Programming Fundamentals Using VBA
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This article will provide you with a chance to study the fundamentals of programming, with specific reference to the syntax of the VBA language. Variables and arrays will be discussed in detail. This article is excerpted from chapter six of the book
Access VBA Programming, written by Charles E. Brown and Ron Petusha (McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2004; ISBN: 0072231971).
In Chapter 5 you learned about the VBA environment by looking at its structure, concepts, and editor. In this chapter, we are going to study the fundamentals of all programming while, at the same time, examine the specific syntax of the VBA language. We are going to review concepts from Chapter 5 and study them in greater detail, beginning with a review of the places where the code is stored and the types of blocks it is stored in. While discussing that, we will visit the subject of variables in greater detail. It is difficult to talk about variables without discussing a special type of variable called an array.
We are also going to look at some of the built-in tools that VBA gives you to make your job easier. We will conclude our discussion by looking at the various types of programming structures and how they are used in a VBA environment.
Programming Fundamentals
As stated in Chapter 5, VBA code is written and stored within modules. Recall that there are two basic types of modules: those associated with forms or reports, and a general module for holding procedures that is applicable to the whole project.
There is one other type, called a class module, which contains code associated with an object. We have discussed modules already in the previous chapters and will be referring to them throughout the rest of the book.
Before you can write VBA code, you need to be able to create the module. Since form or report modules are created through their respective forms and reports, we will focus on creating standard modules here.
Creating Standard Modules There are a couple of different ways of creating a standard module. The easiest way is to use the Modules category of objects right in the Database window, as shown in Figure 6-1. All you need to do is click on New and you are taken to the VBA Editor with a module created, as shown in Figure 6-2.
VBA assigned your new module a temporary name of Module1. You will probably want to give it a more descriptive name. This can be done from the Properties window of the VBA Editor or directly in the Database window.
As an example, in the VBA Editor, highlight the name Module1 in the Properties window, as shown in Figure 6-3, and rename it. You can call it myFirstModule. Once you have changed it in the Properties window, the name is changed in the Project window as well as in the Database window in Access (under the Modules category).
Figure 6-1. The Modules category selected in the Database window
Figure 6-2. The VBA Editor with a module open
In addition, you should click on the Save icon in the toolbar. You will be prompted to confirm the name, as shown here:
Now you can confirm that the name has been changed in the Project window (Figure 6-4) and the Database window Figure 6-5).
Figure 6-3. The Name property
Figure 6-4. Project window after renaming the module
Figure 6-5. Database window after renaming the module
NOTE
You can also change the name in the Database window by right-clicking it and selecting the Rename menu command.
Next: Creating Procedures >>
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 This article is excerpted from chapter six of the book Access VBA Programming, written by Charles E. Brown and Ron Petusha (McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2004; ISBN: 0072231971). Check it out at your favorite bookstore today. Buy this book now.
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