Thanks Dave! You sound like me! I also have one of John Walkenbach's book
for XL2003 (wonder if there is one for 2007 yet)? Another good book is VBA
and Macros for Microsoft Excel from Bill Jelen and Tracy Syrstad. Finally, a
good on that covers MS 2007 apps, VBA, and how thing work between them is
Paul McFedries' VBA For the 2007 Microsoft Office System. Even given all of
these books, however, none go into great detail about all the various
parameters, constants, etc (give me ONE example and explain it, please. That
is what is so good about these forums).

I think you may have hit on something though, and that is how long we have
been at this. You sound like a guy that has been around the block, as well
(ever heard of RPG programming? LOL). Did my stint in Basic, Cobol, SPL,
Assembler, and other such wunderkind compilers of my time. My point is, I
try to "relate" what worked then, with what I see now, and that is where
things fall apart.

"Dave" wrote:

On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:14:01 -0700, PatK wrote:

Thanks Ryan...sounds like you are operating much as I am. I mean, I "do" get
stuff done, and I do learn (over time), but sometimes I just don't have a ton
of time to figure stuff out. Hey, and I will check out Chip's site,
too...nice lead! Thanks!

Patk

"RyanH" wrote:

I am actually learning myself. I use the help, read other peoples posts in
this forum and try to see other peoples coding styles. I have read a few
books too, VBA Excel for Dummies (because I am one), Microsoft Excel 2002
Visual Basic For Applications Step by Step. Although book do teach you the
core stuff and sprinkle in code every now and then, practicing is where you
really learn. I also like to use Chip Pearson website at times,
www.cpearson.com

Hope this helps and good luck!
--
Cheers,
Ryan


"PatK" wrote:

Ok..maybe a bit of venting here, as you guys are the BEST. I guess this is
more aimed at our friends at MS: WHERE IN THE HECK TO YOU LEARN THIS STUFF!

By this I mean, without these newsgroups, how could anyone very do learning
by research? Example:

I see a bit of code like:
FinalValue=WSM.Range("A65535").End(xlUp).Row

Now most of you great folks out there, I am sure, know EXACTLY what
".End(xlUp).row does, but how does a noob reseach and learn such a thing. It
is definitely not in the help, unless you know what it can be attached to
(like a range method or whatever), but even then, the help assume you know
too much already.

Help me out: where is a great book that breaks these things down so I can
know what is "possible" (not just what you all show me...and for which I
still often do not comprehend). I hate doing "what I see." I would rather
see an example, learn how it works, and then, maybe, stores some bits of
understanding my brain, for future reference.

Suggestions?

(ok..end of rant). As always, I could not survive without you all. This
newsgroup is the best "reference site" to help with excel, or any MS VBA app,
but should it be?

thanks, all,
Patk

I use similiar resources. I'm still working with XL2000 (work for the
state, we will finally upgrade in the fall), so I have XL2000 Programming
for Dummies and XL2000 Programming with VBA by John Walkenbach, which is
very good.

I've also run across Chip's site and it helps a lot. When I really get
stuck on something, I post my code here and the very generous people who
know this stuff bail me out of trouble yet again. Virtually everything I've
written in the past 3 years has been with their help.

I finally got my boss to spring for $500 for a 2 day basic XL VBA class a
couple of months ago. It really helped. A lot of stuff that you just don't
figure out on your own. I'm planning on talking her into sending me for
another 2 days now that the new fiscal year has begun and we have a new
budget. I highly recommend you find someone good (meaning not-a-pushbutton
instructor) and take a class. If you choose wisely, I'm sure it'll be worth
your investment.

Good to know there are others struggling with this too. I've done some
programming years ago (Fortran, Basic and some very obscure stuff), but VBA
seems more daunting to me. Not sure if it's just my age or it really is
more abstruse. But it is challenging and I enjoy it. Most of the time...