Introducing Visual Basic for Applications

A macro is essentially Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code that one can call to execute any number of actions. In Excel, macros can be written or recorded. This chapter explores macros and shows how to use the macro recorder to start familiarizing users with VBA. Much of the work that one will do in VBA involves cells and ranges in worksheets. The first thing users need to understand before they begin is that Excel has two modes for recording, absolute reference and relative reference. Excel's default recording mode is in absolute reference. While creating macros, it is essential to have a clear and easy way to run each macro. A basic button can provide a simple but effective user interface. There are several different types of form controls, from buttons (the most-commonly-used control) to scrollbars.