Introduction: How to get started
Goal of this chapter
This chapter provides a high-level description of:
- What is Excel VBA?
- What prior knowledge you are expected to have when starting the tutorial
- How to get Excel VBA to work in your Office version in case it doesn't do so already
What is Excel VBA?
Mar 30, 2017 This tutorial is for beginners only. For Loop, Nested For Loop. Example has been given on Mac, but applies on Windows PC as well. Excel 2011 for the Mac. There are a few problems (bugs) If you use VBA SaveAs or ExportAsFixedFormat or save a workbook manual as PDF. When you save the workbook as PDF it wil create a seperate PDF for each sheet in the workbook and it also add a sheet name to the file name of the PDF when you do it manual or with code.
Excel Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the programming language embedded in Microsoft Excel that can be used to make sophisticated workbooks or even user-defined applications. Though at first sight the VBA editing window is less straightforward than the standard worksheet Excel user-interface, in comparison it offers a nearly unlimited level of flexibility and calculation power. As it is a version of Visual Basic specific for Excel there are many pre-defined parts and pieces available for quick and easy programming.
Prior knowledge
The only knowledge assumed necessary to follow this tutorial is the normal use of Excel. As long as you are reasonably familiar with Excel then it should be easy to follow the instructions of the tutorial to move around Excel. In case you do not know Excel at all, it is probably better to first explore the already extensive possibilities that Excel offers without the use of VBA. This tutorial is especially aimed at those with good knowledge of Excel who can substantially upgrade their work with only a bit of VBA knowledge.
Preparations
Firstly you need to have Visual Basic for Excel installed on your computer. In my experience it is included already when you have followed the standard installation of Excel, for both WIndows and Mac versions. Only in Windows Excel 2007 you might need to add it from the installation disc.
A quick way to test on either operating system if you have Visual Basic installed is to press ALT+F11. If the VBA editing window opens you are ok, otherwise go you will have to install VBA. For Windows Excel 2007 you can do that in the Office installation, which you reach (on Windows) via 'Control Panel -> Add/Remove Software -> Change Microsoft Office -> Office Shared Features' and follow the instructions.
Secondly, the macro security level needs to be set low enough in order for macros to be permitted to run on your computer. Depending on the version of Excel this is either:
![Vba Excel Mac Excel For Mac Vba Excel Mac Excel For Mac](https://i.udemycdn.com/course/750x422/1693860_d195_5.jpg)
Windows Excel 2003 and before, go to “Tools -> Options -> Security -> Macro Security” and set the security level to medium so you can indicate whether or not to permit the execution of macros depending on the workbook you are opening.
Windows Excel 2007 and later, go to “Developer -> Macro Security” and tick the box of “Disable all macros with notification”.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/2/5/8/125823459/303980123.gif)
Excel for Mac 2011, go to 'Excel -> Preferences... -> Security -> Macro Security' and tick the box 'Warn before opening a file that contains macros'.
Thirdly, you need to be able to see the Developer ribbon in Excel versions since 2007. If you do not see the Developer ribbon already in Windows Excel then go to the 'File tab -> Options (under Help) -> Customize ribbon' and there tick the box of the Developer ribbon on the right-hand side.
To see the Developer Ribbon in Excel for Mac 2011 go to 'Excel -> Preferences... -> Ribbon and tick 'Developer'.
Windows Microsoft Excel 2010 & 2013 are the versions used in the tutorial for the illustrative images. The exact version of Excel you are using should generally be irrelevant when following this tutorial. The only difference between the Windows versions is the user interface of Excel where you might find buttons in a different place (but they should all be there) while the Visual Basic editor is the same for all Windows Excel versions.
The VBA editor does look slightly different in Excel for Mac, but also has the same functionality. Where commands or menus in Excel for Mac 2011 are siginificantly different to those in the Windows version I have provided additional instructions for Mac.
Next: Chapter 1: How to record a macro