Customer Reviews

Microsoft Excel VBA Programming for the Absolute Beginner

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

You do not need Visual studio installed to run the projects in this book. The errors mentioned in the previous review are caused by changes in the path to the VBA string functions when using Windows XP. You can always just enter the code as is written in the book into a new VBA project using Excel and it will run fine. But the simplest solution is this:

1.) Open the project that is giving you trouble.
2.) Select 'Move or Copy Sheet...' from the Edit menu.
3.) Choose to Move the selected sheet to a new workbook to create a copy.
4.) The new workbook should look just like the previous workbook. Only now the library paths will be updated to what's on your computer and the program will work. You will have to save the new workbook or the program will be lost when you close it and you will have to repeat the above steps.

This problem should have been caught in the reviewing process but we missed it. Sorry. Please ignore my rating. I had to put something in that field in order to respond.

This was my first foray into the "For the absolute beginner" series of books, and I understand now why it isn't nearly as popular as the "for dummies" or "demystified" series of instructional manuals. The main problem with this book is that it absolute is NOT intended for people with no previous experience in Excel or VBA, despite the disclaimer on the cover that states "No Experience Required!". A true beginner will be absolutely baffled by the concepts presented throughout, and will definitely walk away with a sour taste in their mouth.

The first chapter starts off solidly, displaying some of the basic things that can be done with Excel. Halfway through the chapter the author then inexplicably throws some code at the reader, without explaining ANY of the concepts behind how the code works, what it is, or how it's syntax is used. As I already had a solid grasp of programming concepts before diving into Visual Basic for Applications, I had a vague understanding of what was going on, but the target audience for this book will be left scratching their heads, wondering what the heck they just did. Each chapter onward becomes exponentially more complicated, throwing even more code at the user without any easily digestible explanations. As a guide to expanding your knowledge of VBA, this book actually does a pretty good job, if you already have a solid understanding of how VBA works. Each chapter ends with an exercise wherein the reader makes a game that utilizes all the concepts presented earlier. It's a rather odd way to teach VBA, as most people will be using Excel solely for business applications, but it does show case how Excel can create a wide range of solutions when coupled with VBA. The games themselves are actually rather fun, starting with a magic number grid and tic-tac-toe, and then eventually moving up to versions of Blackjack and even Battleship! It should also be noted that VBA is not the sole focus of this book, as there is a good deal of instruction regarding User Forms, drop down boxes, text controls, etc. and how they can interact with VBA.

Overall the book was decent and will certainly expand the user's already existing knowledge of Excel VBA. However, it really should have been titled "Excel VBA Programming for the Intermediate to Experienced User", as an absolute beginner won't get much use out of this particular tome.

I'd have to agree that this book is not appropriately named. I found understanding the code more difficult than several books aimed at a moderately advanced audience, such as Walkenbach's Power Programming.

That said, I found the book offered unique angles and insights not dealt with in other books, and in showing how games can be programmed in Excel, really provided a broad view of the power and flexibility inherent in VBA and the Excel Object model. It was frankly an eye opener to see what Duane was able to do, and I think taking the time to work through the code has been tremendously rewarding, if not particularly easy.

Don't listen to the doorknobs who rated this book a one star because they couldn't understand the programming concepts presented on "page 12".

I purchased this book simply because it's angle is that you can make games on excel, access XML via VBA within excel, etc. The obvious intention of this book is not to show you how to use formulas or other basic stuff; rather, it is meant to get you to think about how to apply VBA creatively.

I had no idea that you could make a GAME in excel, and I find it a real hoot that indeed you can.

Simply put, beware of extreme reviews on Amazon. If somebody loves the book to death that's suspect; however, if somebody trashes a book because they couldn't understand it means that they gave the book a poor review purely out of spite.

This book receives five stars because it will get you to think about excel functionality in a new paradigm.

I tell you, I must have bought a dozen books related to learning VBA for Excel.
This is the first and only one that I can't put down because this author can start from zero and build up without loosing people.

Thanks

As a self-taught user, with some help from other self-taught users in my company, I found this book excellent. Ideas that I had a fuzzy grasp of are made clear.

I suspect the teaching background of the authors contributes to the clear and concise descriptions of things and to the logical flow of the information.

I also bought their Access VBA book, but haven't tackled it yet. I suspect it to be just as helpful. They are probably too basic for an experienced user, but wonderful for beginners.

I purchased this book because of its approach to teaching Excel VBA in an interesting and fun way. This was borne out when I started working through the book. It was much better than any other book on the same topic I have attempted to use. However it started falling apart in Chapter 2 when the Excel VBA Projects included with the book would not work. This appears to be due to missing VBA references such as "LCase" and "Format". Where I can find these and how I can install them is not mentioned anywhere. My research indicates that these references are probably part of Microsoft Visual Studio so you will need to purchase and install it before you can work through the included VBA projects! This is a great pity as it greatly detracts from what is fundamentally a really good introduction to Excel VBA. I would have given it possibly a 5 star rating if it had not been for these problems.

A couple of quotes might set the scene for you here;

Everybody who is incapable of learning has taken to teaching. - Oscar Wilde, The Decay of Lying

An old sentiment I know, but in order to properly teach one has to get into the mind of the student who is looking with awe (and hopefully enthusiasm at the mountain that they have chosen (or been told to - don't yer luv yer boss eh?) climb. The art is to go from the known to the unknown and from the simple to the complex with as little uncertainty along the way; and help with that as well when it arises.

This book fails significantly by this one criterion alone and does not start low enough for a complete beginner.

In chapter one it talks about a procedure but then doesn't explain it until chapter two; but, and this is a huge but for a beginner, there is NO mention of that fact in chapter one.

I personally don't have time to waste second-guessing an author and I think the main issue with this material is that the author has fallen into the fatal assumption that the reader knows more than they do.

I am a very experienced Excel user but a complete novice with VBA. I have written some macros over the years but only for my own use and only to do very simple actions and with no documentation. Once I had realized the significance of absolute versus relative cell referencing they would also work 99% of the time - raa raa!

Back to the book; once I found the missing reference for chapter one in chapter two (after doubting myself and wondering if there was a page missing!) I decided to investigate other material (lots of it!) and if it helps you (that is the purpose of this review isn't it - not to massage the author's ego?) this is what I found.

Material by John Walkenbach is very thorough (amusing) and well written but it is just that; "written". There is a large amount of material to learn in VBA and it can be frustrating to think that you are studying, absorbing (hopefully!) and retaining material but not yet able to do anything with it.

I personally learn best by watching and doing rather than reading and as a result found the video material presented by Bill Jelen in the Live Lessons series suited my needs beyond my expectations. The material is split into small logical steps with excellent on screen video material and Jelen has a good speaking voice and engaging style and he seems to understand the frustrations that one may have been through in previous tinkerings with VBA.

However, the main point is that one can very quickly "do" something with VBA even from the first lesson and so a sense of achievement and confidence builds quickly and reinforces enthusiasm. "I can see that (literally!) and I can DO that" soon become the hallmarks of the process.

If you are like me (i.e. not ambidextrous and with an IQ under 50) then the words of that bloke from the Chinese Takeaway (a number 9 with sweet and sour if you're going for me please) will resonate well with you.

What I hear, I forget.
What I see, I remember.
What I do, I understand. '- Kung Fu Tzu (Confucius)

Walkenbach is good, but slow and heavy going, Jelen is good but more fun and much, much faster. Also, I have transferred each small video lesson onto my iPad so can reinforce my knowledge when time presents, which it does a lot in my job as I hang around a lot in remote places with no internet (no I am not wanted by the FBI or the IRS so there will be no reward for turning me in!).

I am not related to Jelen or Walkenbach, I am not even American, and I have not been paid to promote their names or products. I am like you, looking to find the most effective way to learn what, at the moment, seems to be an incredibly complicated subject.

I don't normally write reviews but having done so much research and having bought so much material (I have so many books that I was hoping to just "own" them and learn surreptitiously by osmosis - naaw, it don't work!) and almost reaching the point of analysis paralysis that I found the Jelen video series a godsend and so I decided to wave my electronic quill in the ether to perhaps save my fellow man and woman some time and frustration. Good luck. GG. BB 5/19/2011

I am a long time Excel user (all advanced functions have no secret for me anymore). I spent a lot of time (and money!) reading books about Excel VBA but could not grasp it really. 99% of the books around are very theoritical... hundreds of pages (or one thousand!) about events, objects, properties etc... which they teach through some stupid and non useful programs/procedures/functions.. but in the end, they are not "practical". You learn concepts but you don't know how to program!! Basically, it is like to learn how to build a window, a door, a wall but in the end you still don't know how to build the whole house and puit all these elements together.
This one of the rare book on the market that takes a practical approach. Some people may not like it, but personally I find it a fantastic way of learning programming. Instead of developing some boring programs, the author lead us to develop some games on Excel by using all VBA stuff that you can find in other books. You are able to build from A to Z a proper program. Beyond the fact that you learn the VBA, I find very exciting to write a program which I can also improve.

If you are just getting into VBA and have never tried any type of programming, then this is the book. It is straight forward with excellent examples. If you want to learn VBA but are afraid, this book will walk you through the VBA environment, which can be confusing, and leaves you with an end product. After using the examples you can venture off to use the skills in your own projects.

On the down side, this book is not an end-all-source. After being exposed to the VBA environment you will want to seek out more advanced books to enhance the base that this product provides.