Training guides and resources for learning VBA

Wise Owl provide classroom-based training in VBA and other Microsoft software in the UK.  However, we've also published this free tutorial on how to write Visual Basic for Applications macros within Excel. 

Getting Started

A good place to start when learning VBA for Excel is to learn how to record macros, and then start writing basic code yourself:

Selecting Cells

You can't do much in Excel VBA without knowing how to move around a worksheet!

Talking to Users

The next thing to learn is how to display input and message boxes (as part of this module you'll also learn about variables):

Visual Basic Terms

The next thing to understand is how VBA is written, using objects, collections, properties and methods:

Loops and Logic

Any programming language allows you to test conditions and do things iteratively (in loops), and Visual Basic for Applications is no different:

Event-Handling

In Excel VBA you can attach code to events which happen for a workbook or worksheet (such as running code whenever you open a particular file):

Debugging and Error-Handling

Sometimes your programs will have bugs in (!) - these tutorials show how to minimise the chances of these occurring, and track them down when they do:

Referencing Applications

You can link to other applications such as Word or PowerPoint from within Excel,:

Working with Files and Folders

You can use FileDialogs to choose files to open or save, TextStream objects to read and write files and create a FileSystemObject to copy, move or delete files:

Working with Databases

How to use ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) to link to SQL Server or Access databases from within Excel (or do it the other way round, and link from Access to Excel, say):

Advanced Programming Concepts

When you're familiar with basic programming, it's time to learn advanced concepts, such as passing arguments and using recursion:

Functions

In addition to the built-in Excel functions, you can write your own, and you can also incorporate functions within your code to make it easier to write and read:

Additional Data Structures

Variables aren't the only way to hold data in VBA programs!

Shapes

You can have great fun drawing shapes on worksheets in VBA, or annotating charts using symbols:

User forms

Create your own dialog boxes, by drawing user forms on screen and integrating them with your macros:

Classes

Classes within Excel VBA are your own customised objects, to which you breathe life by writing methods and properties:

Security

Learn how to distinguish between macros you trust and macros you don't: digital certificates, trust centres and more!

One final thought - Wise Owl also run classroom-based Excel and VBA training courses in the UK (and overseas, if you're willing to pay expenses!).