VBA Foundations, Part 12

A Tutorial in VBA for BeginnersThe Last of a Twelve Part Series

Richard L. Binning / [email protected]
As quickly as you canSnatch the Pebble from my hand, he had said as he extended his hand toward you. You
reached for the pebble but you opened it only to find that it was indeed still empty. Looking down at your hand
you hear, When you can take the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to leave." Upon completion of this
last lesson you will have all the tools necessary to snatch that pebble and much more. But before we proceed with
this lesson, lets review all that we have accomplished thus far. Remember the quote from Part One?

My vision for the future is that PC systems will evolve to the point where the user is not even
aware that different applications are being invoked to produce a document. One essential element in this
vision is a common macro language. A common macro language will have several advantages for users.
First, it will be easy to use. Second, it will be the same in a variety of applications. Finally, by using
agentsa graphical interface "operative" that can cross applications boundariesusers can work in
one application and call parts of other applications into play as needed, or they can start from outside
any application and tie them together in various ways...
Bill Gates, Chief Software Architect, Microsoft, Inc., Guest Editorial, BasicPro Magazine, 1991
Ponder on that quote while I reassemble the pieces of our VBA puzzle. I began this series with the above quote as
a means to demonstrate both the philosophy and enthusiasm behind the visual basic phenomenon. This
introductory article paved the way for our further learning by reviewing the history of Visual Basic and
introducing and explaining some common terms. The second article continued our exploration of this graphically
rich and easy to learn software development environment by introducing the key components of the editor. The
third article jumped back into the editor and continued our exploration while further explaining some of the key
concepts of the interface. The fourth and fifth articles actually contained some example code utilizing the
command line interface and intrinsic objects. It was in the fourth article that our first macro was written. The fifth
article explored common programming constructs such as loops, variables, functions, etc. By the midpoint of this
series we were deeply exploring the built in functions provided in the VBA language itself and preparing for the
transition to AugiWorld magazine. Part seven began the exploration of the Visual portion of our studies by
looking at Userforms, objects, controls, and demonstrated the usage of some of the implied objects like Me
which make programming in VBA so much easier. Parts eight and nine were devoted to error trapping and
debugging and demonstrating how to best make use of the editor for these purposes. In part 10, we returned to the
core concepts of the VBA language, explored the Object Model and the tools used to expose it, and broached the
concept of events. The eleventh article explored the very heart and soul of VBA, events, which hold the true
power behind VBA.
Of course this series is merely an introduction to VBA and as such cannot be considered a complete and thorough
treatment of the subject, but to be thorough in this introduction I must honor my promise and finish by returning
to that original Bill Gates quote. The stated goal of a common macro language has been realized in the VBA
language. This commonality promotes code that can work both inside of and outside of AutoCAD as well as
many other VBA enabled applications. Note: there are now hundreds of applications that can be programmed in
this way. The key to controlling this type of automation application is a firm understanding of the applications
object model. Be aware that each applications object model is different, and is programmable to varying degrees.
Where some object models are well developed and allow access to virtually every interface and function, others
only allow minimal interaction. Remember too that once you become familiar with an object model or two, the
rest will fall into place quite easily and rapidly with but a little exploration.

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VBA Foundations, Part 12

A Tutorial in VBA for BeginnersThe Last of a Twelve Part Series
Richard L. Binning / [email protected]
Can you picture that pebble in your hand yet? Lets take a look at the references from a few different VBA enabled
applications to get familiar with the default object models and type libraries. The default object model or type
library for each application is automatically included in any new project at creation. Lets verify this by looking
at the default libraries that get referenced by default when we create a new VBA project inside of AutoCAD. We
can do that by creating a new project, opening the VBA editor, and left clicking on Tools --> References (See
Figure 12-1) or by simply opening the Object Browser and reviewing the available libraries. Do you see the
available references? Now try the same activity in another applications VBA editor such as Microsoft Excel or
Microsoft Word. Notice the similarities? Each editor has a type/object library automatically referenced for use
with that applications object model. (Note: as far as we are concerned, a Type Library is a term that is
interchangeable with object library.)
How then do we access other applications, you ask?
Simple, I respond. We add a reference to the chosen
applications object model or type library. For
example, to create a reference to Microsoft Excel select
the check box next to Microsoft Excel #.0 Object
Library. Note: replace the pound symbol in the
previous example with the number corresponding to
your version of Excel. (8 = Excel 97, 9 = Excel 2000, 10
= Excel 2002, etc.) Now to control that application, we
create an object to hold an instance of the application
and link to that object in the following fashion.
Dim oApp as Excel.Application
Set oApp = New Excel.Application

The Dim keyword creates or allocates a spot in

memory big enough to hold the application object. Note
that you havent really done anything yet, youve simply
told the VBA editor that you intend to utilize some memory. The new instance of Excel is actually created when
the New keyword is acted upon in the Set statement.
Note: this is the preferred method of creating an instance of an automation server because it gives you the
greatest amount of control over when the instance is actually created.
Now you can begin using your instance of Excel from within AutoCAD just like you were working in Excel
itself. The method for creating an instance of other automation servers is similar. So what can we do with our
instance of Excel? Lets try something. Start a new VBA project in AutoCAD; I wont direct you since you
already know how to do this. Lets make sure that we add a reference to our version of Excel. Now create a
public sub routine and lets create a link to Excel. First thing we need is to create the skeleton of our error handler.
Then we can fill in the gaps. What else do we need? How about some variables? Lets create some string
variables to handle messages and names and throw in a couple of object variables to hold Excel specific entities
such as the application, a collection of recent files, and an iterator object to cycle through the recent files. With
these minimal variables and objects we can launch Excel, grab the application, get a hold of the recent files
collection, cycle through the collection, shut down Excel, and return a message to us within AutoCAD. Take a
look at figure 12-2. Does your code look like this? (See Figure 12-2).

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VBA Foundations, Part 12

A Tutorial in VBA for BeginnersThe Last of a Twelve Part Series
Richard L. Binning / [email protected]

Now it is your turn to explore, instead of just clicking the run button, try stepping through this code a line at a
time. Once you have made the connection, open the Locals window and explore the oApp object. You will see
a plethora of objects and properties you can access, modify and use to your hearts content. Take a look at Figure
12-3 for information on where to look for objects and properties available to you, the Excel master, while working
with this spread sheet application in a programmatic manner. (See Figure 12-3)

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VBA Foundations, Part 12

A Tutorial in VBA for BeginnersThe Last of a Twelve Part Series
Richard L. Binning / [email protected]

Note: one of the idiosyncrasies of working with Excel is you must always remember to remove objects in
the reverse order of their creation. Otherwise you may leave a session of Excel running invisibly in the
background.
Once you get the hang of working with Excel, you will find that the other VBA enabled applications that are part
of Microsoft Office will work in a very similar manner.
Lets take a look at some routines written in one of AutoCADs vertical applications. In this example we will
access AutoCAD Architectural Desktop and create a routine that will search for a particular door number. If
found, then the routine will perform a Zoom Center command to display the door in the center of your work
screen.
To get started with this example: We must first
add some references. Start a new project and call
it Zoom2Door. In this project we will have a
module and a userform. Within your project open
the Tools menu and choose references. Make sure
that your list of references matches the reference
dialog box shown in Figure 12-4. In this project
we are going to make use of the VBA
Extensibility library as well as some of the
Architectural Desktop libraries. In addition, we
will utilize an undocumented custom control
provided for your use by the programmers at
Autodesk. This control may or may not be already
registered on your system. When you go to add it
to the toolbox, if it is not listed you should browse
to the following location and select it. C:\Program
Files\Common Files\Autodesk
Shared\AcFocusCtrl.dll. Add this control by
dragging it onto your form and giving it the

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VBA Foundations, Part 12

A Tutorial in VBA for BeginnersThe Last of a Twelve Part Series
Richard L. Binning / [email protected]
following name: AcFocusCtrl1. If you have to browse for this control, then chances are you will have to
register the dll for your use prior to running this example. Do a google search on the use of regsvr32.exe. If you
get stumped, drop me a line and Ill guide you through the registration process.

Once you have the references added to your project, we can add the following routines. Select your UserForm
and switch to the code window. Ensure that we are working in Option Explicit mode. We will also set Option
Compare Text so that we can work without regard to upper versus lower case text in our searches. Since we are
using the AutoCAD focus Control for VBA, we must also program some events to control it. This control allows
AutoCAD users to interact with the AutoCAD menu, drawing window, and objects while the form is still being
displayed on top of AutoCADs window. Because of this we will want to be able to set focus, keep focus, and
relinquish focus. To that end you must also add a userform to your project and name it Zoom2Door, but dont
include the quotation marks. Add a textbox to this form and a command button. You should name the textbox,
txtDoorNum, again without the quotes. The Command buttons name is cmd_Find. See Figure 12-5 for the
layout I used. Once we have the form in place we will write code to handle our form during the following events:
txtDoorNum_MouseDown, cmd_Find_Click, and UserForm_MouseMove. (See Figure 12-6) We will
wish to be able to search for our door objects both within the current drawing and within any external references
that may be attached to the current drawing. For this we will add a subroutine to our form to do the current

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VBA Foundations, Part 12

A Tutorial in VBA for BeginnersThe Last of a Twelve Part Series
Richard L. Binning / [email protected]
drawing search. If that search fails, then we will call a function to search within any xrefs attached to the current
drawing. Because this is the last place we search, if no door with the desired number is found, we will respond
with a message to the user telling him/her that the door doesnt exist. The last function we will need will
demonstrate a method of unloading the current VBA macro using a command line message. Please review and
enter the following code (See Figures 12-6 through 12-10B) making sure to check for syntax errors or
misspellings. Note: I have heavily commented the following code so I will let you read the comments for an
explanation rather than duplicating the effort here.
The following code should be added to the UserForm named Zoom2Door:

(Figure 12-6)

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VBA Foundations, Part 12

A Tutorial in VBA for BeginnersThe Last of a Twelve Part Series
Richard L. Binning / [email protected]

(Figure 12-7)

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VBA Foundations, Part 12

A Tutorial in VBA for BeginnersThe Last of a Twelve Part Series
Richard L. Binning / [email protected]
The following code should be added to the module window in your project:

(Figure 12-8)

(Figure 12-9)
Note: The VBA extensibility library has many uses. Take some time to explore this library and see what it
offers.

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VBA Foundations, Part 12

A Tutorial in VBA for BeginnersThe Last of a Twelve Part Series
Richard L. Binning / [email protected]
The following code has been broken up so that readability could be enhanced. Please ensure that you have copied
all the code.

(Figure 12-10A)

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VBA Foundations, Part 12

A Tutorial in VBA for BeginnersThe Last of a Twelve Part Series
Richard L. Binning / [email protected]

(Figure 12-10B)
This routine will be available in its entirety for your use by download at the Augi Exchange site by the time you
read this. Please do a search for Zoom2Door. Also take the time to explore other routines, symbols, and papers
available for your use at the Augi Exchange site.
As always, use the on-line help and the additional resources presented in this article to further explore these
concepts as necessary.

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VBA Foundations, Part 12

A Tutorial in VBA for BeginnersThe Last of a Twelve Part Series
Richard L. Binning / [email protected]
Look at your hand nowslowly open it and turn it so that your palm is facing the skyisnt that the pebble you
were reaching for. It must be time for you to leave, Grasshopper. Thank you for following this series. I have
enjoyed writing it.
See you on the guilds.

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