suggestions for VBA novice

[leeroi]

I would like suggestions for the best way to learn to use VBA proficiently (I know, practice practice!). I have a couple of books I've referred to over the past couple of years including Microsoft Access Visual Basic Step by Step, Ken Getz' Developers Handbook, and Beginning Access 97 VBA. But to be honest, I tend to get bogged down pretty quickly. I have no formal training in computer languages.<br><br>I do not live in an area where &quot;live&quot; courses in VBA are available. Any suggestions re: good websites/books/online courses for learning VBA? <br><br>Thanks

 

[elizabeth]

I would recommend the CD <i>Mastering Microsoft Access 2000 Programming</i>. It begins with ADO (vs. DAO or RDO), which is the curent standard access method. It usually comes packaged with a book called Access 2000 Fundamentals, but I thought there was more value in the CD.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whatever you do, start with something that was written for Access version 2000, as ADO is fairly recent and you don't want to learn the old stuff as ADO is backwards-compatible.

 

[famousb]

speaking from experience (i'm completely self-taught in VB and Access, and have no formal computer language training), i think the easiest way to learn is to look at how other people did things and break them down until you can figure out what does what.&nbsp;&nbsp;I would look at a sample database, find something that i thought was cool or interesting, and then i would try to replicate it using VB instead of macros.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think looking at other people's code and figuring out how it works is the easiest way to learn (at least for me), books tend to be dry, and they teach you things that you may not be readily interested in.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you try to learn as you go, doing things that you want to do, your interest in learning it will be much greater. <p>Brian Famous<br><a href=mailto:bfamous@ncdoi.net>bfamous@ncdoi.net</a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[Lightning]

Like Famousb I've had very little formal programming training, but had to learn &quot;on the fly&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;I found the &quot;Access-VB Advisor&quot; magazine to be a great help. It deals almost exclusively with Access (all versions) and VB/VBA.<br><br>And of course, there's that practice! practice! practice!<br><br>Lightning

 

[Waynest]

You might pick up VBA quicker if you forget about access for a while and work thru some examples in a VB book (assuming you have access to VB6 (know anyone with a cd writer?).&nbsp;&nbsp;I'd worked with VB before Access and find linking all the bits & bobs together in access projects with VB code a doddle (usually).&nbsp;&nbsp;The Access reference books I've seen seem to shy away from writing code which is more than a few lines long and this isn't always the best way to go.<br><br>A good VB book is mastering VB6, E Petroutsos, Pub Sybex, ISBN 0-7821-2272-8.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 

[elizabeth]

leerouse, speaking of VB, I've noticed that often technical /community/jr colleges have intro courses in this subject at a great price. I took an intro to VB5 a few years ago and was able to buy an academic-priced copy of VB5 in the college bookstore for only $99! Because the classes I'm talking about are usually not intended for Computer Science majors, they go rather slowly. As a result it's a pretty small time committment and you get nearly unlimited access to the teacher. Great deal.

 

[Telsa]

Okay.. now my say... <br><br>I found two things helpful in writing code in VB.&nbsp;&nbsp;First I created a macro in Excel and learned a little bit about procedures and structure there.&nbsp;&nbsp;Then I took VB 6 intro classes at SmartPlanet.com and learned LOTS there!&nbsp;&nbsp;And most of things were applicable to VBA writing as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;I've taken 17 instructor led courses so far there and lots of self study courses. <br><br>Since you are obviously online, take an online course at SmartPlanet.com.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's cheap and really great because you get a lot of interaction between teacher and students.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>The instructor I really admired and was EXTREMELY helpful is John Smiley.&nbsp;&nbsp;He has written several good intro books and writes in a very unique style, which was helpful for me.<br><br>He even has his own website for help...&nbsp;&nbsp;<A HREF="

http://www.johnsmiley.com"

TARGET="_new">

http://www.johnsmiley.com</A>

<br>that has lots of tips and suggestions and even book recommendations (not only his books but many others as well).<br><br>Just my 2 cents!<br><br>Mary )<br>

 

[leeroi]

Thanks all, for your suggestions. I think I will check out the SmartPlanet website.<br><br>Lee