Excel 2019 Bible

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C H A P T E R

42

Introducing Visual Basic for

Applications

IN THIS CHAPTER

Introducing VBA macros

Creating VBA macros

Recording VBA macros

Writing VBA code

Learning more about VBA

T

his chapter introduces the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macro language—a key compo-

nent 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 top-

ics 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 power user to create and use simple VBA macros. Once they understand a few

basics, even casual users can simply turn on Excel’s macro recorder, which records your actions and

converts them into a VBA macro. When you execute the recorded macro, Excel performs the actions

again. More advanced users, though, can write code that tells Excel to perform 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 add-ins.

Excel® 2019 Bible, First Edition. Michael Alexander, Dick Kusleika and John Walkenbach.
© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.