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104 of 105 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good organization, a bit terse, January 4, 2001
This review is from: Definitive Guide to Excel VBA (Paperback)
Probably the two books to compare with are Walkenbach's "EXCEL 2000 Power Programming", and Green's "EXCEL 2000 VBA". A related book that is a description of the language with nothing about the EXCEL object model is Lomax "VB & VBA in a Nutshell". Kofler can be cryptic at times. As explanation, he says (p. 336) "The long and the short of it is that you [dear reader] will not be spared the opportunity to do a bit of experimenting yourself". An example of this brevity is the treatment of the MsgBox, which is used to interrogate the user of the spreadsheet and offer a variety of choices. Kofler provides an example on p. 220, and refers the reader to the online help for amplification. In contrast, Julitta Korol offers over 7 pages of examples and tables using this function. The pro of brevity is many features can be outlined, and the reader can find the additional info for free. The con is that the reader won't appreciate the full utility of the feature without perusing the online help in some detail. Compared to Walkenbach, Kofler has more about features new to EXCEL 2000. For instance, Kofler has subroutines illustrating the use of the Implements statement in VBA, while Walkenbach lists it as a statement with no comment, Green doesn't even mention it. Lomax has a complete discussion pp. 373 - 375. Kofler also describes the manipulation of files using the FSO (File System Objects) Library (pp. 245ff.), a new feature. Compared to Green, Kofler is almost entirely exposition, while pp. 343-695 of Green is a listing of the EXCEL 2000 and VBE object models, which I personally find not too useful. However, because the first 245 pages of Green is compact, I find it easier to find information there. Kofler definitely is a notch more advanced than Walkenbach, at least as knowledgeable, and much better organized. In fact, although there is a lot of overlap, it is handy to have both books because it is usually possible to find what you want in Kofler, and then (sometimes) use Walkenbach for a more detailed hand-holding example. However, finding something in Walkenbach by itself requires luck because of his poor organization and index. None of the three EXCEL books describes the special status of sub main(). Bottom line: Buy Green first (cheapest), Kofler second and Walkenbach last.
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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the definitive guides to Excel VBA books, August 21, 2002
This review is from: Definitive Guide to Excel VBA (Paperback)
I won't say this book is "the only Excel VBA book you will need" -- there is no such kind of thing for programming books. However, I like to say it is one of the best and definitive guides to Excel VBA. The most important thing is that there are several advanced topics you won't find on the other popular Excel VBA books (such as Excel 2002 VBA programminer's Reference by Stephen Bullen, John Green et al. or Excel 2002 Power Programming with VBA by John Walkenback): for instance, recursion, details of random numbers generation, matrix functions, automatic data reporting, OLAP functionality and using Excel as ActiveX server. However, I also must say this book is definitely not for the beginners to learn VBA.
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31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not only the best Excel VBA book, but a reference for all, January 28, 2002
This review is from: Definitive Guide to Excel VBA (Paperback)
Compared to Walkenbach books (like Excel 2002 / 2000 power programming with VBA) and many others, this book is truly worth its title. Its clear and very well structurated plan means all information can be found easily and everything understood without pain. This is paramount since a book main and unique goal is to transmit information. Its design and layout, clear, eye-pleasing and professional, strengthens this crucial aspect. With Walkenbach, the reader has to collect elements throughout all chapters them combine them to get an idea of a particular topic!!! With this book, the reader knows what he'll find and where. For example, all error handling is included in one part while all functions are sorted by theme (math, date etc.) It's incredible that having a coherent and clear organization, which should be basic, is not in Walkenbach books!? Furthermore, this book reveals many important and little documented points tied to Excel VBA, ranging from range and cells to many critical points like external data access with true database programs, which are even not dealed in some self-proclamed 'expert' books, like Walkenbach's. Besides, it exhibits many trips and tricks that allow fast, clean programs and avoir many troubles by grouping all points linked to a particular problem. Third, the writting is not terse: with irony, and a great amount of objectivity, qualities which seem to evaporate in Walkenbach and others (which very often sound like a Microsoft ad), it clearly explains and demonstrates the limits and bugs of Excel VBA. Fourth, the companion CD Rom is truly useful, loaded with many pratical and real-life examples and solutions. Again, Walkenbach, after saying virtually every page the HE is the author, the creator and so forth, with its constant I-do-this mentality, provides a software wich is not usable since the reader has to send a coupon card! Finally, this is the book to have for truly mastering Excel VBA, without pain but with efficiency.
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