Primer for Visual Basic in Excel

Introduction
Visual Basic (VB) is the controlling language that enables you to customize Microsoft Excel, Word, and
PowerPoint. VB is a cumbersome language, and one way to learn it is to have someone else write the
computer program for you. The way to do this is to create a MACRO. Any time you create a macro, Excel
writes a program (a Module) for the macro in VB.
Getting To the Visual Basic Editor
ALT_F11
Travels between the Visual Basic Editor and the Excel Worksheet. You can also click on the bottom panel or
on the top left Blue Excel icon or Click on Tools Macro VB Editor
Writing Visual Basic Programs Automatically by Creating Macros
Macros are automated procedures. If, for example you want to create a MACRO that adds the numbers in
row 1 and colors the sum box yellow take the following steps
Numbers

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

3 Sum =

Click on Tools - Macro - Record New Macro

Name your macro and give it a keystroke (e. g., CTRL_T)
In Cell H1 write = SUM(B1:F1)
Color Cell H1 Yellow
In the little Macro Box (or on Tools Macro Stop Recording) click Stop Recording.
Click CTRL_T to perform your task automatically.
To see the code you created, Click on Tools Macro Macros Edit

VB Code for the Macro

Sub Macro1()
' Macro1 Macro
' Macro recorded 4/26/04 by stan
' Keyboard Shortcut: Ctrl+t
Range("H1").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "=SUM(RC[-6]:RC[-2])"
Range("H1").Select
With Selection.Interior
.ColorIndex = 6
.Pattern = xlSolid
End With
End Sub
Note: Green Lines Beginning with ' represent Comments or Remarks. These are dead lines as far
as the program is concerned. They take no actions but are put there by the programmer as reminders
of what the program or specific command does.

Running and Debugging VB Programs

To make a program work you must RUN it. However, if the program has syntax errors it will not run. It must
then be corrected and restarted or RESET.
All programs can be run by
1. Pressing the function key, F5 or by
2. Clicking on RUN-Run/SubUserForm at the top menu bar in the VB Editor
If your program is contained in a
1. MACRO Then return to the Excel Worksheet and hit the Shortcut Key you created.
2. COMMAND BUTTON Then return to the Excel Worksheet and hit the button
If the program has syntax errors a pop up box will appear. To find the line in the program that contains the
error
1. Click on DEBUG. The first line with an error will be painted yellow.
2. Find and correct the error and RESET the program by clicking on Run - Reset
3. Run the program again. If another error appears repeat steps 1 - 3.
VB Program Structure and Elements
VB Programs may seem complicated but often have a simple structure. A typical skeleton structure is given
below. Note that all programs start with a MACRO or SUB () type statement and ends with End Sub. Often
this is automatically done for you as are some comments (Green Lines starting with ' )
1. Name Your Babies all Constants and Variables (e. g., Dim j as Integer)
2. Get data from Worksheet or from a file
3. Solve an Equation or Perform a Task
4. Put solution or work back on Worksheet
Writing Your Own Programs and Command Buttons
VB programs can be made user friendly by placing them in Command Buttons on the Excel Worksheet.
Follow the steps below to create a Command Button to add the numbers in Cells B2-H2 and write the sum in
Cell I2. You will have to write one line of code in VB or create a Macro and then copy and paste its code to
the Command Button VB sheet (see below).
Day
Sunday
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Saturday Total
Work Hours
19
5
6
4
9
12
16

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Click on Tools - Customize - Toolbars

Check Control Toolbox (This will make it appear in the worksheet)
Click on Command Button in the Control Toolbox
Move mouse to the worksheet, click, hold and drag it, and release.
Double click in the Command Button - this brings up the Visual Basic Sheet for the Code.
Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()
' Program Goes Here *** Either write it or copy and paste it from a Macro
End Sub
6. In the VB Code type in the command
Cells (2,9) = Cells (2,2) + Cells (2,3) + Cells (2,4) + Cells (2,5) + Cells (2,6) + Cells (2,7) + Cells (2,8)

7. Get back to the worksheet by clicking on the blue X of the command panel (or hit Alt_F11).
8. Click on Exit Design Mode of the Control Toolbox.
9. Click on the Command Button and it will perform the sum.
10. Click on the Command Button every time you enter new numbers to get a revised sum.
You can also Copy and Paste a VB program from a Macro to the VB Sheet for the Command Button

Code for EXCEL Macros and Functions and Command Buttons

The programs below are useful examples that show how to
1. Size and Color Excel cells
2. Get data from Excel Worksheet, Process it and then Put it Back into Excel Worksheet
3. Create repetitive steps using FOR-NEXT loops
4. Create arrays of repetitive steps using nested FOR-NEXT loops
5. Create choices using IF and SELECT CASE
6. Insert Data from Files and Insert Pictures in Excel
Sub Macro1()
' Resizes cells of an entire worksheet as small squares and colors paints them turquoise
Cells.Select
Selection.RowHeight = 4
Selection.ColumnWidth = 0.5
Selection.Interior.ColorIndex = 9
End Sub
Sub Macro2()
' Get the data in Cell A2 and double it in Cell A3
Range("A3").Select
' Double the number in the previous row R[-1]
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "=2*R[-1]C"
End Sub
Sub Workbook_Open()
' Get the data in Cell A2 (Row, Col) = (2, 1) and double it in Cell A3 (Row, Col) = (3, 1)
' This Program uses cell Reference. IT ALSO CONTAINS THE SKELETON STRUCTURE.
' 1. Name your babies!
Dim x as Single
' 2. Get data value from worksheet
x = Cells(2, 1).Value
' 3 and 4. 3. Do work (calculation) and 4. Put calculated value back in worksheet
Cells(3, 1).Value = 2 * x
End Sub
1

Sub Macro3()
' Using the Worksheet above, get the data in A1, double it in A2
Then copy the formula in Row 2 for all data points in Row 1 (A1:E1)
Range("A2").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "=2*R[-1]C"
Range("A2").Select
Selection.AutoFill Destination:=Range("A2:E2"), Type:=xlFillDefault
Range("A2:E2").Select
End Sub

Repetition and Loops

The beauty of the computer is that it can perform multiple or repetitive steps very quickly. This is done using
loops. There are several types of loops including 1. (For Next) and 2. ( Do Until Loop).
We use the For Next Loop. Its syntax is
1. Start (Open) the Loop This loop prints the word, Hello 10 times. The symbol, j is
For j = 1 to 10
2. Do the work
Print Hello
3. End (Close) the Loop
Next j
Arrays can be created using Multiple Loops. The proper syntax is to embed one loop in another. Such loops
are called Nested Loops. Syntax for a 2-D array is
1. Open the First or Outer Loop

2. Open the Second or Inner Loop

3. Do the Work

4. Close the Second or Inner Loop

5. Close the First or Outer Loop
Note: Work can also be done between steps 1. and 2. and between steps 4 and 5.
Sub Workbook_Open()
' This program does same job as Macro3() but uses a FOR-NEXT Loop with specified limits
' Limitation - must be modified to accept different number of entries
Dim x as single
Dim col as integer
For col = 2 To 5
x = Cells(1, col)
Cells(2, col) = 2 * x
Next row
End Sub
Sub Macro3C()
' FIRST, IN EXCEL, enter values and name m, cc, and dq then calculate dT in cell E2
Range("E2").Select
Selection.FormulaArray = "=dq/(m*cc)"
End Sub

1
2
1
3

1
1
2
3

3
2
3
1

2
1
2
2

Number

Frequency
1
2
3

Sub Macro3D()
' Determine the number of cells with specified values for the Worksheet above
Range("G2:G4").Select
Selection.FormulaArray = "=FREQUENCY(R[-1]C[-6]:R[2]C[-3],RC[-1]:R[2]C[-1])"
End Sub
Sub Workbook_Open()
' This Program prints the color index in Column A and paints the color in Column B
' To find color index key hit F1 on the word, ColorIndex
Dim i As Integer
For i = 1 To 52
Cells(i, 1) = i
Cells(i, 2).Interior.ColorIndex = i
Next i
End Sub
Sub Macro4()
' FIRST, In Excel Worksheet, Enter # of Tens in Row 1 (B1 to K1) and # of Units in Column A
' Sum 10* number in Row 1 plus number in Column A
' This is code if we write formula in Cell B2 then copy and drag down, then copy and drag across
Range("B2").Select
ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = "=RC1+10*R1C"
Selection.AutoFill Destination:=Range("B2:B11")
Range("B2:B11").Select
Selection.AutoFill Destination:=Range("B2:K11"), Type:=xlFillDefault
End Sub
Sub Macro4B()
' FIRST, In Excel Worksheet, Enter # of Tens in Row 1 (B1 to K1) and # of Units in Column A
' Sum 10* number in Row 1 plus number in Column A
' The code below was created by highlighting B2:K11 and entering the formula with CRTL_SHFT_ENTER
Range("B2:K11").Select
Selection.FormulaArray = "=RC[-1]:R[5]C[-1]+10*R[-1]C:R[-1]C[5]"
End Sub

Sub Workbook_Open()
' This Program uses Nested Loops and Cell Reference to create the numbers from 0 to 99 in a 2-D Array
' This writes numbers equal to the col - 1 plus 10* the (row - 1)
Dim row As Integer, col As Integer
For row = 1 To 10
For col = 1 To 10
Cells(row, col) = col - 1 + 10 * (row - 1)
Next col
Next row
End Sub
Name
John
Mary
Sue

Grade

Test
65
95
35

Sub Macro(5)
'Assign Grade using If Statement and Color using Conditional Formatting
Range("B2:B4").Select
Selection.FormulaArray = "=IF(RC[1]:R[2]C[1]<60,""F"",IF(RC[1]:R[2]C[1]<90,""P"",""A""))"
Selection.FormatConditions.Delete
Selection.FormatConditions.Add Type:=xlCellValue, Operator:=xlEqual, Formula1:="=""F"""
Selection.FormatConditions(1).Interior.ColorIndex = 3
Selection.FormatConditions.Add Type:=xlCellValue, Operator:=xlEqual, Formula1:="=""P"""
Selection.FormatConditions(2).Interior.ColorIndex = 6
Selection.FormatConditions.Add Type:=xlCellValue, Operator:=xlEqual, Formula1:="=""A"""
Selection.FormatConditions(3).Interior.ColorIndex = 4
End Sub
Sub Workbook_Open()
' This Program assigns grades and colors using Cell Reference the If Statement in a Loop
Dim row As Integer, score As Integer, hue As Integer
Dim Grade As String
For row = 2 To 4
score = Cells(row, 3)
If score < 60 Then
Grade = "F"
hue = 3
ElseIf score < 90 Then
Grade = "P"
hue = 6
Else
Grade = "A"
hue = 4
End If
Cells(row, 2) = Grade
Cells(row, 2).Interior.ColorIndex = hue
Next row
End Sub
Sub Workbook_Open()

' This Program uses nested FOR-NEXT loops and SELECT CASE to color cells
'FIRST IN EXCEL Enter numbers from 1 to 64 in cells A1 to H8
' Spectrum colors are #11, 5, 8, 4, 6, 45, 3
Dim row As Integer, col As Integer
Dim x As Integer, hue As Integer
For row = 1 To 8
For col = 1 To 8
x = Cells(row, col).Value
Select Case x
Case 0 To 9
hue = 11
Case 10 To 19
hue = 5
Case 20 To 29
hue = 8
Case 30 To 39
hue = 4
Case 40 To 49
hue = 6
Case 50 To 59
hue = 45
Case 60 To 69
hue = 3
End Select
Cells(row, col).Interior.ColorIndex = hue
Next col
Next row
End Sub
Sub Macro5b()
' This program uses a nested FOR-NEXT loops to create a grid of rectangles colored by RGB values
NOTE: It runs slowly for large grids
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer
Dim x As Single, y As Single, dx As Single, dy As Single
dx = 5
dy = 5
For i = 1 To 10
For j = 1 To 10
x=5*i
y=5*j
ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddShape(msoShapeRectangle, x, y, dx, dy).Select
Selection.ShapeRange.Fill.ForeColor.RGB = RGB(10 * i + 100, 250 - 10 * j, 0)
Selection.ShapeRange.Line.Visible = msoFalse
Next j
Next i
End Sub

Sub Macro6()
' This Macro inserts a picture from a file, moves and resizes the picture
ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert("C:\images\braz_04.jpg").Select
Selection.ShapeRange.IncrementLeft 82.5
Selection.ShapeRange.IncrementTop 84#
Selection.ShapeRange.ScaleWidth 1.59, msoFalse, msoScaleFromTopLeft
Selection.ShapeRange.ScaleHeight 1.59, msoFalse, msoScaleFromBottomRight
End Sub
Sub Workbook_Open()
Program to put data from a file with 60 rows and 120 columns into an Excel Worksheet
For this program you must know file size
Dim Row As Integer, Col As Integer, z As Integer
Open "c:\s200\nyc_grid.txt" For Input As #1
For Row = 1 To 60
For Col = 1 To 120
Input #1, z
Cells(Row, Col) = z
Next Col
Next Row
Close #1
End Sub
Private Sub Workbook_Open()
Program to put data from file named in Worksheet 1 onto a new worksheet.
Then in Excel change text to columns
Dim row As Integer, A As String
Dim B As String
row = 1
A = Cells(row, 1)
Sheets.Add
Sheets("Sheet4").Select
Sheets("Sheet4").Name = "Data"
Open A For Input As #1
Do Until EOF(1)
Line Input #1, B
Cells(row, 1) = B
row = row + 1
Loop
End Sub
The Input Box: An Automated Procedure to Put Data Into VBX Programs From the Excel Worksheet
The Input Box tells the user what data to enter in a program. The user friendly program below to find the
cube of a number is run with a command button. After clicking on the command button, an Input Box pops
up asking the user for the number he wants to cube. The

Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()

Dim x As Single, y As Single
x = InputBox("Enter number to cube")
y=x^3
Cells(2, 2) = y
End Sub