Start by writing a task list of the step you wish to capture and use this as your checklist to help cover all actions required and in the correct order.

Define your task

1. Define the task you wish to program.

2. The overall task must be broken down into smaller tasks.

3. The program consists of a set of instructions or code, which the computer will follow.

4. The order in which you place these statements is very important.

Layout of procedures

Declaration Area

Procedure Starts Name()

1st line of Statements ‘Comments

2nd line of Statements ‘Comments

..........

End of Procedure

The blue text represents the procedure starting and ending signatures

The green text represents the narrative/comments for documentation purposes which are excluded from the procedure.

All procedures must have starting signature and ending signature.

Pseudo code

Write the program out in plain English to explain what is going to happen.

sub formatting()

bold

italic

underline

end sub

Calling a procedure (formatting)

sub start()

select cells A2:A10

formatting

select cells B1:G1

formatting

end sub

Writing macros from scratch

The following macro will select Sheet 1 and type January into cell A1 and 100 into cell A2.

1. Create a new blank workbook.

2. Click on the Developer tab, click Visual Basic icon.

3. In the VBE window, click on the Insert menu and select Module.

Pseudo Code

VBA Code

Sub january()

Select Sheet1

Select the cell A1

Type January

Select the cell A2

Type 100

End Sub

Sub january()

Worksheets("Sheet1").Select

Range("A1").Select

ActiveCell.Value = "January"

Range(“A2”).Select

ActiveCell.Value = 100

End Sub

4. Type the VBA code into the module and test.

Note that the text 'January' is entered with speech (double-quote) marks, as it is a piece of text, where as the number 100 is entered without.

Next Topic: Procedure types

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Writing macros

Define your task

Layout of procedures

Pseudo code

Writing macros from scratch

Tip: Alt + F11 function keys switches between Excel and VBE window.

VBA Keywords: ActiveCell, Range, Worksheets, Select.