A unique, comprehensive guide to creating custom apps with VBA

Automating computing tasks to increase productivity is a goal for businesses of all sizes. Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is a version of Visual Basic designed to be easily understandable for novice programmers, but still powerful enough for IT professionals who need to create specialized business applications. With this invaluable book, you'll learn how to extend the capabilities of Office 2013 applications with VBA programming and use it for writing macros, automating Office applications, and creating custom applications in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access.

• Covers the basics of VBA in clear, systematic tutorials and includes intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers
• Explores recording macros and getting started with VBA; learning how to work with VBA; using loops and functions; using message boxes, input boxes, and dialog boxes; creating effective code; XML-based files, ActiveX, the developer tab, content controls, add-ins, embedded macros, and security
• Anchors the content with solid, real-world projects in Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Access

Covering VBA for the entire suite of Office 2013 applications, Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 2013 is mandatory reading.

Richard Mansfield is the author or coauthor of 45 books, including Visual Basic 6 Database Programming For Dummies, Office 2003 Application Development All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies, How to Do Everything with Second Life, and Programming: A Beginner's Guide. He is the former editor of Compute! magazine. Overall, his books have sold more than half a million copies worldwide and have been translated into 12 languages.

Introduction xxix

Part 1 • Recording Macros and Getting Started with VBA 1

Chapter 1 • Recording and Running Macros in the Office Applications 3

Chapter 2 • Getting Started with the Visual Basic Editor 31

Chapter 3 • Editing Recorded Macros 65

Chapter 4 • Creating Code from Scratch in the Visual Basic Editor 87

Part 2 • Learning How to Work with VBA 107

Chapter 5 • Understanding the Essentials of VBA Syntax 109

Chapter 6 • Working with Variables, Constants, and Enumerations 125

Chapter 7 • Using Array Variables 147

Chapter 8 • Finding the Objects, Methods, and Properties You Need 171

Part 3 • Making Decisions and Using Loops and Functions 197

Chapter 9 • Using Built-in Functions 199

Chapter 10 • Creating Your Own Functions 235

Chapter 11 • Making Decisions in Your Code 255

Chapter 12 • Using Loops to Repeat Actions 277

Part 4 • Using Message Boxes, Input Boxes, and Dialog Boxes 305

Chapter 13 • Getting User Input with Message Boxes and Input Boxes 307

Chapter 14 • Creating Simple Custom Dialog Boxes 329

Chapter 15 • Creating Complex Forms 399

Part 5 • Creating Eff ective Code 449

Chapter 16 • Building Modular Code and Using Classes 451

Chapter 17 • Debugging Your Code and Handling Errors 481

Chapter 18 • Building Well-Behaved Code 511

Chapter 19 • Securing Your Code with VBA’s Security Features 525

Part 6 • Programming the Offi ce Applications 547

Chapter 20 • Understanding the Word Object Model and Key Objects 549

Chapter 21 • Working with Widely Used Objects in Word 877

Chapter 22 • Understanding the Excel Object Model and Key Objects 615

Chapter 23 • Working with Widely Used Objects in Excel 641

Chapter 24 • Understanding the PowerPoint Object Model and Key Objects 879

Chapter 25 • Working with Shapes and Running Slide Shows 677

Chapter 26 • Understanding the Outlook Object Model and Key Objects 697

Chapter 27 • Working with Events in Outlook 719

Chapter 28 • Understanding the Access Object Model and Key Objects 739

Chapter 29 • Manipulating the Data in an Access Database via VBA 763

Chapter 30 • Accessing One Application from Another Application 785

Chapter 31 • Programming the Offi ce 2013 Ribbon 813

Appendix • Th e Bottom Line 847

Index 889