Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)

Course Objectives
This Course provides students with a basic practical knowledge of application development using Visual Basic for Applications. It introduces some of the concepts and syntax of the VB language, while also covering access to Word, Excel or Powerpoint document models. During the Course the student will write several applications to ensure that the concepts and statements taught are fully understood and practical experience is gained. On completion of this Course the student will be able to:

use the major concepts of a modern language, such as control flow, function calls and modular programming.use windows forms and all the components available to them.use the visual basic IDE to layout and build applications.use and understand many of the built in functions available to VB.understand the underlying object models for Microsoft Applications.

Course Details

WINDOWS PROGRAMMING
Introduction to Windows Programming
Overview, Event Driven Programming, Events, Properties, Methods
DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT
The Visual Basic IDE
The IDE Toolbar, Project Explorer Window, Toolbox, Properties Window, Form Layout Window,
Form Design Window, Code Window, Code Editor
Where To Start
Loading VB for the First Time, Placing Controls on a Form, Adding Code to the Project
VARIABLES
Defining Variables
Variable Data Types, Naming Conventions, Dim, Private, Public, Variable Scope
Static Variables, Static Functions, Const
Arrays
Defining Arrays, Redefining Array Sizes
VB LANGUAGE SYNTAX
Basic syntax
Assigning Variables, Arithmetic, Symbol Evaluation, Comments
Sub and Function Procedures
Sub Procedures, Function Procedures, By Reference, By Value
Program Structure
If..Then..Else, IIf, Select Case, For..Next Loop, Do..While Or Do..Until, For Each Loop, With..EndWith, Exit
USING FUNCTIONS IN VB
Built In Functions
Left$, Right$, Mid$, Replace, Ltrim$, Rtrim$, Trim$, InStr And Len,
InStrRev, StrReverse, StrConv, Ucase$ And Lcase$, Isdate, Asc And Chr$,
Msgbox, Inputbox, Rgb, Rnd, Round, Filter, Split And Join
VB STANDARD FORMS
Forms, How Forms are Stored
VB CONTROLS
Naming Controls, Suggested Prefixes for Controls, Control Arrays
Controls
Pointer, Check Box, Combo Box, Command Button, Data, Directory List Box, Drive List Box, File List Box, Frame
Horizontal Scroll Bar, Image, Label, Line, List Box, OLE, Option Button, Picture Box,
Shape, Text Box, Timer, Vertical Scroll Bar
Menus
COLLECTIONS
Collections
Properties and Methods of the Collection Object, Adding Items, Deleting Items, Retrieving Items, Dictionary Object
SEQUENTIAL FILE ACCESS
File Access
File Numbers, Opening/Closing/Reading/Writing files
Using the TextStream Object
BOOKMARKS
Types of Bookmarks,
Word''s Predefined Bookmarks,
Navigating Bookmarks,
WORD OBJECT MODEL
The Application Object
The Document Object
The Range Object
The Shape Object
EXCEL OBJECT MODEL
The Application Object
The Worksheet Object
The Range Object
The Chart Object
COMMON TASKS
Working With The Document Object
Working with the Range Object
Working with the Selection Object
Working With The Find And Replace Object
Working With Tables
Setting the Mouse Pointer
Toolbars
Dialog Boxes
ACCESSING THE REGISTRY
Accessing the Settings, GetSetting, GetAllSettings, SaveSetting, DeleteSetting
PERFORMANCE ISSUES
Minimising OLE References
With..End With
For Each...Next
Keeping Properties and Methods Outside Loops
Using Collection Index Numbers
DEBUGGING APPLICATIONS
The VB Debugging Facilities
The Debug Toolbar, The Debug Menu, Starting Debugging,
Using F5 (Run) to Start Testing,
Using F8 (Step Into) to Step Through Testing,
Stopping at a Specific Point,
Using the Immediate Window,
Run Time Errors
COMPILING APPLICATIONS
Testing, Compiling the Application

Course Environment Development will be performed using:

• Microsoft Office 97

Course Format: Practical sessions make up a large part of the course, allowing delegates to demonstrate and reinforce the lectures given. During these sessions the delegate will build a simple but complete application. Examples are used extensively, ranging from simple code 'snippets' to full applications with complete 'real world' functionality. These are supplied at the start of the course and it is encouraged that the delegates execute and 'experiment' with these under the instructor's guidance as they are introduced. These examples are available to take away, along with the delegate's own work. The comprehensive Student Guide supplied is fully indexed serving as a useful reference tool long after the course has finished. Delegates will also be able to access a free help-line with technical questions relating to topics covered on the course.