Excel VBA Programming For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Book Description

Having Excel and just using it for standard spreadsheets is a little like getting the ultimate cable system and a 50” flat panel plasma HDTV and using it exclusively to watch Lawrence Welk reruns. With Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) programming, you can take advantage of numerous Excel options such as: creating new worksheet functions; automating tasks and operations; creating new appearances, toolbars, and menus; designing custom dialog boxes and add-ins; and much more.

This guide is not for rank Excel amateurs. It’s for intermediate to advanced Excel users who want to learn VBA programming (or whose bosses want them to learn VBA programming). You need to know your way around Excel before you start creating customized short cuts or systems for speeding through Excel functions. If you’re an intermediate or advanced Excel user, Excel VBA For Dummies helps you take your skills (and your spreadsheets) to the next level. It includes:

An introduction to the VBA language
A hands-on, guided, step-by-step walk through developing a useful VBA macro, including recording, testing, and changing it, and testing it
The essential foundation, including the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) and its components, modules, Excel object model, subroutines and functions, and the Excel macro recorder
The essential VBA language elements, including comments, variables and constants, and labels
Working with Range objects and discovering useful Range objective properties and methods
Using VBA and worksheet functions, including a list and examples
Programming constructions, including the GoTo statement, the If-Then structure, Select Case, For-Next loop, Do-While loop, and Do-Until loop
Automatic procedures and Workbook events, including a table and event-handler procedures
Error-handling and bug extermination techniques, and using the Excel debugging tools
Creating custom dialog boxes, also known as UserForms, with a table of the toolbox controls and their capabilities, how-to for the dialog box controls, and UserForm techniques and tricks
Customizing the Excel toolbars
Using VBA code to modify the Excel menu system
Creating worksheet functions and working with various types of arguments
Creating Excel add-ins such as new worksheet functions you can use in formulas or new commands or utilities

Author John Walkenbach is a leading authority on spreadsheet software and the author of more than 40 spreadsheet books including Excel 2003 Bible and Excel 2003 Power Programming with VBA. While this guide includes tons of examples and screenshots, Walkenbach knows there’s no substitute for hands-on learning. The book is complete with:

A dedicated companion Web site that includes bonus chapters plus all sample programs to save you a lot of typing and let you play around and experiment with various changes
Information to help you make the most of Excel’s built-in Help system so you can find out other stuff you may need to know

What are you waiting for? Sure, learning to do VBA programming takes a little effort, but it’s a Very Big Accomplishment.

Download Description

Shows ordinary users how to harness the power of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and create custom Excel applications

This book introduces people to a wide array of new Excel options, including creating new worksheet functions, automating tasks and operations, creating new toolbars and menus, designing custom dialog boxes and add-ins, and much more

Begins with the most important tools and operations for the Visual Basic Editor, then provides an overview of the essential elements and concepts for programming with Excel

John Walkenbach, a.k.a. "Mr. Spreadsheet," runs a popular Web site (www.j-walk.com) on Excel techniques and is the author of many bestselling books on Excel

Customer Reviews:

Excel VBA for Dummies Review - Excellent!.......2007-08-23

The book is very well written and has useful examples as well as many screen shots (pictures) to help you along the way. This book is exactly what it says it is - meant for the intermediate user, but written for a dummy! A+++

Great Book!.......2007-06-14

I found this book to be an excellent introduction to using VBA in Excel. The author provides clear and usable examples to illustrate what he's talking about and demonstrate good programming practices. Clearly written for beginners who have never really used VBA, this book will get you writing VBA in no time, and best of all, it's not some boring technical manual that threatens to put you to sleep.

Fast delivery, excellent quality.......2007-01-10

The book arrived sooner than I expected and was in perfect condition.

Thanks again!

Great for beginners.......2007-01-05

This is not the book for building complex applications within Excel but that's not what I got it for. I wanted something that would get me started on understanding how to manuver within VBA and do some basic coding and this book fits the bill perfectly. It's amazing how many books there are on this subject that don't fill the need for a beginner.

good enough.......2006-11-03

the book doesn't tell you everything, but it tells you what you need to know to get started and get some things done. It is great resource to take you from zero knowledge to proficiency with the most commonly used VBA tasks. However, a VBA beginner will quickly outgrow this book and need to move on to John's more advanced VBA books.

Visual Studio 2005 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Average customer rating:

lots of rubbish
Very good book for anyone wanting to learn VS 2005
Great value

Visual Studio 2005 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Vanessa L. Williams
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Computers & Internet | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Professional Visual Studio 2005
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Unleashed
Visual Basic 2005 For Dummies
ASP.NET 2.0 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
C# 2005 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

ASIN: 0764597752

Book Description

A thorough revision to the Visual Studio 2005 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies makes this the ideal book for new programmers or Java programmers looking to get up and running with Visual Studio. The book will be a comprehensive, value-priced reference for the entire Visual Studio 2005. Microsoft’s catch-phrase for Visual Studio 2005 is personal productivity. The goal of personal productivity is to allow the developer to work at a higher level of abstraction. The goal of this book is to show the reader how to build applications using these productivity features of VS. As a result, language syntax and programming constructs are de-emphasized in favor of showing the user how to let VS generate the code.

This book takes a layered approach similar to how most applications are architected. When developing a new application, developers often divide up the work for the user interface, service layer (data access), and domain classes (coding). Whether there is one developer playing all three roles, or three developers doing each, this approach allows the reader to easily reference the layer they are constructing. Minibooks include:

Book I: Visual Studio 2005 Overview.

Book II: Getting Started with Visual Studio.

Book III: Building Applications with Visual Studio 2005.

Book IV: Getting Acquainted with Data Access.

Book V: Coding.

Book VI: Going the Extra Mile.

Book VII: Extending the Family.

Customer Reviews:

lots of rubbish.......2007-10-01

This book is big and full of rubbish. The examples are not useful and you have to read lots of pages to get a little bit of explanation which it could have been done with few lines. I would not recommended to anybody

Very good book for anyone wanting to learn VS 2005.......2007-02-23

This book gets to the point without speaking in another language so it's easy to understand. Even for the complete beginner or advanced user. It has great referrences and is easy to navigate. A must for your bookshelf.

Great value.......2007-01-18

Well written and packed with useful info. I'm a Delphi programmer (trying to learn C# using VS) and this is my first VS 2005 book. You get a lot for your money with this book and the author's writing style is clear, concise and often entertaining. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

An unfortunately flawed introduction.
A Good INTRODUCTION - Which Is The Point Of This Book
Simple programming
Programming For Dummies
Useful, but not necessary

Beginning Programming for Dummies
Wally Wang , and Wallace Wang
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Sams Teach Yourself Beginning Programming in 24 Hours
C++ for Dummies
Hacking For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Faster Smarter Beginning Programming
C++ All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies

ASIN: 0764508350

Book Description

Despite popular belief, anyone can learn to program a computer. Computer programming doesn't require a high IQ and an innate proficiency in advanced mathematics. All that's required is a desire to learn and the patience to never give up.

If you've ever dreamed of writing your own programs, rest assured that you can. Programming can be a lot of fun, but it can also be frustrating, annoying, and time-consuming. And that's why you need Beginning Programming For Dummies, 2nd Edition – to help you discover how to program a computer with the minimum amount of inconvenience and the maximum amount of enjoyment.

Now, enjoyment can go only so far. In fact, not many people program just for the fun of it; usually, they want to create a program to do something unique to their lives, or perhaps they'd like to make a little cash on the side by selling their programs as shareware. If you've always wondered how you could do what so many others have done, all you have to do is plug into Beginning Programming For Dummies, 2nd Edition, to find out how. Here's just a sample of the topics you'll find covered:

Deciphering the mystery of the various programming languages
Assembling and working with programming tools
Getting inside a programming language: Liberty BASIC
Programming basics: From variables, constants, and comments to strings, control statements, and loops
Creating user interfaces for your programs
Dealing with data structures
Playing with object-oriented programming
Debugging and optimizing your code
Top Ten lists on the top programming careers and additional resources

So no matter what operating system platform you use – whether it's Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Palm OS, or Pocket PC – Beginning Programming For Dummies, 2nd Edition, can walk you through the basics of programming and get you well on your way to becoming a programming wizard!

Download Description

A significant technology update to the existing edition, with more than thirty percent new content
Covers the main features of computer programming: the basics, how to write a program, getting started with Liberty BASIC, writing large programs by using subprograms, creating a user interface, debugging programs, dealing with data structures, basic Internet programming, and much more
Helps readers choose the best programming language to accomplish a particular task, understand the tools that programmers use, and write their own programs to make a job easier or to launch a programming career
Author has written fifteen previous For Dummies books as well as three editions of the popular Steal This Computer Book: WhatThey Won't Tell You About the Internet
CD-ROM includes several freeware and shareware programs for writing programs, all the examples and code provided in the book, and a bonus chapter

Customer Reviews:

An unfortunately flawed introduction........2006-04-06

As a programmer, when I first read this book through I thought that it wasn't the best written of the Dummies books, but it was a reasonable introduction that gave a good overview of some of the basics. However, having seen people with no experience of programming at all try to work their way through this book, I've also noticed that the author has sometimes failed to really explain himself in the clear and thorough way that the Dummies books are so good at, and has lost sight of who the book should be aimed at - people with NO experience of programming at all.

My biggest gripe of all is with the use of variable names, on two counts. Firstly, he'll sometimes use variable names that simply won't make any sense - names that have absolutely nothing to do with what the variable is actually being used for within the code. While this doesn't cause a problem with programming, and certainly won't confuse an experienced programmer within such simple coding, it can completely throw people who haven't used a programming language before - it adds unnecessary confusion to code that's mainly intended for complete beginners.

It's also a bad introduction to naming conventions for anyone who'll write code for others to use, as people SHOULD try to make their choices of variable names make sense. It's a bad idea even if nobody else EVER reads it, because if you decide to come back to your code after a year, who knows if you'll still remember what "boing" was supposed to be?

The second issue I have is that he'll repeat the confusion for newcomers by sometimes naming things too similarly. Experienced programmers, again, won't have a problem with this; but for the newcomers who're trying to become familiar with the language, it can confuse them - this is made more likely by the fact that many will already be struggling to come to terms with the code they're working through. Having a variable called test$ and a routine called [test] may seem fine to experienced programmers, but when test$ is actually the value of a radio button, there are much plainer and easier names that the variable could have been given to help avoid confusion for the novice programmer. It could simply have been thought through better, and more consideration should have been given with regard to who this book was intended for.

When compared to some of the other Dummies texts, most of which people could work through from top to bottom without needing much or any assistance, this one falls short of the mark. Beyond just the confusion created by bad choices of names for variables and functions, some of the explanations are unclear - or leave some elements completely unexplained - leaving the unfamiliar programmer out of their depth, with no experience to call on to deduce what the commands or code may actually be doing.

In the end, I simply wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who is trying to learn programming from scratch on their own. With some help, it provides a place for programmers to build, but too often the people I've seen work through this have ended up FEELING like Dummies as they became baffled and lost off by the book's sometimes careless style.

A Good INTRODUCTION - Which Is The Point Of This Book.......2006-02-04

Here's the deal with this book: it's for beginners, hence the title. A lot of reviewers knocked it down a bit because it did not use a "real-world" language like C++ or Java. There is a reason for that...those languages are much more cryptic and tougher to learn, you can get caught-up in just learning the syntax (among many other things) instead of basic programming logic and concepts. A beginners guide should not bog one down with frustration.

The language that is used in this book is LibertyBASIC, which is similar to QBASIC, RealBASIC and other versions and just as easy to learn. I feel that it's necessary to mention here that the BASIC language is the most widely known programming language in the world. Microsoft (where I happen to work) created it's early software in BASIC and is currently still using it's own flavor of the language (Visual BASIC) in-house. Take a look at any college computer science or programming curiculum and you will notice that almost every one of them starts off by teaching BASIC (usually Visual Basic, which is even easier in my opinion). The reason, there again, is because it's simple to grasp and to learn important concepts early-on.

It is true that LibertyBASIC specifically is not used widely in the "real world", but again that is NOT the point of this book. Instead, time is spent on concepts relevant to programming and why they are important. Boolean expressions, arrays, looping statements such as IF/THEN/ELSE and WHILE/WEND and subroutines (among other topics essential to programming basics) are all touched upon here. The point, again, is an INTRODUCTION. LibertyBASIC allows you to quickly get up and running with simple programs and to practice these central concepts without getting confused and frustrated.

The book also touches on other programming languages that exist such as Perl, Python, Ruby, C++, Java and others. It spends a good deal of time giving a background and primer on what these languages try to accomplish and their popular uses. I think this book is ideal for people who are interested in programming but don't know where to start and for those who MIGHT be interested but aren't sure and need an overview of what they will be getting themselves into.

From here, dive into other programming books with more centralized topics or higher-level languages. If this book really piques your curiosity and you decide to get into programming full-time, my personal recommendation is to enroll in a local community college and take C++, C# or Java courses. I think the learning is faster and it helps to have instructor interaction in case something goes awry in your learning.

I hope this helps, and good luck!!!!

Simple programming.......2005-12-20

I actually didn't know anything about programming when I bought this book. I started reading it and I liked it because it explains things in very simple terms, but then I came across with another book called Beginning Programming written by Adrian and Kathie Kingsley-Hughes and I started comparing them and I started to see why this book by Wallace Wang doesn't deserve five stars. First the book is written using a programming language that while is simple enough to learn it doesn't have too many applications in the real world plus liberty basic cost $30. Even though the book brought a CD with an old version of liberty basic I was not able to run it in my computer. So if I wanted to really learn this language I needed to buy the newer version of Liberty Basic. The book by Kingsley-Hughes is quite simple too and it explains most terms using languages that are more useful in the real world like JavaScript and C++. The Dummies series have other books that are better than this one and they teach real world languages.

Programming For Dummies.......2005-09-29

Like Most of
The Dummies books, the author is long on nonsense and short on helpful information. I am certainly glad I was able to buy the book used at a very modest price.

The book I received was used and was in very nice condition.

Useful, but not necessary.......2005-08-16

I had a hard time figuring out how to rate this book. It does what it promises you it will do, but I think there are better way to break into programming than with this.

This book claims it will teach you programming concepts in an easy way, and it does. But it also supports this mentality that C/C++ is too complicated for a begginner, which I disagree with.

Many programmers started by learning C++, including myself ("C++ Primer Plus" is a good book for beginners). C++ is a harder language to learn and it would probably be easier and faster to learn if you learned something like LibertyBASIC first, but you won't waste your time learning a beginner's language which you'll probably never use again. Plus a LibertyBASIC compiler costs $30 but you can get a C++ compiler for free (Dev-C++, google it).

There's also other easy languages like Python (try "Learning Python" by Mark Lutz and David Ascher) which are geared for beginners but are widely used in the professional world, and are also free.

If you want to learn programming concepts with an easy language and don't wanna have to pay, try Python, and if you want to get started quickly and jump right into professional programming (which isn't as hard as you think), learn C++. I'll give this book a 3 because it does what it promises, but I think there are better places to start programming.

Average customer rating:

Great book for anyone wanting to learn Visual Basic
I'm an idiot... and this is garbage!
Excellent book!
Good Beginners book
QBASIC to VB .NET in 60 Seconds (Well almost!)

VisualBasic .NET for Dummies
Wallace Wang
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Database Design | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Visual Basic .NET Database Programming for Dummies
Visual Basic .NET All in One Desk Reference for Dummies
ASP.NET 2 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Programming for the Absolute Beginner (For the Absolute Beginner)
.NET Web Services for Dummies

ASIN: 0764508679

Book Description

Would you like to write Windows programs but don’t know where to start?

Visual Basic. NET, the latest distribution of Microsoft’s programming language was designed to let anybody—even people with no prior programming experience—create sophisticated programs with stunning user interfaces, quickly and easily. A true marvel of computing technology, Visual Basic .NET combines BASIC, the only programming language specifically designed to teach beginners how to program, with a completely intuitive drawing program that lets you create cool user interfaces without having to write a single line of code.

Written by computer book author and well-known stand-up comic Wallace Wang, Visual Basic .NET For Dummies offers you a fun and easy way to master VB .NET programming. Featuring crystal-clear explanations along with dozens of working examples, it gives you what you need to tap the power of Visual Basic .NET. In no time you’ll:

Design a user interface
Create pull-down menus
Write programs on any scale—both large and small
Debug your programs
Write your own code
Work with loops, subrouting, and decision commands
Use object-oriented techniques in your programming

Visual Basic .NET For Dummies was designed to give you the confidence and skills you need to start building Windows programs right away—not turn you into a computer scientist. To that end, it features hands-on, jargon-free coverage of the full range of practical VB .NET topics, including:

Getting started and using the Visual Basic .NET interface
Creating full-featured user interfaces
Making menus--including pull-downs, submenus, growing menus, pop-up menus—and showing dialog boxes
Writing BASIC code
Making programs appear intelligent by using loops and decision commands
Writing small subprograms and combining them to make large, robust programs
Getting a handle on object-oriented programming

Visual Basic .NET For Dummies is the pain-free way to get up to speed on Visual Basic programming and all the new features in Visual Basic .NET.

Customer Reviews:

Great book for anyone wanting to learn Visual Basic.......2006-02-19

I'm an IT engineer and was wanting to get stronger in scripting and code writing and heard this book was pretty good. Many other Microsoft or other company books are extremely dry reading where this was great. Whether you're a computer person or not, it's easy to follow, well structured, and has some amusing jokes. Learning VB.Net was much easier than I thought.

I'm an idiot... and this is garbage!.......2005-10-26

This is the worst book I have ever read. It' s like reading a book on how to use a light switch over and over again even though you've already done it 1000 times. Does that make sense? Either way, I'm drunk and this book sucked and I still can't program. What a waste. Good lord.

Excellent book!.......2005-09-10

I took a job without knowing any VB or Basic computer programming skills and this book helped me to understand and understand the programing language at a beginner level and propell me forward. Within four days I was creating my own VB program and had a good understanding as to how to get around the application and all it's power. I highly recommend this book!

Good Beginners book.......2004-06-17

If you have never programmed in VB than this is a great introduction to the VB and .NET. If you are a programmer, this is probably not the book you want. It is VERY VERY basic. There is no real life code examples.
Good for it's humor but not technical enough for a seasoned programmer.

QBASIC to VB .NET in 60 Seconds (Well almost!).......2004-04-24

Highly recommended for us old school programmers stuck in time still developing for the COMMAND shell. Easy reading that quickly made it apparent to me that the transition to Windows application development wasn't going to be nearly as traumatic as I first thought. In my humble opinion this book is a valuable starting point to an inevitable journey for us dinosaurs.

Access VBA Programming For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Average customer rating:

Visual Basic Even I Can Understand
Total Beginner to VBA
Maybe a good place to start but no what I was looking for.
Good Quick Way to Start Learning VBA

Access VBA Programming For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Alan Simpson
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Databases | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Computers & Internet | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

For Dummies | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Excel VBA Programming For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Access Forms & Reports For Dummies
Access 2003 All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies
Absolute Beginner's Guide to VBA (Absolute Beginner's Guide)
Beginning Access 2003 VBA (Programmer to Programmer)

ASIN: 0764574116

Book Description

* This friendly, easy-to-use guide shows experienced Access users how to use
* VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) to build Access databases and applications, but also covers programming fundamentals for nonprogrammers
* Includes practical, ready-to-use VBA code examples that readers can type or copy and paste from the Web into their own database projects
* Explains basic VBA skills and concepts for nonprogrammers, such as procedures, variables, and loops
* Covers more advanced topics, such as record sets and other programming activities that are unique to Access programming
* Author has written more than ninety computer books and has been working with databases since the early 1980s

Download Description

This friendly, easy-to-use guide shows experienced Access users how to use
* VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) to build Access databases and applications, but also covers programming fundamentals for nonprogrammers
* Includes practical, ready-to-use VBA code examples that readers can type or copy and paste from the Web into their own database projects
* Explains basic VBA skills and concepts for nonprogrammers, such as procedures, variables, and loops
* Covers more advanced topics, such as record sets and other programming activities that are unique to Access programming
* Author has written more than ninety computer books and has been working with databases since the early 1980s

Customer Reviews:

Visual Basic Even I Can Understand.......2007-02-20

I love the Dummies books. They're clear, fun, and make great reference books. This one is no exception. If you're trying to learn VBA, I highly recommend this book.

Total Beginner to VBA.......2006-08-21

Ok, if you just know a little about coding, not much, but DO know how Access works, esp. Macro's, then this book is a GREAT introduction to VBA. I'm hyper-critical about tech books, they have to be clear, concise and never assume anything about the reader's skill level. Also, they have to stay on track and introduce concepts only when they've been given a good prior foundation. This book does an excellent job!! But, remember, this book is just about VBA, not about using Access.

Maybe a good place to start but no what I was looking for........2005-09-26

Seemed ok at first, nice and easy, but quickly turned into just an introduction. The forms chapter was at the end of the book and very short. Forms are what access is all about. I was disappointed.

dan

Good Quick Way to Start Learning VBA.......2004-10-14

Some years ago Microsoft created a specialized programming language to allow extensions to be made to the normal modes of operation allowed in their Office suite. The language was fairly well thought out to be applicable to applications as different as word processing, spreadsheets or data bases. They called it Visual Basic for Applications shortened to VBA. It has worked remarkable well. Down theough the years there have been relatively few changes to VBA.

This book is on VBA as specifically oriented to the Microsoft Access database program. But if you learn Access VBA, you are not far from knowing how to use VBA on any of the other Office components. ==While this is an Access book, it is specifically on VBA, it assumes that you already know about how to build a table, and about rows and columns. It also assumes that you have some familiarty with other Access features such as building queries.

Access goes to a great deal of effort to avoid having to use the underlying SQL language. There are a couple of chapters on SQL for the total beginner. In the long run, you will probably want to know more.

You can't design one book to do everything in about 400 pages. This "dummies" book concentrates on VBA. That's enough for one book. It does a good job on VBA. You may want to fill out your bookshelf with Access for Dummies and SQL for Dummies.

Visual Basic 5 Programming (Dummies 101 Series)

Average customer rating:

Good Intro Book. After this book use"VB6 from the ground up"
Excellent Book for a Newbie to Programming
This has to be one of the worse books ever assmebled
Very Complete; Very thorough. Easy to understand.
Fun reading, good beginner's resource

Visual Basic 5 Programming (Dummies 101 Series)
Wally Wang , and John Mueller
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc (Computers)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Book Description

If you think that programming is only for gurus, take a look at Dummies 101: Visual Basic 5 Programming. Here, you'll find all the step-by-step instructions, fun quizzes, and real-world exercises you need to add Visual Basic programming to your skill set. With bestselling authors and computing experts Wallace Wang and John Mueller as your personal instructors, in no time you'll be using this popular language from Microsoft to . . . Create custom application interfaces Add multimedia to the programs you write -- even play music, animate graphics, and display digital video movies Write high-performance, user-friendly programs for fun, work, or profit

Plus, on the companion CD you get with Dummies 101: Visual Basic 5 Programming, you'll find ready-to-use sample files keyed to the book's lessons; you'll learn Visual Basic the best possible way -- hands-on.

Customer Reviews:

Good Intro Book. After this book use"VB6 from the ground up".......1999-07-21

This book is awesome! Read this book and then read "Visual Basic 6 From The Ground Up." These two books will teach you everything you need to know about VB programming. This book is easy to read, understand and lets you easily apply your knowledge. VB6 from the ground up is the best book on VB6 but the reason you wouldn't just read it is because sometimes the author has a hard time explaining things but if you combine these two books then you will know exacly what he is talking about. My criticism is that this is only a intro book. It doesn't go deep into VB, it is slightly outdated and it doesn't show the advanced features of the Professional and Enterprise versions of VB like VB from the ground up does. Most beginners don't realize that a lot of books they buy only let you write programs like the authors do. They don't show you how to create your own. That's why these two books are so good. The clown from New York is crazy. I wish this was the worst book that I've ever read on computers, if that was true then I would have some pretty awesome books! He may THINK he is smart but for the average Joe, this book is great if you've never opened a VB book before. The only thing is that you can't be a complete moron. If you are then get a Windoz book quick before you even try to learn to program. Trust me, I have over a dozen books that I have read on VB. They all tell me the same thing that's in this book except they are twice as thick, and a million times harder to understand. These two books are the only books I have that don't make you "mimic" the author. They let you use what they teach you to decide for yourself which features to add. Email bomb me, or give my email to all kinds of places if I am wrong. You can write me specific questions if you want. I don't care, just be sure not to waste your money on any other books on VB.

Excellent Book for a Newbie to Programming.......1999-02-25

I have many "Dummies" books in my technical collection, and am proud to add Visual Basic 5 Programming to it. I read through the reviews for all of the intro to programming books, and felt that this one would be a good place to start. I have just started to teach myself Visual Basic 5.0, and can definitely see the need to keep a book like this in one's collection. The book was laid out in an orderly fashion, the exercises were a breeze to to, and the cartoons will definitely keep me in stitches on days where I will need a laugh or two to get by. Congrats to the authors for writing such a good book!

This has to be one of the worse books ever assmebled.......1998-08-24

The book is written as if addressing a group of nursery school children. The level of discussion is below any practicle programming guide and would highly reccomend looking elsewhere for help.

Very Complete; Very thorough. Easy to understand........1998-03-28

Wally Wang does a tremendous job of presenting Visual Basic material easily understandable to even the most novice programmer( like I am). This is definitly on my shelf as a reference and a fantastic starting point.

Fun reading, good beginner's resource.......1997-09-20

Sure this is a beginner's book...but it's fun to read and gives good information. I've been a network engineer and systems admin person for 8 years and a VB developer for just 4 months. I ramped up quickly with this book and moved on to more "advanced" books like Deb Kurata's "Doing Objects" but I still come back to this to read the one-liners and cartoons

Qbasic Programming for Dummies (For Dummies (Computers))

Average customer rating:

Great Book. A++++++
Great Book!!!!! A+++++++
Good Reference, Poor Order
Good starter book. The advanced might find something new.
Very good for the absolute beginner.

Qbasic Programming for Dummies (For Dummies (Computers))
Douglas Hergert
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Qbasic by Example (Programming (Que))
Teach Yourself Qbasic in 21 Days
Q Basic, 2nd Edition
Crash Course in Qbasic
QBasic Using Subprograms, 2nd Edition

ASIN: 1568840934

Book Description

Programming in DOS is a breeze with QBasic, the streamlined, economical version of the universal BASIC language that's been driving computers for years. Even before the arrival of the IBM PC, BASIC was the language of choice for writing programs; after all these years, it's proven itself to be an enduring way to work in DOS 5.0 or higher. QBasic Programming For Dummies steers clear of highfalutin technical terms and programming jargon. Instead, you build a programming foundation in QBasic step-by-step with this book's clear, easy-to-understand language. From fundamental program organization through advanced topics on data types and arrays, graphics, and debugging, QBasic Programming For Dummies is an invaluable guide to mastering the QBasic programming language.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book. A++++++.......2002-11-28

This book helped me learn everything I needed to know about Qbasic. The examples were very helpful. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Qbasic.

Great Book!!!!! A+++++++.......2002-11-28

Its a great book. It allowed me to learn everything I needed to know in a way that was easy to understand. I definatelly recommend this book.

Good Reference, Poor Order.......2000-12-18

I've owned this book for awhile, and don't find it any helpful. First, the author starts with advanced topics, then uses examples that take much longer than they need to be just to illustrate a point. I think it takes about 5 chapters before the PRINT function, one of the simplest and best to experiment with, is learned. This book is not for beginners,.... Otherwise... I can see why one of the other reviewers could not grasp it. I couldn't, even with some experience. But now I program in C++, and QBASIC is MUCH weaker.

Good starter book. The advanced might find something new........1999-05-11

This book is a good book for the beginners, but the advanced can find something new, as well.

Very good for the absolute beginner........1999-04-18

This book goes through QBasic very thoroughly but does not go very far into the language. If you have no knowledge of QBasic what-so-ever, then this book probably isn't for you. I learned quite a bit from this book myself, but I only read it once since the concepts are so simple. There are probably better beginner books which go into more detail, but I can't name any. I would probably recommend those more than this, however.

Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Average customer rating:

No Examples?!?!
Don't buy this book
This book is for VB6 users
Good Topic - Wrong Author
Good book, suspicious of bad reviews...

Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Richard Mansfield
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Computers & Internet | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

For Dummies | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition Programming for the Absolute Beginner (For the Absolute Beginner)
Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition: Build a Program Now! (Pro Developer)
Mastering Microsoft Visual Basic 2005, Express Edition

ASIN: 0764597051

Book Description

This valuable and inexpensive resource is ideal for anyone who is new to programming and wants to learn the basics of Visual Basic without being overwhelmed by the complicated Visual Studio integrated development environment
This back-to-basics book covers getting started with the featured "Starter Kits," learning practical programming , and developing applications
Also shows how to use VB Express Edition with database and Web Programming

Download Description

"This valuable and inexpensive resource is ideal for anyone who is new to programming and wants to learn the basics of Visual Basic without being overwhelmed by the complicated Visual Studio integrated development environment. This back-to-basics book covers getting started with the featured ""Starter Kits,"" learning practical programming , and developing applications. Also shows how to use VB Express Edition with database and Web Programming. "

Customer Reviews:

No Examples?!?!.......2007-04-18

The book is great a explaining the items, but there are no examples to practice what you learn. I have always liked for dummies books, but this one lost my respect.

Don't buy this book.......2007-04-16

The author is mainly interested in slamming Microsoft and object-oriented programming. Unfortunately, he never gets off this soapbox and gets around to teaching anyone how to write a complete program using VB Express. A complete and disappointing waste of time and money. I will most certainly avoid works by this author in the future.

This book is for VB6 users.......2007-03-17

Buy this book
If you are
1) VB6 users
2) VB enthusiasts
3) old age VB fanatics
4) never care for C/C++ or Java and want to stick to Visual Basic only

Else
not recommended....

If you simply want to learn the new user interface of VB8 (Visual Studio 2005 version) and see what you can do with the upgraded ToolBox items, I recommend Visual Basic 2005 Express: Now Playing (Book and CD edition) Wallace Wang explains much better about what VB2005 version can do without unnecessary information.

Good Topic - Wrong Author.......2006-06-08

Being on a budget I was very happy to hear about the 'express' versions of Visual Studio 2005 (and even more happy when Microsoft decided to give them away for free). I was also happy to see that a Dummies book had already been written so I could learn the features of the product. Richard Mansfield appears to be a knowledgable resource for Visual Basic and a true fan of the language...sort of. Mansfield longs for the days of classic VB and spends an abnormal amount of time using the book as a platform to tell Microsoft what they did wrong. This white space would have been better served telling readers how to use the product instead of bashing 'C' based programming languages. (By the way, I am not a 'C' based programmer.) Mansfield also wrote the 'All in One Desk Reference' on Visual Basic.NET where he spends an abnormal amount of time in the chapter on Object Oriented Programming telling the reader that it isn't very useful. I think Wiley Publishing needs to be more careful in giving Richard Mansfield any writing assignments on Visual Basic.NET. There are some better books by Wrox Press and Microsoft Press on this. On the other hand the Dummies [...]

Good book, suspicious of bad reviews..........2006-05-16

This is a good book, I'm very suspicious of the bad reviews. I do think I know where they come from though.

This book is in true "Dummies" form and is directed at a specific audience (that I belong to). I am NOT a "professional" programmer. Nor, do I wish to be. I have used visual basic for the past 10 years or so, in an off and on, as needed basis for work. I don't know about you, but budgets are tight where I'm at, and we don't have the money to hire a "professional" everytime we think up some very specific "wouldn't it be nice if we could..." type of application.
If you have the desire or need, to create very specific "down and dirty" applications to suit your needs, then here's the good news: Visual Basic 2005 Express IS directed at you. And, This book WILL suit your needs. As with all Dummies books, it describes the basics of Visual BASIC 2005 Express in a "just the facts" kind of manner. It will gently hold your hand and walk you through, even if you have no prior experience. Will your programs be flashy or fancy? No. Are you going to get your Microsoft certification after reading it? No. Will you learn how design a video game. No. But who cares! You WILL be able to design small apps to crunch YOUR numbers, keep YOUR database or print the reports YOU need for YOUR work or hobby... in a manner that makes sense to YOU. If you've ever had to work with a "professional" programmer to develop an app, then you'll immediately see the advantage to this. Because the little geek may know how to use the computer, but he doesn't have a clue about YOUR work.
The other reviews that are so ANGRY (gee whiz, chill out.) are very unwarranted. When you READ the book, the complaints against Microsoft ARE justified. Especially if you've ever used previous versions of BASIC it'd be readily apparent.
Let me sum it up for you: BASIC was originally designed for the "common man." And when it went from QBASIC to Visual Basic (a great thing) it still held that concept. But as time progressed, BASIC changed. BASIC originally had a very simple syntax (grammar), but has slowly went toward the more cryptic languages, (Perl, C++, COBOL) etc. THIS WASN'T NECCESSARY. In fact, that was the beautiful thing about the original visual basic. The design interface did all the cryptic stuff in the back ground and you just used plain old friendly basic on your end. Visual Basic .NET is VERY powerful... it's also the worst version of visual basic for the non professional user yet to be created. BUT don't you apologize "part time programmer", for you are the intended user Visual Basic. (Straight from Gates' mouth)

AND DO NOT DESPAIR, because the good news is that MS Visual Basic 2005 EXPRESS has made a good move back towards the true intent of the BASIC language. If you are completely new to programming, NOW is a great time to jump on the bandwagon, with VB Express. Hopefully the next version will be even better and go back towards the true intent of the language.

And if you doubt anything I've said, Go look at the miserable sales figures for VB.NET. And then look how quick Microsoft switched from VB.Net to VB 2005 Express. They, maybe, hopefully, have realized the error of their ways and are changing the software back to it's original intent. When you sum it up, the fact of the matter is that, the programmers at Microsoft got lazy. The intent of all things "VISUAL" was to have the design environment do the grunt work and allow you to use a simple easy to read progamming language to tie it together.

Here you go: Are you a professional in your field, or are you a serious hobbyist? Do you wish you had that one little application for that one little purpose that you can't find anywhere? THEN: Visual Basic 2005 Express is for you AND Visual Basic 2005 Express for Dummies is the book to get you started.

Do you want to be a "professional" programmer and design (useless) video games or super huge corporate network apps for major banking companies? Then you are in the wrong place, with the wrong book and learning the WRONG LANGUAGE! Go learn C++ and find some subterranean cubicle to reside, forget what daylight looks like and lose the ability to carry on a normal conversation with normal people. (Are girls really impressed with the fact that you're the LAN network champ at DOOM?)

WOOO HOOO! I'm not a "professional" programmer and I'm proud! Viva la normal folks!

Average customer rating:

Still treading VB water
More like VBE for Dummies
Series "Dummies" is misleading
Constant confusion.
Deserves zero stars

VBA for Dummies
John Paul Mueller
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Absolute Beginner's Guide to VBA (Absolute Beginner's Guide)
Excel VBA Programming For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Access VBA Programming For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
VB and VBA in a Nutshell: The Languages
VBA Developer's Handbook, 2nd Edition

ASIN: 0764539892

Book Description

* Gives programmers, software developers, and advanced users of Microsoft Office applications all the key concepts necessary to write VBA programs for the new Office "X"
* Fully updated to cover all the changes in the newest release of Office
* VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) is the primary development tool for all applications in the Microsoft Office suite-Access, Excel, and Word-and according to Microsoft, more than 2.6 million programmers currently use VBA
* Since VBA is also licensed to other software developers and vendors, it is built into some non-Microsoft, third-party software; programs that include VBA can be tailored to fit specific business needs
* Shows programmers how to build applications with VBA and covers all the essentials, including: VBA visual programming tools, recording and modifying macros, basic VBA programming, running VBA programs, using the VBA Editor, debugging and error trapping, plus more advanced topics, such as built-in VBA commands and working with objects
* Author has written and/or cowritten more than fifty-eight technology books

Customer Reviews:

Still treading VB water.......2006-10-25

Usually I have found the "Dummies" series very helpful, and this book is helpful. There are some things left unexplained however. Using the example from a previous reviewer, the # symbols are not explained...why not? My personal beef occurs when, after writing the code in the examples, I cannot get it to run due to "undefined variable" errors. In my limited knowledge of VB, I knew to insert a Dim statement into my code, but the examples in the book do not do this!

I realize that with practice and talking to others who are more knowledgeable than I, coding will come to me. Meanwhile, I will reap what I can and continue to learn.

More like VBE for Dummies.......2006-04-01

The sample code was very simplistic and I felt this book was more of an introduction to the Visual Basic Editor than VBA in total. While understanding VBE is important, better coding examples would have made the book a better purchase. Also note that Access VBA is somewhat different than the rest of Office Applications and this book gives Access shallow treatment.

Series "Dummies" is misleading.......2006-01-19

Hi, I bought this book and have read most of it, up until application specific VBA code for ms office.

I had stayed away from the "Dummies" series, because the title suggested it was absolutely for beginners and people who wanted a very superficial look at the subject.

Well, I was desperate to learn VBA, I even bought a whole corespondence VB course only to find it is NOT equal to VBA. Taking it didn't hurt, though.

Getting to the point, it's not really for beginners. Author goes into complex procedures and uses statements and properties in the functions and procedures which are for the medium user in VBA, not medium in any application you want to use it in.

So, unless you have a medium to advanced knowledge in VBA I'd keep a distance from this one. It's got great code, but if you don't know VBA already, it's going to stay as a reference book to copy the specific examples in the book to use in your applications. Also a great way to learn but lengthy and difficult.

VBA for Absolute Beginners by McFedries is a better choice for people ready to move to VBA who have never used the language.

Constant confusion........2005-12-02

I was in a state of constant confusion. The author was constantly using unexplained jargon and unexplained code. For example on page 48 there is some code that has #If..#Else..#End if, and there was no clue what the #'s were all about. Something important I suspect.

Over and over again one undefined item is explained with another undefined item so I kept feeling like I was sinking deeper and deeper into dummie doom. For example, on page 45 the class module was defined as a container for a class description. Sooo... what is a class, a class of what?

I am getting something of value out of the book, but even some of the English grammar makes me cringe.

There are just too many "what does this mean" moments for me to recommend this book.

Deserves zero stars.......2005-10-15

This book deserves zero stars, but that wasn't an option. I've taught programming in various languages, including Visual Basic 6, for 25 years. I've seen lots of programming books. This one is the absolute WORST I've seen. It might be ok as an overview of VBA, but people will buy this book to LEARN, and there will be very little learing from this book. There is no depth in the discussion of topics. If you already know VB6 you'll have some idea what he's talking about. The big problem is that the whole book should have been about how to use VBA with Word and Excel, etc. and how to use the constructs that are unique to those apps.

Forget this book. Save your money. You'll learn a lot more by recording macros and studying the resulting code.

After reading this book, I will never buy another "Dummies" book without a very thorough inspection. This one is a big disappointment.

If you have to spend money on a VBA book, don't buy this one.

Visual Basic .NET All in One Desk Reference for Dummies

Average customer rating:

first "for dummies" book that isnt good. (only for vb6)

Visual Basic .NET All in One Desk Reference for Dummies
Richard Mansfield
Manufacturer: For Dummies
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Software | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

General | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Computer Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Computers & Internet | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

For Dummies | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

VisualBasic .NET for Dummies
Visual Basic .NET Database Programming for Dummies
ASP.NET 2 For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Visual Basic 2005 For Dummies
Visual Basic 6 for Dummies (for Windows)

ASIN: 0764525794

Book Description

* Covers all aspects of VB .NET programming in seven self-contained minibooks: Visual Basic .NET Programming Fundamentals, Advanced Visual Basic .NET Programming, The .NET Editor, Object-Oriented Programming, Programming for the Web, Database Programming, and Graphics and Games
* Visual Basic is the primary tool of more than fifty percent of all professional developers, so the upgrade to VB .NET represents a major paradigm shift; this handy all-in-one guide gives them easy access to valuable information
* Guides the reader through getting integrated with the rest of Visual Studio .NET, covers programmatic encryption and other .NET security capabilities, and shows how to program for Web services with VB .NET and ASP.NET
* Companion Web site includes a must-have bonus appendix that provides parallel VB 6 and VB .NET sample code to help VB programmers make the somewhat difficult transition to .NET

Customer Reviews:

first "for dummies" book that isnt good. (only for vb6).......2003-07-29

hi
well I have tons of "for dummies" books(from spiritual to graphics and programming and the like) and this is the first that isn't good.

problems:
just some i'll like to mention.
-the author writes code for you to copy and doesnt include the "_" between the lines (other manuals/tutorials/books at least tell u to put "_" , since they dont have space to write the full code in one line), so if you go by his code format you will keep getting errors.
-on one hand the author seems to write nothing about certain vb.net code and on the other hand he writes tons about the difference between vb6 and vb.net.
he devotes tons of the book on stuff that is new to vb.net compared to vb6, while not actaully describing vb.net stuff in the first place.

in conclusion:
if your coming from vb6, this is a great guide/reference for u. if your not, using the help(references/tutorials/info that u can get on controls/commands) that actaully comes with vb2003.net is far more effective.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books