ones first; it will be necessary to understand how VBA works.
We’ll use Microsoft Excel 365 for this instructions and examples, however, from
Microsoft Excel 2007 onwards it will work the same.
Accesing to the Developer TAB
Microsoft Excel doesn’t show the Developer TAB by default. It only has File, Home,
Insert, etc. But there’s no one called Developer. To access to this TAB there are
different options, but we’ll show the easiest one.
1. Right click to the Ribbon (any part inside the red box, except the buttons).
2. Select Customize the Ribbon

3. Enable the Developer checkbox and click the OK button.
4. You should see the Developer TAB available now.
Quiz 1
1. How you Access the Developer TAB?
a) It is available by default in Excel.
b) Right click on the Ribbon, Customize the Ribbon, enable the Checkbox for
Developer and Accept.
c) Go to file, Options, Advanced and Enable the Developer TAB.
CHAPTER 2
Macros
Creating a Macro
You’ll see a few options available in the Developer TAB, by now we’ll start to use the
Record Macro button.
A Macro is an automated sequence which will apply every time you play it. Let’s see
a practical example of it:
Imagine that in your job you do the same process every morning. It takes some
valuable time and even you’re getting bored of that.
The process is the following:
a) You receive a Microsoft Excel file from your boss with some data and you
need to write the date using Year, Month and Day in different columns.
You do this because it is the format your job needs and you’ve been adding the same
values every day for a few years.
In this case an semi-automated process would be helpful. Excel gives that option to
all of us with Macros. A Macro is a semi-automated process which let you run a
specific task using a shortcut.
To create a Macro, follow the sequence below:
a) Click the Record a Macro Button.
b) Write a name for your Macro. (Needed)

c) A shortkey which every time you press will Run the Macro. Be careful,
don’t add Ctrl + C or Ctrl + v, otherwise it won’t copy or paste anymore, but
run the Macro. In case you want a more specific shortcut, hold the shift key as
you press a letter. For example, ctrl + shift + c. To make it work, don’t press
ctrl as you add a short cut. (Optional)
d) Store Macro in: Personal workbook: Will be available for all the files you
open with Excel on that computer; New Workbook will be available for a new
file only. This workbook, will apply only to the current open file. (Needed to
choose one)
e) Write a description about what that Macro does. (Optional)
f) Click Ok.
g) Start doing everything you always do, which would be adding the current
date in this case.
h) Once you finish, go back to the Record Macro Button, which now is called
Stop Recording. Press it and now should be saved.
This would be a very simple Macro, it only adds the current date, but what would you
think if you also need to import data from a web page which is updated every hour,
and need to classify it using a few charts, and you do the same process several times a
day. No doubt, a good Macro would be useful.
The process to get it any Macro, is the same we’ve followed. There’s only an
important thing to consider when creating one, it is to choose between using Relative
References or not.
Relative References
The Relative References button is just below the Record a Macro Button. Once you
click on it, it remains active until you click on it again. It is used to record macros in
which the process should be applied to different ranges instead of one already set.
Its functionality is very useful. A macro recorded without relative references will
always repeat the process on the same cells used when recorded. But if you use
relative references, the macro will run from the active cell. Using the example above,
what If you need the dates written on cells F4:H4 instead of B2:D2? The only thing
you should do is to select F4 and run the Macro. Or select any cell you need and run
it. But you need to record the Macro using Relative References, and then select the
cell and run it, otherwise it wouldn’t work.
Running the Macro
There are a bunch of ways to run a Macro. Let’s see the first: Run this one by clicking
on the Macros Button, then click on it to run it.
Maybe it is not as practical as we expected, however, we’ll add more functionality
and make it easier to run in the next step.
Saving a Macro-Enabled Workbook
Once you have added some Macros to your worksheet and try to save it you’ll get a
notification like the following:
This might be a little tricky, because most people would attempt saving the file
without reading this notification:
The following features cannot be saved in macro-free workbooks:
°VBA project
To save a file with these features, click No, and then choose a macro-enabled file in
the File Type list.
To continue saving as a macro-free workbook, click Yes.
Most people would just click Yes, and according to this message they wouldn’t save
the file with their Macros, but as Macro free. It would make you lose all your Macro
work.
To save the Macro, just click No to the message above, then select save as Excel
Macro-Enabled Workbook.
Click on Save, and it is done!

Once you open it again, you should see a message saying Macros have been disabled,
and a Button saying Enable Macros. Click on it and won’t have further problems. If
you don’t click on it, you won’t be able to work with VBA, at least you enable them
on Macro Security in the Developer TAB, or follow the steps on Chapter 5: Macro
Security.
Quiz 2
1. What is a Macro?
a) It is an Excel Formula
b) It is a shortcut which runs a recorded process.
c) It is a built-in process included in Excel.
2. How to create a Macro?
a) Clicking on the Visual Basic Button
b) Clicking on the Macros Button
c) Clicking on the Record Macro Button
3. What is Relative References for?
a) It is to Record a Macro without set specific cells.
b) It is to Record a Macro with specific cells.
c) Without it a Macro isn’t editable.
4. How to Run a Macro?
a) Clicking on the Macro Button
b) Clicking on the Record Macro Button
c) Clicking on the Relative References Button
5. How to save a workbook with Macros?
a) Just save the file normally, the Macros will be saved.
b) You’ll get a notification, in which we should be denied and then select save
as Macro-Enabled Workbook.
c) You’ll get a notification, in which we will be notified that we are saving a
Macro-enabled workbook, then just accept to save.
CHAPTER 3
Starting with VBA
Macros are fundamental to be introduced to VBA.
Let’s see why by following the process:
1.-Create a new Macro without relative references.
2.-In the process select the cell A1, write a number 1, and press enter.
3.-Stop Recording.
Next to the Record Macro button , there’s another one called Visual Basic . Click on it
and you’ll see a code like this:
Range("A1").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "1"
Range("A2").Select
Congrats, you have some Visual Basic Code now. It means a few orders:
Select Cell A1
Write the number 1
Select Cell A2
It is exactly what we did. But now, we’ll edit the code so that the Macro does
something else.
If we see, there’s a pattern, which is: select, write, select. So, we could continue the
pattern by adding a few more things directly, like this:
Range("A1").Select
Range("A2").Select
Range("A3").Select
Range("A4").Select
Now that you added this, run the macro, but now you’ll see a second way to run it.
Press the green button above the code. Once you click on it go to the Excel
Spreadsheet by clicking on the Excel symbol. You’ll see that the cells A1:A3 are
filled with the numbers we wrote and the Cell A4 is selected.
It may look very complex, and it is like that because humans use to do things that
machines wouldn’t. I needed to select cell A1, A2, A3 and son on. But does Excel
really need to select it to write a simple number?
Let’s try it by adding the following code:
Range("A1") = 1
Range("A2") = 2
Range("A3") = 3
That’s it! Excel can skip steps humans can’t. So, it makes it much more faster and
easy to accomplish its work.
What if I need to fill the cells up to 100?
Now, I think that if I need to follow this pattern until A100 is going to be hard. What
should I do?
Let’s add this:
Range("A1:A100") = 1
Oops! It adds a number 1 to all cells from A1 to A100. Let’s try another thing:
Range("A1:A100") = 1 + 1
It adds a number two instead. So, How do I tell Excel that I want it to fill cells in
sequence?
There are several ways. One is to record a Macro and during the process add a
number 1 to the cell A1, then hold right click on the small square and scroll down
until you select A100. Select fill series. Go to Visual Basic and you’ll see a code like
this:
Range("A1").Select
Selection.AutoFill Destination:=Range("A1:A100"),
Type:=xlFillSeries
Range("A1:A100").Select
It works! I think we already have a great idea about how to get the VBA code we
want. Record a Macro, and there it is. However, there’re a lot of functions that
Macros can’t offer. For example, fill up cells in sequence according to the number
written in cell B2, and once it changes fill up the sequence again according to that
number. So, if there’s a number 1 it will be filled one by one, if I change it to five,
it’ll go five by five and so on. How are you going to record that in a Macro? What if
it is not just filling up a sequence, but a Financial matter, working with real numbers
and you need to solve a problem like this fast?
Recording a Macro isn’t enough always, but in most cases, it helps .
Visual Basic Application (VBA) is a programming language, but it is not necessary to
know VBA code or computer programming if the Macro Recorder does what you
want.
You should know that when you record a Macro it records even your mistakes, and it
will repeat them when you run it. If you want to solve a problem like this you have
two options:
1. Record the Macro again.
2. Edit the VBA code.
Remember that recording a good Macro or writing a good VBA code, will
make Excel to run smoothly. Otherwise, you can expect a not responding
message until it finishes or maybe it even could stop working.
We’ll focus on things you can’t do using only recorded macros. So, you can learn
how powerful Visual Basic for Applications is in Microsoft Excel.
Insert Form Button
We have some Macros recorded now. But we see that to run them it is not that handy,
so what if we add a button, and every time we press it on the macro runs?
To do that, click on the insert button in the Developer TAB. You’ll see it displays two
boxes, called form controls and ActiveX Controls . Let’s select the Form Control
Button, then wherever you want on the spreadsheet hold and drag to create the size of
the button. Once you stop holding you’ll see a new window in which you will be able
to choose the Macro you want the Button to run. Select it and it’s done.
If you want to change the name of the button just click on it twice slowly or right
click, edit text. To move the position of the button, just right click, and then hold and
drag with the left click.
Easy, don’t you think?
Simple things a Macro can’t do.
Insert ActiveX Button
Let’s add an ActiveX Button. To do this in the Developer TAB click on Insert, and
then select ActiveX Button. Hold and drag to create the button in the spreadsheet.
This kind of button are very different than Form Buttons, because these ones work
directly with VBA.
Let’s add some functionality which can’t be done using Macros only. We want that
button to create a sequence of numbers according to the value inserted in cell B2. I
mean, if I add number 1 then I’ll see a pattern going one by one. If I write 5, then it
will go five by five, and so on, from A1 to A100.
This is a great opportunity to explain Variables.
Variables, Do and Loop.
A variable is an algebraic term, which is usually represented by a letter and its value
varies, for example, x + y = 10, in this equation there are two variables, X and Y.
They can vary to equal 10. If X = 5 and Y = 5 then x+y=10 , and it is also correct if
X= 8 and Y=2, because X+Y= 8+2 = 10. Etc.
In VBA we declare variables too. In this case we’ll add some functionality to the
ActiveX Button we added in the previous step.
First, we’ll need to choose the correct numeric variable.
These are the most types of variables, check them out and see their storage size and
range by now:
Data type Storage Range

size
Byte 1 byte 0 to 255
Boolean 2 bytes True or False
Integer 2 bytes -32,768 to 32,767
Long 4 bytes -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647

(long integer)
Single 4 bytes -3.402823E38 to -1.401298E-45 for negative
(single- values; 1.401298E-45 to 3.402823E38 for
precision positive values
floating-point)
Double 8 bytes -1.79769313486231E308 to
(double- -4.94065645841247E-324 for negative values;
precision 4.94065645841247E-324 to
floating-point) 1.79769313486232E308 for positive values
Currency 8 bytes -922,337,203,685,477.5808 to

(scaled integer) 922,337,203,685,477.5807
Decimal 14 bytes +/-79,228,162,514,264,337,593,543,950,335

with no decimal point;
+/-7.9228162514264337593543950335 with 28
places to the right of the decimal; smallest non-
zero number is
+/-0.0000000000000000000000000001
Date 8 bytes January 1, 100 to December 31, 9999
Object 4 bytes Any Object reference
String 10 bytes + 0 to approximately 2 billion

(variable- string
length) length
String Length of 1 to approximately 65,400
(fixed-length) string
Variant 16 bytes Any numeric value up to the range of a Double
(with numbers)
Variant 22 bytes + Same range as for variable-length String
(with string
characters) length
User-defined Number The range of each element is the same as the
(using Type ) required by
elements range of its data type.
In this table, we see that each variable has different ranges, some larger than others,
and in the same time the size storage varies too. The smallest unit of memory
available is called a byte, and according to this table it goes from number 0 to 255.
Let’s do this to start:
1. Enable the Design Mode Button, which is next to the Insert Button in the
Developer TAB.
2. Double click on the ActiveX Button.
3. Now you’re ready to write the code for it.
Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()
End Sub
That’s what you should see.
Now let’s write some code between those lines we see:
Dim X As Byte
Dim Y As Byte
X=1
Y = Range("B1")
Do
Range("A" & X) = Y
X=X+1
Y = Y + Range("B1")
Loop Until X = 101
End Sub
This is the meaning of this code. It says:
Private means that you won’t find the code in the Macros Button. CommandButton1
is the default name given to the ActiveX Button, and Click means that the code below
will be applied only when you click on it.
Dim X As Byte
Dim declares variables, So, it says that X is a variable that will be used with
numbers from 0 to 255, because “ Byte ” only accepts that range according to the
table above.
X=1
I added the initial value for the variable, which will be 1.
Y=Range(“B1”)
Means that the value of the variable Y is the same value as cell B1.
Do
Means do this.
Range(“A” & X) = Y
We already declared X as a variable with a value of 1. So, the Range AX means
Range(“A1”)=Y, and Y is the Range (“B1”). If I add the number 5 to B1, then Y = 5.
So, finally it is Range(“A1”)=5.
X=X +1
It means that X=1+1 because in that moment X=1, so finally X=2. The next time this
process repeats, it will be X=X+1 again, but this time X=2, so finally X=3, because
X=2+1, and so on.
Y = Y + Range("B1")
This will follow the same process as the last step, but with the value added in
Range(“B1”) which will be that one we added. If B1 has a 5, then it will add another
5, following a sequence according to what we wrote on B1.
Loop Until X = 101
It means that the same process between Do and LOOP will be repeated until X=101.
End Sub
Means the end of the procedure.
Let’s try it now!
Add the number 1 to the cell B1 and press the button. You’ll see that it fills up the
cells from A1 to A100 one by one. Try it with two, and you’ll see that it adds from
A1:A100 two by two. Finally add the number 3 and press the button.
Congrats! You’ve found your first bug! It is an overflow.
Bugs are errors when one writes a wrong code. In our example the code works fine
with numbers from 0 to 255 only, and once we ask the file to go 3 by 3 one hundred
times we are expecting it to go from 3 to 300, which is more than 255, so it causes an
overflow.
To fix it, we have two options, we increase the value of the variable or we let Excel to
add it automatically.
Let’s consider the possibility of increasing the capacity of the variable, we can change
it from byte (0 to 255) to integer ( -32,768 to 32,767). It will be great if we were
pretty sure that we won’t work with higher numbers of 32,767, or even change it to
“long” which goes from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647. It would be great to work
even with millions, but let’s imagine that someone needs to put billions in B1. In that
case even a long variable wouldn’t be enough. So, the best way to solve this is don’t
declare the variable and leaving the code in the following way:
Dim X As Byte
X=1
Y = Range("B1")
Do
Range("A" & X) = Y
X=X+1
Y = Y + Range("B1")
Loop Until X = 101
End Sub
Or declaring the value as Variant, which let any number or letters.
Dim X As Byte
Dim Y As Variant
X=1
Y = Range("B1")
Do
Range("A" & X) = Y
X=X+1
Y = Y + Range("B1")
Loop Until X = 101
End Sub
What is the advantage of declaring variables as byte, integer or any other?
Maybe you are wondering why to declare a variable as byte or integer, etc. If Excel
can add one automatically as in the example we’ve seen?
The answer is simple and important to know. Let’s remember that a variable as byte
stores in RAM Memory only 1 byte, which is the smallest amount of memory
possible in Excel, but a variant declared as variant stores at least 22 bytes. If we don’t
declare a value in which we are sure won’t add more than the needed values, it will
consume more RAM, it will cause a program to run slow in very simple tasks.
For example, I need to declare 1000 variables as byte. It would consume 1 Kilobyte
of RAM only.
But By default, if you don't supply a data type, the variable is declared as Variant data
type, which consumes 22 bytes + string length, string length is for letters.
So, 1000 variables not declared would be automatically declared as variant, and it
would consume 22 kilobytes. It is 21 empty kilobytes, which is 95% of not available
space and don’t used at all in case we would have required them as bytes instead. If
you are going to program in VBA and want your program to run smoothly, you better
learn what kind of variable to declare. Otherwise, it will probably take long to load
and then will run slow.
Require Variable Declaration Importance
Probably, one of the biggest problems about not declaring a Variable are creating
bugs, because we simply type something wrong. Let’s make a simple example of it.
1. Open Visual Basic
2. Double Click on ThisWorkbook
3. Add the following code:
Public Sub Infinite()
myvariable = 200
myrange = 1
Do Until myvariabe = 300
Range("A" & myrange) = myvariable
myvariable = myvariable + 1
myrange = myrange + 1
Loop
End Sub
As you see it is a very similar code to one we did before. It should stop once
myvariable equals 300, but it continues. Can you see the problem?
If not, run the code. You’ll notice that it will go beyond 300, and practically will have
no end, or at least until it has no more files. In Excel 365 the total files available is
1048576, so it will go until A1048576 and will enter on an error.
If you don’t want to wait until that, Press ESC Key which will interrupt the code
execution and then press End Button.
Well, the problem is that we miss just one letter of a variable. We named it
myvariable but when coding we miss the letter L : Do Until myvariabe. Excel
identified myvariable and myvariabe as two different variables, and automatically
assigns them as Variant type.
What would have happened if your code has a lot of code? To find the problem you
should look at all your code to find the letter you missed! As you see it would be a
big trouble! That’s why Microsoft Excel has an option called Require Variable
Declaration.
It won’t let you write anything which is not code or a declared variable. To enable this
feature do the following:
1. Visual Basic
2. Tools Tab
3. Options
4. Require Variable Declaration
5. Ok.
It will add something above the code, which says Option Explicit. But, you won’t see
that change until you start a new project, insert a module or you write it by yourself.
That’s why it is important to start a new project always with this option enabled.
In this case, add Option Explicit manually above the code.
Option Explicit
Public Sub Infinite()
myvariable = 200
myrange = 1
Do Until myvariabe = 300
Range("A" & myrange) = myvariable
myvariable = myvariable + 1
myrange = myrange + 1
Loop
End Sub
After you added this code Run it!
You’ll see that it automatically displays a message saying Variable Not Defined and
even highlight the problem. So, you can see that it will avoid further problems for
misspell variables.
APPs Performance
Now, imagine that you really need to fill one by one all the cells from A1 to
A1048576, and that it is one of the functionalities your APP should do. Almost
always Developers are concerned about creating Apps which run fast. In Excel it is
not an exception. Try running the following code and see how long it takes to fill all
column A with numbers:
Public Sub FillColumnA()
Dim X As Long
X=1
Do Until Range("A1048576") <> Empty
Range("A" & X) = X
X=X+1
Loop
MsgBox "Finished"
End Sub
When it finishes it will display a message saying “Finished”. It will probably take
about 5 minutes, maybe less or more depending on your computer performance. You
probably will notice Excel saying that it is not responding, but in most cases it is still
working. I don’t want to wait too long!
A good way VBA Developers make Apps run faster, is by disabling the
ScreenUpdating. Every change Excel does we are supposed to see it. But, if we don’t
want to see it, it will definitively improve its performance.
Let’s change the code to this:
Dim X As Long
On Error GoTo A
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
X=1
Range("A" & X) = X
X=X+1
Loop
A:
MsgBox "Finish"
End Sub
Run it and time how long it takes, then compare how faster this way is. Don’t forget
to erase Column A before you start. You should notice a big difference!
Screenupdating is a great tool when need to increase an App performance. However,
now go to the spreadsheet and try to do something. You should notice that it is not
possible to do anything, or at least you won’t see that, because screenudating = false
turned off the visibility changes. So, when you use Application.screenupdating = false
NEVER forget to add Application.ScreenUpdating = True at then end of your code,
and even better as a backup in case of error do as the code below:
Dim X As Long
On Error GoTo A
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
X=1
Range("A" & X) = X
X=X+1
Loop
A:
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
MsgBox "Finished"
End Sub
MSGBOX
As you saw in the code above, it displays a message saying “Finished”. We can do
much more than that!
One of those messages can execute code too! Look at the table below:
Constant Value
vbOK 1
vbCancel 2
vbAbort 3
vbRetry 4
vbIgnore 5
vbYes 6
vbNo 7
Those are the kind of messages you can display, and once you click on it, it will
return the value according to the table above.
Run the following code:
Public Sub fff()
Dim X As Byte
X = MsgBox("This is the body",
vbYesNoCancel, "This is the title")
MsgBox X
End Sub
It will display a msgbox with a Yes, No and Cancel button. Once you click on any
button, X will take that value and will display it on the next MsgBox. So, if you click
on Yes, you’ll see a number 6, and if you click on No, you’ll see a number 7.
This is a great advantage, because we can ask if user want to proceed or not, etc.
If and Select Case
We see that once we are adding a msgbox, we can also create a warning message, or
information, or critical, etc. Let’s combine one in the code below, so we can figure
out how to do it:
Public Sub myMessageBox()
Dim X As Byte
X = MsgBox("I'll tell you the button you pressed on", vbYesNoCancel +
vbExclamation, "What Button would you press?")
If X = 2 Then
MsgBox "You Pressed Button Cancel"
ElseIf X = 6 Then
MsgBox "You pressed Button Yes"
Else
MsgBox "You pressed Button No"
End If
End Sub
It will tell you the button you pressed. It means that if you can know what button is
pressed on then you can control an action according to it. For Example execute a
Macro.
If is the conditional. Like:
Public Sub Evaluation()
Dim X As Byte
X = Range("A1")
If X = 5 Then
MsgBox "There's a number " & X
ElseIf X = 6 Then
ElseIf X = 7 Then
ElseIf X = 8 Then
Else
MsgBox "There's another value"
End If
End Sub
So “if” makes a conditional, “elseif” is checked in case the first condition doesn’t
meet, and will check as many “elseif” as you add until one condition meet. “Else”
will run in case any condition doesn’t meet. So, if we don’t add any number from 5 to
8, we’ll see a message saying “There’s another value”, but if we put a number 8, then
we’ll see a message saying There’s a number 8.
If, elseif and else are very similar to another kind of code called Select Case , Case ,
and Case Else However, this one is more efficient than IF in some cases. Let’s do the
same than above but using case instead:
Public Sub Cases()
Dim X As Byte
X = Range("A1")
Select Case Range("A1")
Case 5 To 8
Case Else
MsgBox "There's another value"
End Select
End Sub
This last one occupies much less code. It was easier and better. You can do practically
the same but is up to you which one you want to use.
Quiz 3
What is a Variable?
a) It is a value which never changes.
b) It is a value which changes.
c) It is a special number.
What is the storage size of a byte variable and its range?
a) It stores 2 bytes and goes from -32567 to 32567.
b) It stores 1 byte and goes from -256 to -256.
c) It stores 1 byte and goes from 0 to 256.
What is the advantage of declaring variables?
a) It consumes less RAM and makes it run smoothly.
b) It consumes more RAM and makes it run slower.
c) It wouldn’t work if variables aren’t declared.
Is it obligatory to declare variables?
a) Only if Require Variable Declaration is enabled
b) It is obligatory in all circumstances
c) It is not, Excel declares them automatically according to the value added.
Msgbox returns a value depending on the button pressed:
a) We assign the value to each button
b) It returns a value depending on the button pressed
c) Values aren’t returned
CHAPTER 4
Project: Creating a Simple Calculator using
ActiveX
We’re going to create a simple calculator first. After this project is completed,
we’ll create a more sophisticated one. To do that, we’ll require to know the following:
What is a Module?
When we start writing VBA code, we’ll usually start writing on Sheet1. But, in order
to understand Modules, Procedures Private and Public, we’ll create a visual
calculator. First, we´ll do it on a spreadsheet, and then we’ll do it as a real program.
A module, is something like a Box, in which we add some code to run when we
“call” it. To understand how it works, we’ll create our calculator using a few
Modules.
How to create a Module
First, add the following ActiveX buttons on a spreadsheet on the table as it is shown
on the image. To add the appropriate symbol to each button, it is not as we did on the
Form Buttons. In this case we have to click on the Design More Button, which is in
the developer TAB, then right click on each button and you’ll see something like the
image below, in which we see something called “Name”. Most people would think
that there’s where we can add the correct symbol to see, but that’s wrong. Excel
identify the Button with that name. Imagine you have several buttons with + as their
name. How would either Excel or you identify which one is the correct? So, every
button will have a different name, let’s add a good one which let us know what it does
like In the example I wrote cmdAddition. It lets me know that that it applies to the
“+” Button. However, how can I add the sign +?
In the image above, you ‘ll see that there’s a property called Caption. That’s where
You’ll add the “+” sign.
You can even play a little bit with the other options, like the Backcolor, Font, Height
and even add a picture. I left all options as they were by default.
Once you repeated the process for all the buttons, let’s start with the next steps. Let’s
create a Module!
Follow these steps:
1. Open Visual Basic through the Developer TAB. By default you’ll see
something like this:
2. Click on “View TAB” and select “Properties Window”. We’ll always use this
window a lot. Now you should see something like what’s shown inside the red
square:
3. Let’s add our first Module. Click on Insert TAB, then Module.
4. You’ll see a New Folder Called “Modules” with a file there Called “Module
1”:
5. Select it and in the Properties Window Change its name to Addition, then
repeat the process until you have created a Module for Minus, Division and
Times.
6. Double click on the Module “Addition” to open it.
7. You’ll see that it displays an entire blank sheet. We need to add a Procedure!
To do that, click on Insert TAB, then Procedure. It will display a window like
this, add a name and leave the default options:
8. Click OK and you’ll see this:
9. Between those lines write the following code:

Range ("A2") + Range("B2") =
Range("C2")
10. Now run it by clicking the green triangle above.
11. It is displaying an error saying: Invalid use or Property. Maybe it is because
we haven’t added any number in the cells A2 and B2. Add them and run it
again.
It is still having a problem! Can you see what’s wrong?
Welcome to your second bug ! The problem here is a very usual one. We are asking
Excel that cells A2 + B2 are equals to C2 instead of C2 equals to A2 + B2. This
problem is just an order problem. You better don’t forget this rule!! Always add first
the cell you want to be changed, then add the values that you’ll need. Like this:
Range("C2") = Range("A2") +
Range("B2")
Run it again with the same green triangle.
OK! It works!
If you see a yellow line which doesn’t let you run it, just click stop, correct your code
and run it again.
Now you’ll see that in the cell C2 we find the result of A2+B2.
Let’s complete the other modules repeating the correct process above. Add these
codes to do that:
Minus Module:
Public Sub Minus()
Range("C2") = Range("A2") -
Range("B2")
End Sub
Division Module:
Public Sub Division()
Range("C2") = Range("A2") /
Range("B2")
End Sub
Times Module:
Public Sub Times()
Range("C2") = Range("A2") *
Range("B2")
End Sub
You’re supposed to see a file like this:
All the modules should work if you run them.

Now, let’s link the Modules to their appropiate button.
To do that just do the following:
1. Go to the spreadsheet
2. Click on Design Mode
3. Double click each button. You’ll see that every time you do it, it adds some
code to the Sheet1(Sheet1). Finally, it should look like this:
Now, let’s do the process called “Calling”. To do that will just write every Module
between its corresponding lines:
Private Sub cmdAddition_Click()
Addition
End Sub
Private Sub CmdDivision_Click()
Division
End Sub
Private Sub CmdSubstraction_Click()
Minus
End Sub
Private Sub CmdTimes_Click()
Times
End Sub
After you wrote the code above try pushing a button:
Welcome to your third bug!!
Why is this happening? Let’s read the message.
It says that it is not expecting a Module, but a Variable or Procedure.
The problem in this bug is that Modules and Procedures in this example are called the
same and that’s a big mistake. Nothing should have the same name when
programming!
Let’s fix it fast. Just add manually this time a number 1 after each sub procedure in
each module.
Public Sub Addition1()
Range("C2") = Range("A2") + Range("B2")
End Sub
You also should change the written code on Sheet1. Just add that one we’ve just
added to each sub procedure in the modules:
Private Sub cmdAddition_Click()
Addition1
End Sub
Division1
End Sub
Private Sub CmdSubstraction_Click()
Minus1
End Sub
Times1
End Sub
Try it now by pushing every button and see if it works!
Great!!
We are supposed to have a much better idea about Modules and Procedures. We’ll
always use them. However, maybe you noticed that some of them are called Public
and others are called Private.
What does it mean?
PUBLIC means that that procedure can be called from anywhere. You’ll even notice
that all of them are even in the Macros list, but those saying PRIVATE aren´t.
Try its meaning by changing just one or two Modules, change the word Public to
Private, and try run it.
As it was a Private one, it couldn’t find it. Let’s change the word Private back to
Public, you’ll see that it will work.
So, Private ones can’t be called, Public ones can be called, even from the Macros list.
In other words, Privates can’t be linked, but Publics can.
We’ve seen the most basic functions of VBA. You should have a great idea about
VBA now. However, let’s do something much more professional: A real calculator.
Adding Letters?
Before we start the other calculator, do this experiment which will be interesting for
you to know, and in the same time, very useful. In the last calculator we’ve made try
adding two letters instead of numbers and Add them.
You’ll notice that you can add letters!! A + A = AA !!?? It shouldn’t work if you
make a subtraction, division or multiply.
It happens because using “ + “ in VBA is not the same than the formula =SUM().
Let’s remember that by now, because it will very useful for the next project.
Quiz 4
What is a Private Procedure?
a) It means no one can see the Code because it is hidden.
b) It means it can’t be copied and pasted
c) It can’t be called from another part of the code
What is a Public Procedure?
a) It means that it can be called and executed from any part of the Workbook
b) It can be seen online
c) It means you can’t protect it with passwords.
CHAPTER 5
Project: Calculator using Forms
Review
This time we’ll use much more Visual Basic for Applications functionalities. Now we
will understand why it is called Visual Basic.
First than anything let’s review a few things important to consider:
1. Choose the correct Variables to avoid bugs and make the program run
smoothly.
2. Write code in the correct order, otherwise it will produce a bug.
3. Never repeat the name of anything in a program. Everything should be
identified with a unique name.
4. Hope you noticed blue letters. They are built-in codes used by Excel VBA.
Don’t erase them or change them without knowledge, or it will produce errors.
5. TIP: Always add names using at least a Capital, and when you call them write
their names using lowercase. You’ll notice that using this way you’ll avoid
typing mistakes, because if you wrote it correctly it will add Capitals
automatically, otherwise it will remain the same.
6. Constantly try the new code you’ve written, so you’ll be sure that it is working
fine.
7. Add enough comments to let you know what your code does in case you need
to review anything in the future. We’ll learn how to do that.
FORMS
Visual Basic for Applications in Excel has a very attractive feature called Forms in
which we can create a visual application like that we saw in the beginning of this
book. That’s how we’ll create the calculator.
Follow these steps:
1. Open a New Blank Excel Document.
2. Open Visual Basic.
3. Click on Insert TAB.
4. Userform.
You should see something like this:
That’s an userform. It will be used to create a Calculator this time. First, you see a
Box called “Controls” with several options inside. We’ll use it almost all time, so
don’t close it. In case you do it, ou can open it again by clicking on View TAB, then
on Toolbox.
Don´t close the properties Userform either. This will be the main tools we’ll
use for this project, and In this case, we won’t even touch a Excel Spreadsheet.
In the properties window change these values:
Name: CalculatorProject
Caption: Calculator
Height: 260
Width: 200
Remember that Caption is the Displayed Title.
In the toolbox select the label, it is an A next to the Arrow.
Once it is selected, click on the upper side of the form, hold and drag to make a
rectangle which will be our screen for the calculator.
Now, select the label, and change its name in the properties. Name It Display . Then,
erase the caption value.
In the ToolBox, select CommandButton, then add a series like the following:
Everytime you add a new button, make sure to add it with the following size:
Height: 30
Width: 36
TIP: Make just one, then copy and paste all the buttons you need. Place them in the
correct order, then make sure to add each button with the following info:
Name Caption
CmdDel Del
CmdCE CE
CmdPercent %
CmdTimes *
CmdDivision /
CmdAdd +
CmdMinus -
CmdEquals =
Cmd1 1
Cmd2 2
Cmd3 3
Cmd4 4
Cmd5 5
Cmd6 6
Cmd7 7
Cmd8 8
Cmd9 9
CmdDot .
Cmd0 0
Cmd00 00
Great!
Commmand Buttons code
Once we have the design of the calculator and their names correctly we can run it and
click on every button. You’ll notice that it does nothing, because we haven’t told
Excel what to do with it. Excel doesn’t know if I want that form for a Prank or any
other thing. So, let’s add code to every button.
1. Double click to the button with number 1.
2. It added automatically this code:
Private Sub cmd1_Click()
End Sub
3. Add this code between the lines above:
Display.Caption = cmd1.Caption
4. Run the form.
5. You should see a number one written on the Display!! But, it doesn’t
add more than just one number 1!! If it is going to be a calculator, we
need to add several ones if needed! What’s wrong??
The problem here is that the code says the Caption of the Display (which we left
empty), is equals to the caption of cmd1, which is a number 1 and it is exactly what it
is doing.
So, to solve this problem we must to tell it to add a number 1 after a number 1, and so
on.
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + cmd1.Caption
Maybe you got it now. It is exactly what we did almost in the beginning of this book.
Do you remember when we make cells increase their value according to the number
written on cell B1?
If you want to check it out to review go to Variables, Do and Loop . On page 11.
It means that X = X + 1 or in other words, means that Display.caption will add its
own value plus the caption of cmd1. So, it may be 1 = 1 + 1 = 11 It doesn’t have any
sense in mathematics, however, do you remember when we added letters to our last
calculator project? According to that calculator A + A = AA, so here 1 + 1 = 11. To
try to make it clearer, if you type button one it would be 1 = 1 = 1 then let’s suppose
you type number two. It would be 1= 1 +2 = 12, now you type number 7: 12 = 12 + 7
= 127 and finally you type number 9: 127 = 127 +9 = 1279 and so on.
Run it with the new code. Great! It should be working now!
You should have all this code:
End Sub
Let’s repeat the process to all the numbers and symbols, by double clicking on every
button and once it adds some code automatically, write the correct code line between
them, look at the following code so you may have a better idea:
Private Sub Cmd0_Click()
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + Cmd0.Caption
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
Private Sub CmdAdd_Click()
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdAdd.Caption
End Sub
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdDivision.Caption
End Sub
Private Sub CmdDot_Click()
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdDot.Caption
End Sub
Private Sub CmdMinus_Click()
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdMinus.Caption
End Sub
Private Sub CmdPercent_Click()
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdPercent.Caption
End Sub
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdTimes.Caption
End Sub
All this code should let us see every number and symbol on the display. Button
equals, Del and CE are those we don’t see written on our display, and will give them
a different treatment.
First Button CE:
It should clean or erase all the screen. This one is very easy, this is the code:
Private, Sub CmdCE_Click()
Display.Caption = Empty
End Sub
It means exactly what is described on the very same code. The display will be
left empty.
Second, Button Del:
It should erase one by one, from the last number we have added. How
would you do that? Maybe, if you are learning VBA you should already know
Excel Formulas. So, try to figure out how to do that.
In case you struggle with that I’ll give you a shortcut:
Value (Cells as A1 Formula applied Result
Below)
12345678 =left(A1,len(A1)) 12345678
12345678 =left(A1,len(A1)-1) 1234567
12345678 =left(A1,len(A1)-2) 123456
=left() Displays from the left the value, according to the number of letters we told it
to do.
=len() counts the number of letters contained on a cell.
-1 It will subtract one from the total of letters or numbers of len().
The result is displayed above. It is clear, so what does happen if we repeat the process
several times applied to the same cell?
Repetitions Value (Cells Formula applied Result
as A1 Below)
1 12345678 =left(A1,len(A1)) 12345678
2 1234567 =left(A1,len(A1)) 123456
3 123456 =left(A1,len(A1)) 12345
So, It does what a DEL button should do. We need that every time we push on that
button it erases only the last letter or number added, as this formula does. Then, we
need the button to apply this formula. How to do that in VBA?
First, double click on the button and add the following code:
X = Len(Display.Caption) - 1
Y = Display.Caption
Display.Caption = Left(Y, X)
That’s it!! We just added two variables and used them in a very simple
sequence! Try it out. Add a few numbers and then press this button. It should work.
However, what does happen if there are no more numbers and you press the button?
That’s obvious that it would produce an error. How to solve this?

That’s easy, add some code including IF:
Private Sub CmdDel_Click()
If Display.Caption <> Empty Then
Y = Display.Caption
End If
End Sub
We have added this two lines of code which means that if display.caption is “not”
empty then apply the code. So, if it is empty wouldn’t do anything.
Excel Formulas on VBA
Third, let’s work now with the equals button:
We need it to make all the operation we have added on display.caption. How would
you do that?
This one is the hardest of this calculator, and the most important button because it
will give the result of everything we’ve done. There’re several ways to do this, but
this time let’s use: Application.WorksheetFunction. Once you type the dot, you should
see a long list. All of those are the complete list of Formulas which we use in Excel
normally. Let’s add the following code and see what happen this time:
Private Sub CmdEquals_Click()
Dim X As Variant
X = Application.WorksheetFunction.Sum(Display.Caption)
Display.Caption = X
End Sub
It should work, don’t you think? But it won’t.
The first line declares X as a variant which means that could store any value.
X is equals to the SUM(display.caption)
Which should be like X = sum(2+2*4/7)
Combining VBA and a Spreadsheet
If you try that on a cell of a Spreadsheet, it will work. But it is not working using a
variable because of several reasons, the main one is because one can’t really add a
number 12 plus an addition sign, etc. We would need to make a conversion and some
more procedures, but in this case we could just start using the spreadsheet.
We’ll use a cell of the spreadsheet, so we could get familiarized combining VBA with
Excel Sheets.
We’ll command Excel to convert Display.Caption to a Formula in cell A1.
If you record a Macro and add a Formula, probably the code will be:
Activecell.FormulaR1C1 = “=”… But we don’t need the R1C1 for our code here,
that’s why we erased it.
Range("A1").Formula = "=" & Display.Caption
Display.Caption = Range("A1").Value
End Sub
Run the program and try it now! It works!! Now, write a bad code, something
like just: 5*
And press =.
Another bug!
That’s why programmers try their apps frequently. You have to do the same always.
AS you see we have fixed several bugs only working on a Calculator, but once you
get used to code will identify and even prevent them easier. I know that.
To fix this bug, we’ll apply our first Control Errors. So, every time something goes
wrong it will be applied instead this kind of windows.
Add the Following code:
On Error GoTo A
Range("A1").Formula = "=" &
Display.Caption
Exit Sub
A:
Range("A1").Clear
Display.Caption = "Error"
End Sub
It may be easy to understand. On Error Goto A, and we see an A in the middle. So, if
something goes wrong the code will be applied from that A to the End, which is End
Sub.
It says Erase cell A1 and in Display.Caption show the message Error instead.
We also see above A: something saying Exit Sub. It means that the code will be read
until it reaches it only, otherwise the calculator would read all time what’s for errors
too. We don’t want that.
Try it again, write something wrong like 5+ only.
See? It worked!!
Our Calculator is looking better at every moment.
Starting with Declarations:
Now, I think it is not nice to see the Error message even after if I typed another
button:
It would be handy if it erases it automatically once I type any other button. To do that
just we’ll add another line code to the equals button. This time it will not be applied
when we click it, but when we exit the button which will happen once we type
another button. To do that just do the following:
1. Double click to the Equals button.
2. Click to see all the options like in the image and select Exit
Great! Now you’ve interacted with different attributes each button has! As you see
code could be applied if you click on the button, once you hold it down, exit and even
if you put the cursor above the button! It is amazing don’t you think??
Once you’ve chosen Exit, you’ll see a new code there. Add the following:
Private Sub CmdEquals_Exit(ByVal Cancel As
MSForms.ReturnBoolean)
End Sub
Nice! It is working as we wanted now. I think you’ve seen that coding is just logic,
after you learn a few more commands you’ll do amazing things.
By the way, You learned how to relate a little bit a spreadsheet and VBA, because we
are using the range A1. What if we don’t even want to use any cell of a spreadsheet??
As we saw, we can’t use variables. Right? Obviously, we can!! We just need to know
the way.
Now, you can erase everything from the equals button, change the code from:
On Error GoTo A
Range("A1").Formula = "=" & Display.Caption
Exit Sub
A:
Range("A1").Clear
End Sub
TO:
On Error GoTo A
Display.Caption = Application.Evaluate(Display.Caption)
Exit Sub
A:
End Sub
We didn’t go directly to this solution because by commiting mistakes we get a
valuable experience. Maybe, one day you won’t know what function to use and
knowing how to link VBA with a Spreadsheet will be very useful to solve your
problem.
The code above has this meaning:
Application means Excel.
Evaluate is a method of the application or Excel. It converts a Microsoft Excel name
to an object or a value. In other words, in operable values which can be sum, divided,
multiplied, etc..
Now, we are not using any spreadsheet at all. So, Why should we leave it open? We
are just interested on seeing the App we’ve created! What can we do?
Open and Close declarations: Displaying a form without looking any
spreadsheet
This calculator is working fine. But we don’t like to see the whole spreadsheet
behind. We don’t even want to see Excel opened at all, because It is not a common
thing to see when we use an app, so let’s take the spreadsheet out!
It should look like this:
We just see the Desktop behind, and not any spreadsheet.

Let’s do it step by step. We’ll learn more about VBA functionalities, and even some
Macro securities.
Follow these steps:
1. First than anything, we want that our calculator opens automatically
once the file is open. So, in the Folder VBA Project(Calculadora), select
ThisWorkbook. You should see two options, one says General and the
other says Declarations.
2. Open the General one and select Workbook.
3. Now, Declarations Should have be changed to open. Otherwise, select it.

This means that everytime This Workbook Opens, execute the code
between:
Private Sub Workbook_Open()
End Sub
4. Now, between those code lines, insert the following:
CalculatorProject.Show
End Sub
5. Save your file.

6. Close and open to give a try! It should open the Calculator project
automatically. That’s the Open Event and is very useful from small to
big projects.
We still don’t see the app only, but Excel still appears there. So, do you rememeber
that in some code above “Application” means Excel? It means that we should write
some code saying that Application must be invisible.
Add the following to the code you’ve recently added:
Application.Visible = False
It should look like this:
End Sub
Save the file, close and open to give a try!
Great!! Now you see the App only!! Once you close your Calculator
everything seems to be working fine. However, there’s something still wrong.
Once you close the calculator, Excel seems to close too,however, it
remains open but not visible. We closed only the app!! Try to open the same
file in which you have your calculator. You’ll notice that it opens without
loading anything and doesn’t display the calculator, the reason is that it was
open!
We want that once we close the calculator, it also closes Excel. To do
this follow these steps:
1. Open VBA.
2. CalculatorProject
3. Double clik on any part of your Form to see the code. Not the
caption neither the buttons, but any other part of it.
4. It will open something like this:
Private Sub UserForm_Initialize()
End Sub
5. It is very similar to the Open Declaration we learned, but it works
with the project only. However, we don’t need this by now. We
need the closing code for our Form. The way to select it is as we
did with ThisWorkbook. Go to where it says Initialize, then select
the most logic one, which would be Terminate .
6. Once you select it, you’ll see a code like this:
Private Sub UserForm_Terminate()
End Sub
7. Remember again that Application means Excel? You’ll notice
once you type Application. (Followed by a dot) that it displays a
large list. You can take a look, but be careful about
experimenting. Sometimes, you can make big mistakes by
playing with code. Even outside Excel!! Choose Application.Quit
Your code should look like this:
Application.Quit
End Sub
8. Save your file and try it out! It should work now! Fast and easy!
Macro Security
Our Calculator seems to work great now. However, try doing the following:
1. 7*7
2. Press Equals Button
3. You see 49
4. Now, I want 49+1. So, type (+) …
5. You’ll notice that 49 erases automatically. It is not normal in a
calculator, but it should let me add some code after it displayed a
result. Let’s add the code.
Maybe, we are in a trouble. How are we going to edit the VBA code if it opens
and closes Excel automatically? How are you going to access to that??
This is a great opportunity to understand Macro security.
You should have clicked on the Enable Macros Button to work with VBA as
we learned on Chapter 2. Once you click on it, Excel saves a path in which that
specific file is allowed to work with Macros. So, to disable the allowed Macros
all you have to do is to move the file to another location. Try to do it, and then
open it again. You’ll notice a message saying that Macros have been disabled.
Another way to do it without changing the location is to change the file name.
Try it out and you’ll see you receive the same message about Macros.
If you miss it and don’t click on Enable Content, or just want to change the
Macro Security Options, Go to the Developer TAB and Click on Macro
Security. You’ll see all the available options for Macros in all workbooks and
for that specific file.
Now you can go to VBA and change the code we need.

Comments
Now, we don’t want our calculator to erase what is written on our display, unless it is
an error message. It will allow us to work more efficiently, so we need to go again to
the code which erases that. Do you remember which one does that? Probably you do
because they are only a few buttons. However, what would have happened if they
were hundreds and hundreds of commands?
It is always convenient to write a few comments which will let us identify easily what
things some code does. It is very common to fix a few bugs, add, remove or improve
some functionality when programming. So, don’t forget to add Comments to let you
go faster to the code you need to change.
In this case we need to change the Equals Button. However, this has two codes added.
One runs when we click the button and the another once we stop selecting it.
On Error GoTo A
Exit Sub
A:
End Sub
Private Sub CmdEquals_Exit(ByVal Cancel As MSForms.ReturnBoolean)
End Sub
The code we need to change is the second one of those above. But first, let’s add a
few comments to remember what they do for future reference. To add comments all
you need to do is write what you want by adding a ‘ in the beginning of each
sentence. In the Example below I added two sentences, so I needed to put a ‘ at the
beginning of each sentence.
‘This Macro displays an error message in case we type wrong imposible mathematics
and click equals
‘otherwise it would run a bug and the program would stop working.
On Error GoTo A
Exit Sub
A:
End Sub
‘It erases the display once we select stop selecting the equals button.
End Sub
Ok. Let’s fix the code now.
We want to tell Excel: If the display is showing the Error Message then erase it,
otherwise keep it. Now, let’s translate the message to some code, so Excel can
understand.
‘It erases the display once we select stop selecting the equals button.
If Display.Caption = "Error" Then
Else
Display.Caption = Display.Caption
End If
End Sub
It is exactly what we want. Try it! Type something like 3* then Equals. It displays the
error message and erases it once you type something else. Now, type again 7*7 then
equals. You should see 49, now type +1 It works!
It only erases the error message but keeps the numbers. Now, although it is working
fine, we’ve added some unnecessary code: Display.Caption = Display.Caption
Let’s delete it, including “else” which means “otherwise”. Maybe we wouldn’t notice
it, but it is not professional and in a very small degree it consumes resources. Never
add unnecessary code to any program you make. It will be great for you and those
who use your program. If you make bad coding habits, you probably will have some
future troubles when need to add pages and pages of code.
Once you delete the unnecessary code it should look like this:
End If
End Sub
It works too! You see? The code we erased was unnecessary!
To work always as a Pro, never forget these tips:
Always add comments.
Never add unnecessary code.
Always choose the correct variables
Maybe you’re wondering why we didn’t choose any variable for the Calculator
Project. In fact, we did although we didn’t declare them. All our variables are
declared automatically as Variant. We needed those because this Calculator may work
with billions and billions of numbers. A byte, Integer, Long, etc. wouldn’t have
worked in case the user needs add bigger number than the allowed by them.
Remember, if you don’t declare variables they are added automatically as
variants which let any value, doesn’t matter how big or small it is.
The whole code for Calculator Project
For this project, the whole code in the CalculatorProject should look like this:
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
End Sub
Private Sub CmdAdd_Click()
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdAdd.Caption
End Sub
Private Sub CmdCE_Click()
End Sub
Private Sub CmdDel_Click()
If Display.Caption <> Empty Then
Y = Display.Caption
End If
End Sub
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdDivision.Caption
End Sub
Private Sub CmdDot_Click()
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdDot.Caption
End Sub
On Error GoTo A
Exit Sub
A:
End Sub
End If
End Sub
Private Sub CmdMinus_Click()
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdMinus.Caption
End Sub
Private Sub CmdPercent_Click()
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdPercent.Caption
End Sub
Display.Caption = Display.Caption + CmdTimes.Caption
End Sub
Application.Quit
End Sub
In ThisWorkbook the code should look like this:
End Sub
Try it! It is working great!
Adding Keyboard combination to Command Button .
There’s another thing that would be great to add. Have you notice it only works by
clicking on the buttons?
I think that it would be even better if we could use the keyboard instead of using all
clicks only.
Let’s see how to do it:
1. Open your VBA Project Form.
2. Now, let’s suppose we want to add some hot key combination to Cmd1,
which is the button with the number one. It is very simple. Click on it.
3. Go to its properties.
4. In the Accelerator type any button. In this case the most appropriate one
would be number 1, like in the example below:
5. After you do that, you should see the number one underlined.
6. When you see something underlined like that, not only in Excel but in
all Microsoft Operating Systems, it means that if you hold Alt+ “The
underlined letter or number” it will run it.
7. Try running the Calculator and Press Alt+1 to see what it does. It should
type number one.
8. Do the same for all the other numbers and symbols, except for DEL, CE,
00 and =.
If you tried to add the hot key Backspace to DEL or Supr to CE you’ll
notice that it is not possible. At least, not by this way.
Command Buttons Order
When you open the Calculator, you’d see that if you type TAB it will select the
buttons, but probably in an unordered way. We want to give them an order. Do the
following to fix that:
1. Open VBA and open your CalculatorProject.
2. Click on View TAB.
3. Click on TAB Order.
4. Rearrange the list according to the order you prefer by using the Move
Up and Move Down buttons.
5. Click on Ok when you’re done.
Adding Password to VBA Code.
Probably you know that you can add a Password to any Excel File by following this
way:
1. File TAB
2. Info
3. Protect Workbook
4. Encrypt with Password
It is a nice option, however, it is not a VBA Password. We don’t want to enter a
password everytime we open the calculator. The only thing we want is to protect
our code from any unauthorized person who wants to change it. To do that only do
the following:
1. Open VBA
2. Click on Tools
3. Click on VBAProject Properties
4. Protection TAB
5. Add a Password Lock for viewing if you want
6. Click on OK
In that way, you protect your calculator code!!
Quiz 5
What’s an Userform?
a) It is a Visual Interface of an Application.
b) They are command Buttons, labels and Checkboxes.
c) It is a preloaded app which we need to edit for personal use.
How do you create a Userform?
a) Developer TAB, Insert Form
b) Visual Basic, Insert TAB, Userform
c) Visual Basic, Module, Form
What’s the way to insert Excel Formulas on VBA?
a) Application.Formulas
b) Application.FormulaBarHeight
c) Application.WorksheetFunction
What Formula is made to stop Excel Visible?
a) Application.Quit
b) Application.Visible = False
c) Application.Visible = True
What are the ways to disable Macros or VBA once they are enabled?
a) Rename the file, move it from its location and in Developer TAB and
Macro Security
b) Developer TAB, Macro Security only
c) There’s no way to do it once they are enabled.
How to set up a Password to your VBA code?
a) Visual Basic, Tools, Options, Security, Passwords.
b) Visual Basic, Tools, VBAProject Properties, Protection, Passwords.
c) Visual Basic, File, Save as, Encrypt VBA code, Password.
Interacting with other Applications.
Opening other apps from Excel
Microsoft Excel VBA is much more powerful than what we’ve seen. It can even
interact with other applications, such as Microsoft Word, Access, Powerpoint, etc.
We’ll just take a look about interacting with other applications from VBA.
For this practice, create the following Form:
Add the following code:

Private Sub cmdAccess_Click()
Application.ActivateMicrosoftApp xlMicrosoftAccess
End Sub
Private Sub cmdOutlook_Click()
Application.ActivateMicrosoftApp xlMicrosoftMail
End Sub
Private Sub cmdPowerPoint_Click()
Application.ActivateMicrosoftApp xlMicrosoftPowerPoint
End Sub
Private Sub cmdWord_Click()
Application.ActivateMicrosoftApp xlMicrosoftWord
End Sub
It will start the applications once you click on every button.
Maybe you want to start another application. Let’s try opening the
Notepad.
Add this code to a new Button:
Dim Task As Double
Task = Shell("notepad.exe", 1)
End Sub
Great! It opens the Notepad!!
Let’s do something more interactive:
Sending an Outlook e-mail from Excel:
Add this code to one button, module or Macro:
Dim OutlookApp As Object
Dim Email As Object
Dim Subject As String
Dim EmailAddress As String
Dim Msg As String
'Create Outlook Object
Set OutlookApp = CreateObject("Outlook.Application")
Subject = "This is my subject"
EmailAddress = "email@gmail.com"
Msg = "This is the body message"
'Create email and send it:
Set Email = OutlookApp.CreateItem(0)
With Email
.to = EmailAddress
.Subject = Subject
.body = Msg
.display
End With
As you see it has practically written an e-mail from Excel! Obviously, you can
substitute the values for Excel Cells which could be very beneficial in case you have
a data base with e-mails and messages. All you need to do is to think a little about
how to do what you need.
In case you want to see how many apps VBA has available to interact with,
you just need to click on Tools, References.
All the list there are applications which Excel can interact, but as you see most of
them are disabled. This is just a protection feature. If they are not enough for you, you
can also Browse for more.
Visual Basic for Applications is a great tool and it is one of the most powerful
programming languages used in the world for Analysis. As you learn VBA you’ll
make wonderful projects.
You’ve learned the basics to use VBA and even create Apps! Now, it is up to you
how to use this knowledge.
Experiment coding, create new Projects! Do it Great!
Exercises Solutions
Answers Chapter 1
1. How you Access the Developer TAB?
b) Right click on the Ribbon, Customize the Ribbon, enable the Checkbox for
Developer and Accept.
Answers Chapter 2
1. What is a Macro?
b) It is a shortcut which runs a recorded process.
2. How to create a Macro?
c) Clicking on the Record Macro Button
3. What is Relative References for?
a) It is to Record a Macro without set specific cells.
4. How to Run a Macro?
a) Clicking on the Macro Button
5. How to save a workbook with Macros?
b) You’ll get a notification, in which we should be denied and then select save
as Macro-Enabled Workbook.
Answers Chapter 3
What is a Variable?
b) It is a value which changes.
What is the storage size of a byte variable and its range?
c) It stores 1 byte and goes from 0 to 256.
What is the advantage of declaring variables?
a) It consumes less RAM and makes it run smoothly.
Is it obligatory to declare variables?
a) Only if Require Variable Declaration is enabled
Msgbox returns a value depending on the button pressed:
b) It returns a value depending on the button pressed
Answers Chapter 4
What is a Private Procedure?
c) It can’t be called from another part of the code
What is a Public Procedure?
a) It means that it can be called and executed from any part of the Workbook
Answers Chapter 5
What’s an Userform?
a) It is a Visual Interface of an Application.
How do you create a Userform?
b) Visual Basic, Insert TAB, Userform
What’s the way to insert Excel Formulas on VBA?
c) Application.WorksheetFunction
What Formula is made to stop Excel Visible?
b) Application.Visible = False
What are the ways to disable Macros or VBA once they are enabled?
a) Rename the file, move it from its location and in Developer TAB and Macro
Security
How to set up a Password to your VBA code?
b) Visual Basic, Tools, VBAProject Properties, Protection, Passwords.

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Step-By-Step Guide To Learning Excel

author. Otherwise, the transmission, duplication or reproduction of any of the

following work including specific information will be considered an illegal act

2. Select Customize the Ribbon

4. You should see the Developer TAB available now.

b) Write a name for your Macro. (Needed)

Click on Save, and it is done!

Data type Storage Range

Boolean 2 bytes True or False

Integer 2 bytes -32,768 to 32,767

Long 4 bytes -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647

Currency 8 bytes -922,337,203,685,477.5808 to

Decimal 14 bytes +/-79,228,162,514,264,337,593,543,950,335

Date 8 bytes January 1, 100 to December 31, 9999

Object 4 bytes Any Object reference

String 10 bytes + 0 to approximately 2 billion

“+” Button. However, how can I add the sign +?

9. Between those lines write the following code:

All the modules should work if you run them.

That’s obvious that it would produce an error. How to solve this?

We just see the Desktop behind, and not any spreadsheet.

3. Now, Declarations Should have be changed to open. Otherwise, select it.

5. Save your file.

Now you can go to VBA and change the code we need.

Add the following code:

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