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Microsoft Access Macros

Microsoft Access Macros vs. VBA - Why Use Macros?

Macros have been used as development tool since the early days of the Microsoft Office product line. Microsoft Access macros incorporate generalized database functions using existing Microsoft Access capabilities. Errors in a macro can be easily resolved by using the Microsoft supplied Help function. The ease with which you can generate Macros makes Macro development seem easier to accomplish.

You can generate macros by selecting database operations and commands in the Macro window. These macros can then be converted to Microsoft Access VBA. In most cases, you need only make minor edits to the saved code in order to have a functional program. All syntax, spacing and functionality are included in the saved file, which contains VBA code specific to the particular application being recorded. Unskilled programmers are able to interpret the code and learn how to generate code to accomplish specific tasks. In the process, the novice programmer may gain a useful introduction to VBA code. Building Macros can be easier and faster than writing VBA code, for simple applications, and making global key assignments, however, more advanced and complex applications are not so easily accomplished using macros.

People tend to consider Macros because VBA code is perceived to be more programmatic, offering a variety of options that appear confusing and time consuming to understand. These options, however, provide developers with tools to extend Microsoft Access capabilities beyond those packaged with the Microsoft Access software. If building or generating macros comes easily and does not consume great amounts of your time, you may want to consider their use, particularly if you want to accomplish rather simple tasks. If, however, you find macros to be time consuming and tedious, as many have attested to, you may want to consider building VBA code. By learning and building upon VBA skills, you acquire a programming skill set that is applicable and portable to various other applications. Macros, on the other hand, are used in many applications, but they are specific to a particular application. Macros, in most cases, are not portable to other applications.

VBA is one of the more easy-to-learn programming languages. It does not require the complex programming techniques that are necessary to program C++ or other high level languages. VBA provides a user-friendly, forms-based interface to assign variables and simplify code development. VBA is a widely used application so that help is available from a variety of sources. A second party would have to know and understand your particular application in order to assist you with building a macro.

VBA can be used to perform any operation that a macro can perform. VBA also allows you to perform a multitude of more advanced operations to include the following:

  • Incorporate error-handling modules to assist in the running of your applications.
  • Integrate Word and Excel features in your database
  • Present users with professional forms-based layouts to interface with your database
  • Process data in the background
  • Create multi-purpose forms
  • Perform conditional looping

Microsoft Access Database Development With VBA Microsoft Access Database Development with VBA. This electronic book (ebook) teaches how to create database applications using the Microsoft Visual Basic For Applications (VBA) language as it is implemented in Microsoft Access. The lessons follow our detailed step-by-step approach with clear instructions and real-life exercises.

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