This document provides an introduction to using Excel and the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) for coding. It discusses important Excel concepts like cell references and naming ranges. It then introduces the VBE environment and how to navigate it. The document demonstrates how to perform tasks in Excel like naming ranges and assigning values using VBA code. It includes two exercises for the reader to practice coding functions in VBE, such as using built-in Excel functions to find minimums, maximums, and calculate portfolio returns.

1. Excel and
the VBELECTURE 1

2. Important things to know in Excel
The VBE environment
A first go at some coding!
SUMMARY

3. IMPORTANT THINGS TO
KNOW ABOUT EXCEL

4. CELL REFERENCES IN EXCEL
Each cell has an ‘address’:
“B5” Row 5, Column B.
R5C2 Row 5, Column 2.
R5
C2
B5

5. CELL REFERENCES IN EXCEL
Each cell has an ‘address’:
“B5” Row 5, Column B.
R5C2 Row 5, Column 2.
Cells(5,2) Row 5, Column 2.
Preferred notation
within VBA because
it can be looped.
R5
C2
Cells(5,2)

6.  A range can be:
One cell (e.g., G2), or
NAMING RANGES

7.  A range can be:
One cell (e.g., G2), or
Multiple cells, which are next to each other (e.g., A2:E2)
NAMING RANGES

8.  What’s the benefit of naming ranges?
If you move a named range:
 The cell reference changes, but
 The range name does not change
 What’s that mean for you, the programmer?
If you refer to a cell reference (e.g., G2), in your code,
…and then move the contents of that cell
…you have to go back and update your code
If you refer to a named range (e.g., “PortfolioReturn”), in
your code
…and then move the contents of that cell (cut + paste)
…you don’t have to update your code.
NAMING RANGES

9. A few rules…
MUST start with a letter
CANNOT contain any spaces
CANNOT be the name of another range
CANNOT be the name of the cell reference for another cell
in Excel.
NAMING RANGES
“RET1” is already a cell in Excel so I can’t give another cell this name.

10. 1. SAVE AS .xlsm
2. Save FREQUENTLY!! Excel crashes!
3. Saving your Excel workbook ALSO saves your VBA.
4. Use good files names so that you know which file
is the newest version you’re working on.
• Dissertation.xlsm
• Disso.xlsm
• myDisso.xlsm
• DissoNew.xlsm
• DissoNewest.xlsm
SAVING YOUR WORK
m for Macro Enabled
• 13oct04Dissertation.xlsm
• 2013oct04_Disso.xlsm
• 04oct13_myDisso.xlsm

11. Visual
Basic
Editor
THE VBE

12. GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE VBE
Alt + F11: Toggle between Excel and VBE, OR
Go to the VBE
from Excel
Go back to Excel
from the VBE

13. GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE VBE
Excel File This is where you
write your code

14. GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE VBE
Code for
data in
Worksheets
goes here
Code in a specific sheet can
only be executed for data
and cells in that sheet.
You CANNOT refer to cells
in another worksheet or on
a userform

15. GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE VBE
Commands
for the
Workbook
go here
For example
•Open the software when
the workbook opens
•Save the workbook when
the software closes
• Etc…

16. GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE VBE
Code for
Userforms
go here
Code which uses or refers
to information obtained on
the userform
Code which executes when
tools on the userform are
used (e.g., command
buttons)

17. GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE VBE
Other code,
not specific
to any one
userform or
worksheet
goes in a
module
For
calculations, optimisation,
or any code you want to be
able to use at any time

18.  Insert a Userform
GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE VBE

19.  Insert a Userform
 Insert a module
GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE VBE

20.  Insert a Userform
 Insert a module
 Insert a procedure
GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE VBE
We’ll come back to this
later in the term

21. INSERT A PROCEDURE
You will use both
Sub’s and Function’s
during your FYP.
We will discuss the
difference later.
The name should be
descriptive of your
Sub or Function.
Cannot contain
spaces.
Click OK. This is what you should get:
Write your code here.
The Sub Procedure is now in the Module

22. EDITING EXCEL USING VBA

23. ACTIVATE A WORKBOOK
Name of my workbook in “ ”.
Tell VBA which workbook
you want to work with

24. ACTIVATE A WORKSHEET
Tell VBA which worksheet
you want to work with
Name of my worksheet in “ ”.

25. NAMING RANGES
Use .Name
Assign range names to…
• One cell, or
Must be in “ ”
because it’s text!

26. NAMING RANGES
Use .Name
Assign range names to…
• One cell, or
• A range of cells
Must be in “ ”
because it’s text!

27. NAMING RANGES
Assign range names to…
• One cell, or
• A range of cells
Row 7, Column 1 (top left)
Through to
Row 9, Column 3 (btm right)

28. ASSIGNING VALUES
Enter a number into…
• One cell, or
• A range of cells
InputBox(“ ”)
Used to get input from the user

29. ASSIGNING VALUES
Enter text into…
• One cell, or
• A range of cells
Text MUST be in “ ”

30.  Check the range names by clicking on the cells
 Did the code do what you thought it would?
RUN THIS CODE (PRESS F5)

31. USE EXCEL BUILT-IN FUNCTIONS FROM VBA
Activate the correct
worksheet

32. USE EXCEL BUILT-IN FUNCTIONS FROM VBA
Name the range where the
numbers are in Excel

33. USE EXCEL BUILT-IN FUNCTIONS FROM VBA
Enter column headings

34. USE EXCEL BUILT-IN FUNCTIONS FROM VBA
Three ways to do the same thing
Use what is best for the situation
Enters the equation
=Sum(numSeries)
into Row 2, Col 3.

35. USE EXCEL BUILT-IN FUNCTIONS FROM VBA
Uses the built in Min function
to find the minimum of the
range named numSeries.
Three ways to do the same thing
Use what is best for the situation

36. USE EXCEL BUILT-IN FUNCTIONS FROM VBA
Uses the built in Max function
to find the maximum of the range
from Rows 1 to 7 in Col 1.
Three ways to do the same thing
Use what is best for the situation

37.  In column 1 of your worksheet, create a list of 7 random
numbers.
 Insert a new Sub procedure called Exercise1.
 Enter & run the following code:
EXERCISE #1

38.  From the Developer Tab:
Choose Insert
Under Form Controls,
Select command Button
 Draw a command button.
 Select the macro you want to assign to this
button. Only procedures in Modules will appear
in the list.
EXECUTING CODE USING FORM CONTROLS.
Choose Exercise1

39. Turn off Design Mode.
 Make sure it is not highlighted
 Your button now runs the code from the Sub
Exercise1.
Try changing your random numbers & re-running
your code by using your button.
EXECUTING CODE USING FORM CONTROLS.

40. Create a Sub procedure called “Exercise2”
Code the following in this sub:
Activate your worksheet (use the sheet called ‘Example 3’)
Assign a range name to the range of weights
Assign a range name to the range of mean returns
Assign a range name to cell G2, which will contain a
formula for the portfolio return (next step)
Assign equal weights into the weights range
Enter the formula to calculate the portfolio return into G2
(use the SUMPRODUCT formula)
Run your code (Put your cursor inside the sub & hit F5).
Go back to Excel and make sure it’s correct.
EXERCISE #2

41. You are ready to move on when:
LO1: You can name the address of a cell using Cells(r,c) or
RC notation.
LO2: In the VBE, you know the difference between adding
code in a worksheet, a userform and a module.
LO3: You can name ranges within Excel as well as name
Excel ranges within VBA.
LO4: You can assign numerical or text values to individual
cells and ranges of cells from within VBA.
LO5: You can describe the difference between the 3 ways
of using Excel built-in functions within VBA.
LEARNING OUTCOMES

42. THE END