

In Excel: select Tools, Macro, Visual Basic Editor (as shown in Figure 1.3) or use the keystroke Alt + F11.Īlternatively, select the Visual Basic toolbar from the View/Toolbars menu item in Excel. You can access the IDE from Excel in a couple of different ways. Getting to the IDE from Excelīefore you begin creating projects with VBA you must know your way around the IDE. Excel comes with its own IDE and VBA compiler, thus making it more of a value than you may realize.


If you have the compiler, all you really need to create an application-albeit with considerably more effort-is a text editor. The compiler converts your program into the binary code your computer understands. Yet, the most important component of any development software is the compiler, which for many languages can be obtained at no cost. The price is worth it because IDE's provide tools that enable programmers to develop applications quickly, saving them considerable time and money. IDE's are available for numerous programming languages and are often quite expensive to purchase (several hundred dollars or more for a single license). In tHe ReAL WoRLdĪn IDE is software used by programmers for rapid application development (RAD). Starting the VBA development software places you in the VBA programming environment IDE, which provides you with a number of tools for use in the development of your project. The VBA development software is included with each component of the Microsoft Office suite of programs, including Excel. Before learning how to program in VBA, you have to learn how to use the software required for creating your projects.
