Editing Visual Basic for Applications (section)

{{Short description|Implementation of Microsoft's event-driven programming language Visual Basic 6}}
{{Infobox programming language
| logo = Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications logo.svg
| paradigm = [[Multi-paradigm programming language|Multi-paradigm]]
| year = {{Start date and age|1993}}
| designer = 
| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| latest_release_version = 12

712([[Microsoft Office 2021|Office 2021]])
| latest_release_date = 
| latest_test_version = 
| latest_test_date = 
| typing = [[type system#Combinations of dynamic and static typing|Static/Dynamic Hybrid]], [[strong and weak typing|Strong/Weak Hybrid]]
| implementations = 
| dialects = 
| influenced_by = [[QuickBASIC]], [[Visual Basic (classic)|Visual Basic]]
| influenced = 
| operating_system = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[macOS]]
| license = [[Commercial software|Commercial]] [[proprietary software]]
| website = https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/library-reference/concepts/getting-started-with-vba-in-office
| wikibooks = 
}}
'''Visual Basic for Applications''' ('''VBA''') is an implementation of [[Microsoft]]'s event-driven programming language [[Visual Basic 6|Visual Basic 6.0]] built into most desktop [[Microsoft Office]] applications. Although based on pre-.NET Visual Basic, which is no longer supported or updated by Microsoft (except under Microsoft's "It Just Works" support which is for the full lifetime of supported Windows versions, including Windows 10 and Windows 11), the VBA implementation in Office continues to be updated to support new Office features.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee691831.aspx|title=Compatibility Between the 32-bit and 64-bit Versions of Office 2010|website=msdn.microsoft.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=o365devx |title=What's new for VBA in Office 2019 |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/library-reference/concepts/what-s-new-for-vba-in-office-2019 |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=docs.microsoft.com |language=en-us}}</ref> VBA is used for professional and [[end-user development]] due to its perceived ease-of-use, Office's vast installed userbase, and extensive legacy in business.

Visual Basic for Applications enables building [[user-defined function]]s (UDFs), automating processes and accessing [[Windows API]] and other low-level functionality through [[dynamic-link library|dynamic-link libraries]] (DLLs). It supersedes and expands on the abilities of earlier application-specific [[macro (computer science)|macro]] programming languages such as [[Microsoft Word|Word's]] [[WordBASIC]]. It can be used to control many aspects of the host application, including manipulating user interface features, such as menus and toolbars, and working with custom user forms or dialog boxes.

As its name suggests, VBA is closely related to Visual Basic and uses the Visual Basic Runtime Library. However, VBA code normally can only run within a host application, rather than as a [[standalone program]]. VBA can, however, control one application from another using [[OLE Automation]]. For example, VBA can automatically create a [[Microsoft Word]] report from [[Microsoft Excel]] data that Excel collects automatically from polled sensors. VBA can use, but not create, [[Component Object Model|ActiveX/COM]] DLLs, and later versions add support for class modules.

VBA is built into most [[Microsoft Office]] applications, including Office for Mac OS X (except version 2008), and other Microsoft applications, including [[Microsoft MapPoint]] and [[Microsoft Visio]]. VBA is also implemented, at least partially, in applications published by companies other than Microsoft, including [[ArcGIS]], [[AutoCAD]], [[Collabora Online]], [[CorelDraw]], [[WPS Office|Kingsoft Office]], [[LibreOffice]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Support for VBA Macros | publisher=The Document Foundation - LibreOffice| url=https://help.libreoffice.org/latest/lo/text/sbasic/shared/vbasupport.html |access-date=3 January 2023}}</ref> [[SolidWorks]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://help.solidworks.com/2016/English/SolidWorks/sldworks/c_vba.htm|title=2016 SolidWorks Help – VBA|website=help.solidworks.com|access-date=2016-07-25}}</ref> [[WordPerfect]], and UNICOM [[System Architect]] (which supports VBA 7.1).