Microsoft Word VBA Macro Programming - Introduction

Microsoft Word contains an application called the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) which is used for editing VBA code... Within the VBE, the first window that you need to get used to is the Project Explorer.

In this video, we'll have a look at some of the other windows in the Visual Basic Editor.

A macro is essentially a subroutine; so we'll be discussing the various types of subroutines that you can create inside a module.

In this video, we'll discuss some of the strategies you can use to find help on Word VBA topics.

In this two-part video, we'll look at how you can modify the way in which the Visual Basic Editor works by customizing the settings in the Tools > Options dialogue box.

In this two-part video, we'll look at how you can modify the way in which the Visual Basic Editor works by customizing the settings in the Tools > Options dialogue box.

The Project Properties settings allow to customize the way in which projects are displayed within the object browser.

Variables are a facility found in all programming languages. They allow you to store information required by your programs and to refer back to that information, and modify it, at any time...

Although variable declaration is not compulsory in VBA, it is definitely recommended that you declare all variables that you intend to use...

Although variable declaration is not compulsory in VBA, it is definitely recommended that you declare all variables that you intend to use...

In this video, we'll look at declaring fixed length as well as variable length Strings; and we'll also look at a couple of VBA String functions.

In this video, we'll look at a couple of useful number functions; and we'll also look at how VBA handles the distinction between raw numbers and formatted numbers.

In this video, we'll look at how VBA enables you to work with Date variables. (We'll also have a quick look at Boolean variables.)

You'll very often need to keep track of values which will always be the same as your code executes; these are the kinds of values which you store in constants, rather then in variables.

In this video, we'll talk about using variables to store references to the Document, Range, Table and Row objects.

In this video, we'll discuss a technique which allows you to have one main sub-procedures which calls a series of subordinate sub-routines.

In this video, we'll look at functions and how they differ from sub-routines. (The main difference is that functions can return a value.)

In this video, we'll look at how you can make your functions more flexible by defining arguments, or parameters.

VBA allows you to make arguments optional; which means that, when you call the function or sub-routine, you can either supply a value, or you can simply omit it.

When you divide your code into various sub-procedures, the question of variable scope becomes important...

We begin this section on conditional and looping statements with a look at the VBA If statement.

The Select ... Case statement provides and alternative to If and ElseIf when testing for several possibilities.

The For ... Next loop allows you to execute several lines of code repeatedly, a given number of times.

As well as using a counter to control looping, it is also possible to use a condition...

Array variables allow you to store a related set of values, rather than a single value, like the variables we have seen so far...

Dynamic arrays are used in situations where you are not sure how many elements you need to cater for or where the number of elements can vary as your code executes.

This video gives an overview of how the Word object model functions, its key aspects and key components.

In this video, we look a bit more closely at the syntax involved when working with object methods.

Properties are essentially the attributes of an object. However, to access these properties, you sometimes have to go via a child object...

In this video, we'll look at the syntax for homing in on individual objects.

In this video, we will look at why it is a bad idea to write code which selects and activates objects, rather than simply referencing them.

Before creating a reference to an object, you need to be sure that it actually exists. In this video, we look at how you test for the existence of an object within a collection.

In order to remove items from a collection, the logical thing to do is to loop through the collection and selectively delete certain items...

In this first video, we will get an overview of how event programming works.

In this two-part video, we will see a practical example of how document events can be implemented within a Microsoft Word workflow.

Very often, you can simply avail yourself of Word's built-in dialogs, rather than having to reinvent the wheel and create your own user form.

In this video, we will take a closer look at creating a user form and adding various types of control to the user form.

In this two-part video, we'll create a series of event procedures, to convert the form that we created in the last video, into an interactive form.

When working with user forms you have to bear in mind that the user will not always enter data in the format, range or attributes that you want them to.

Before you share your macro solutions with colleagues or clients, it's always a good idea to think about shielding them from any unpleasant surprises...

In this video, we will revisit Tools > Options and discuss the settings relating to error handling.

In this video, we'll look at a statement which tells VBA to simply ignore any errors that occur and attempt to carry on as though nothing has happened...

The Err object is a resource that is built into VBA which provides information on errors, as they occur...

In this video, we'll turn our attention to debugging; tracking down errors when you can't get your code to work properly...

In this video, we'll talk about stepping through your code, in break mode.

The watch window provides a very convenient and dynamic method of exploring the values of expressions and variables while debugging code...