Glossary

     

ActiveX Controls

Fully programmable objects that can be used to help customize applications. In Excel use, these commonly include the Command button, the Option button, etc.

Add-In

A workbook saved with the extension XLA . It opens as a hidden workbook when installed via Tools Add-Ins. An Add-In provides extra functionality to Excel.

Application

Another term for a program. Excel is an application; some people call their spreadsheets applications.

Arguments

The information a formula or function might require to return a value. Most functions within Excel require arguments for their execution. The arguments are enclosed within parentheses and are separated by commas.

Boolean

A mathematical means of expressing statements in logic. A Boolean value will be either True or False.

Brackets

See Parentheses.

Bug

An error in code. Unfortunately, some bugs can go undetected by the most stringent tests, and therefore they are hard to get rid of.

Command Bar

One of Excel's many objects, used to house menu items. The Worksheet menu bar is a Command bar that houses the menu items File, Edit, View, Insert, etc.

Constant

A named item that represents an unchanging value.

Contiguous

A range of cells in which all boundaries of all cells are connected, with no gaps. For instance, A1:C20 is a contiguous range.

Control Toolbox Toolbar

A toolbar that contains ActiveX controls (see ActiveX Controls).

Debugging

The process of eliminating all possible errors from code.

Dialog

A pop-up window, also referred to as a dialog box, that requests information from a user ”for example, the File Open dialog box.

Event

A call from Excel to your code that something has happened . For example, a mouse click, or the closing/opening of a workbook, is reported as an event.

Forms Toolbar

Toolbar used to store controls that are built into Excel (i.e., not ActiveX controls).

Formula

A sequence of values, cell references, names , functions, or operator(s) in a cell that together produce a new value. All Excel formulas begin with = (an equals sign).

Function

A type of procedure (see Procedure) that returns a value. Excel has built-in functions, such as the SUM function, but you also can create your own user-defined functions (see User-Defined Function).

Loop

The continuous running of one or more lines of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code until a condition is met and the loop ends.

Macro

An action or set of actions used to automate tasks . Excel enables you to record actions and use them later as macros.

Method

A procedure (see Procedure) that acts on an object (see Object).

Module

A self-contained unit in which VBA code is written and stored.

Name

A human-readable term that can be applied to a constant, a range of cells, or a variable.

Non-Contiguous

A range of cells in which all boundaries of some or all cells are not connected. For example, the range A1:C20, E10:F100 represents a non-contiguous range.

Object

A component of an application (see Application), such as a worksheet, a cell, or a chart. More than 100 objects are available within Excel, and they are fundamental to the usefulness of VBA code.

Operators

A mathematical symbol that instructs a formula or function to perform a specific task ”for instance, the + operator instructs a formula or function to add.

Parentheses

The brackets ( ) used to indicate groupings in mathematics. In Excel, there must always be a matching set of closing parentheses for each opening set.

Parse

To divide a command or string of characters into its component parts .

Private Module

A module whose use is specific to a particular object, such as a workbook, sheet, or UserForm.

Procedure

A named sequence of statements executed as a whole. For example, function and sub are types of procedures (see the entries for Function and Sub, respectively).

Project Explorer

A window within the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) in which all objects can be viewed pertaining to a specific open workbook.

Property

A named attribute of an object (see Object). For example, the address of a specific cell is a property of a cell or range object.

Range

An area of one or many cells, contiguous or non-contiguous.

Runtime Error

An error within VBA code that occurs while the code is executing. Most runtime errors are followed by a numeric value to assist in their debugging.

Sheet

A generic term used to represent a worksheet, chart sheet, or macro sheet.

Spreadsheet

A software application or program that allows text, numbers , and functions to be entered into a matrix of individual cells.

String

A linear sequence of characters ”e.g., the word carrot is a string of alpha characters.

Sub

A type of procedure that returns no value (see Procedure). Subs often are used to handle events.

Template

A predefined skeleton used as a standard base for use or modification.

User-Defined Function

A function (see Function) that is written in VBA specifically to return a value based on a distinct method of calculation.

UserForm

An object of Excel that can be used to house ActiveX controls. UserForms can be inserted and modified only from within the VBE.

Variable

A named item that houses a value that can be changed during its use.

Visual Basic Editor (VBE)

Also known as Visual Basic Environment. The VBE is an interface within Excel that enables users to access all elements pertaining to VBA.

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)

The standard macro language used in most Microsoft Office Suite products. The word Applications can represent any one of the office suite programs it is used within ”e.g., Excel. The VBA language is a derivative of Visual Basic (VB), which in turn is a derivative of the language Basic. The fundamental difference between VBA and VB is that VBA (as the name implies) can be used only within an applicable application, generally one of the Microsoft Office Suite products.

Wizard

A series of interfaces used to assist a user through a series of steps.

Workbook

A container for one or more sheets or worksheets. Each .xls file represents a workbook.

Worksheet

One of Excel's fundamental objects in which cells are housed. All workbooks must contain at least one worksheet, and at least one worksheet must be visible. The only limitation to the number of worksheets you can have open is your available PC memory.