Basics

This section provides the fundamentals for working with Office Basic.

Office Basic code is based on subroutines and functions that are specified between sub...end sub and function...end function sections. Each Sub or Function can call other Subs and Functions. If you take care to write generic code for a Sub or Function, you can probably re-use it in other programs. See also Procedures and Functions.

Some restrictions apply for the names of your public variables, subs, and functions. You must not use the same name as one of the modules of the same library.

What is a Sub?

Sub is the short form of subroutine, that is used to handle a certain task within a program. Subs are used to split a task into individual procedures. Splitting a program into procedures and sub-procedures enhances readability and reduces the error-proneness. A Sub possibly takes some arguments as parameters but does not return any values back to the calling Sub or Function, for example:

DoSomethingWithTheValues(MyFirstValue, MySecondValue)

What is a Function?

A function is essentially a sub, which returns a value. You may use a function at the right side of a variable declaration, or at other places where you normally use values, for example:

MySecondValue = myFunction(MyFirstValue)

Global and local variables

Global variables are valid for all subs and functions inside a module. They are declared at the beginning of a module before the first Sub or Function starts.

Variables that you declare within a Sub or Function are valid only inside this Sub or Function. These variables override global variables with the same name and local variables with the same name coming from superordinate Subs or Functions.

Structuring

After separating your program into procedures and functions (Subs and Functions), you can save these procedures and functions as files for reuse in other projects. Office Basic supports Modules and Libraries. Subs and functions are always contained in modules. You can define modules to be global or part of a document. Multiple modules can be combined to a library.

You can copy or move subs, functions, modules and libraries from one file to another by using the Macro dialogue box.