Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is an implementation of Microsoft's event-driven programming language Visual Basic 6.0 (VB6) built into most desktop Microsoft Office applications.
This is a curated list of Libraries and Resources for both VBA and VB6.
Because of the nature of VBA, many libraries do not work on all Operating Systems, in all Office Applications or in all architectures(x64/x86). Some libraries may also require external resources (DLL, Addins, etc.) which can be difficult to use due to VBA's lack of a package manager. To help you in finding projects suitable for your needs, this awesome list uses the following symbology. The symbology also has tooltips which may provide more information.
- โญ - All applications
- โ๏ธ - Word
- ๐ - Excel
๐ ฐ๏ธ - Access- ๐ง - Outlook
- ๐๏ธ - Powerpoint
- ๐ฆ - Miscellaneous applications (MS Project, AutoCAD, etc.) - Specify in short description
- ๐บ - 32-bit only
- ๐ - Written in VBA but the code is password protected
- ๐ฝ - Requires external dependencies e.g. DLLs
- ๐ฃ - Requires installation
- ๐ฒ - Link includes/leads to paid content
- awesome-vba
- ๐ผโญ stdVBA - A framework containing numerous classes for automation and utility. Focuses on code compactness and long-term maintainability.
- ๐ผโญ๐บ VbCorLib - A framework which brings many powerful .NET classes to VBA/VB6.
- ๐ผโญ Hidennotare - A framework by japanese author RelaxTools. Contains numerous classes, interfaces and forms.
- ๐โญ VBA-JSON - JSON conversion and parsing.
- ๐ผโญ mdJSON - JSON library with dot-notation for extracting paths.
- ๐ผโญ JSONBag - Uses shebang notation to extract keys from JSON strings. Can also build JSON with this library.
- ๐โญ VBA-CSV-interface - Powerful, fast and comprehensive RFC-4180 compliant CSV/TSV/DSV data management library.
- From Frameworks:
- ๐โญ Better array - An array class providing features found in more modern languages.
- From Frameworks:
- ๐โญ VBA-Dictionary - A dictionary object which stores key-value pairs.
- ๐ผโญ VBA-ExtendedDictionary - A dictionary object using Scripting.Dictionary but exposes some additional useful functionality.
- ๐โญ cHashList - Simple, Fast and lightweight HashList class with no use of Win32 API. Requires string keys however.
- ๐ผโญ CollectionEx - Extends the default VBA(/VB6) collection with methods to retrieve and check for key existence.
- ๐ผโญ๐บ clsTrickHashTable - A hash table using machine code injected at runtime. Full replacement for scripting dictionary, with bonus features.
- From Frameworks:
- ๐โญ VBA-Math-Objects - A matrix and vector library.
- ๐โญ VBA Float - An utility to perform computations over big integers and rational numbers with thousands digits.
- ๐ผโญ SQL Library - An OOP SQL Library for psql, mssql, mysql databases.
- ๐ผโญ๐บ Task Dialog - A huge amount of UI functionality from this 1 class, in a strictly dynamic and modular way. Great for data input forms.
- ๐ผ
๐ ฐ๏ธ VBATaskDialog - A port of fafaline's VB6 implementation. - ๐ผโญ Material UI - Make your userform feel modern with Material UI.
- ๐โญ Easy EventListener - Consolidate all event handling of a userform into 1 callback.
- ๐ผโญ Pseudo Control Arrays - Optimal means of Consolidating all event handling of a userform. Demonstrates usage of
ConnectToConnectionPointAPI. Also worth looking at this class too. - ๐ผโญ๐ฝ Modern UI Components - Custom modern looking controls.
- ๐ผโญ MVVM - Model-View-ViewModel Infrastructure for maintainable userform development.
- ๐ผโญ VBA Userform Transitions and Animations - An excellent library for implementing animation easings into the Userform.
- ๐ผโญ Trick's Timer - If you need to run a piece of code continuously and don't have access to
Application.OnTime(and/or you need to run it faster than once per second), this is the class for you! Also check out the forum post for more information. - ๐ผโญ Drag and Drop filepaths - Allow your userform to handle drag-and-drop files.
- ๐ผโญ Late-bound WebBrowser Control Events - A technique to latch onto WebBrowser events in a late-bound manner.
- ๐ผโญ๐ฒ Mark's userform tools - Numerous UI tools and pretty userforms.
- ๐ผโญ VBA-UserForm-MouseScroll - Allows Mouse Wheel Scrolling on MSForms Controls and Userforms.
- ๐โญ MSForms (All VBA) Treeview Control - A treeview control replacement by JKP and Peter Thornton coded entirely in VBA.
- ๐ผโญ Custom Userform TitleBar color
- ๐ผโญ Multi-color ListBox class
- ๐ผโญ Use of GDIPlus in VBA - GDIPlus can be used to create a
canvaslike element where any image can be drawn to. Additionally check out this GDI32 class from the same author. - ๐ผโญ Use of OpenGL in VBA - OpenGL is a cross-language, cross-platform application programming interface for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics. In this article the authors of the GDIPlus class.
- ๐ผโญ๐บ VB6 Graph Control - Won't work natively in VBA without a
PictureBoxcompatible substitute, but an extremely performant graph control regardless.
- ๐โญ VBA-MemoryTools - Provides an ultra-fast, copy memory alternative.
- ๐ผโญ Safe Subclassing - Provides the ability to subclass Excel/Word/Powerpoint window or Userforms to perform further automation. In the later threads there is also an example for subclassing other windows from other applications.
- ๐ผโญ Calling private module functions
- ๐ผโญ๐บ Universal DLL Calls - A library which can be used to call functions of any function pointer, DLL or object in both
STDCALLandCDECL. - ๐โญ VBA state-loss callback - A crash free detector for VBA state-loss. State loss can occur when: Someone clicks
endin an unhandled error; You click the VBA stop button; You enter design mode; Application exits. - ๐ผโญ vb2clr - Use C# from VBA using the .NET CLR runtime.
- From Frameworks:
- ๐ผโญ VbPeg - A parser generator for VBA. Converts PEG grammar like this into VBA code like this. Very useful if your implementing a new programming language in VBA. Wqweto has also included some math expression parsers as tests.
- ๐โญ Volpi's Math Expression Parser - A fast math expression parser. Doesn't allow calls to objects, no callstack.
- ๐โญ VBA Expressions - A powerful string expression evaluator focussed on mathematics and data processing.
- From Frameworks:
- ๐โญ VBA-Web - Connect VBA, Excel, Access, and Office for Windows and Mac to web services and the web
- ๐โญ VBA-WebSocket - Microsoft example code for a WebSocket client which can be used in conjunction with an echo server. There is also a class and an async version built by the discoverer of the microsoft code.
- ๐ผโญ๐บ vbAsyncSocket - Simple and thin WinSock API wrappers for VB6 loosly based on the original CAsyncSocket wrapper in MFC.
- ๐ผโญ Edge Automation - Automate Chromium Edge using devtools protocol. Github backup here
- ๐ผโญ Chrome Automation (via devtools protocol) - Automate Chrome using chrome devtools protocol.
- ๐ผโญ๐ฃ Rubberduck - An open-source COM add-in project that integrates with the Visual Basic Editor to add modern-day features to the familiar IDE. Works in VBA6, VBA7.x (x86/x64), and yes, in VB6 too!
- ๐ผ๐ VBA-IDE-Code-Export - Addin contains a code importer and exporter for use with git (or any VCS).
- ๐ผ๐โ๏ธ๐ - RibbonX - AndyPope's Visual Ribbon Editor.
- ๐ผ๐ Custom UI XML Editor - Addin for directly adding, editing and validating ribbon XML (Excel 2010+).
- ๐ผโญ๐ฒ MZ-Tools - VBE addin providing development tools
- ๐ผโญ VbPeg - A parser generator for VBA. Converts PEG grammar like this into VBA code like this. Very useful if your implementing a new programming language in VBA.
- ๐ผโญ VBA Resource File Editor - Store other files inside your excel/word/powerpoint files for later use with this handy tool.
- ๐ผโญ๐บ vbRichClient - An external client full of useful libraries
- ๐ผโญ๐ฒ vbWatchDog -
vbWatchdoghacks the vba runtime to provide module name, procedure name and line number where error occurred.
- ๐โญ Excel Name Manager - A treeview control replacement by JKP and Peter Thornton coded entirely in VBA.
- ๐โญ Excel Flex Find - A treeview control replacement by JKP and Peter Thornton coded entirely in VBA.
- VBSpeed - The Visual Basic Performance Site - focus on VB6 but transferrable across to VBA.
- Ron de Bruin - Ribbons/QAT - A leading resource for information/samples on developing custom ribbons and context menus.
- Office MSO Icons - Ribbon icons can often use one of the 1500 (3 pages on this site) MSO icons wich pre-exist in Office applications.
- ๐ผโญ Drag and drop control - Dragging and dropping image controls around a userform.
- ๐ผโญ Iterating the ROT - An example of iterating the ROT to find Excel Workbook instances.
- ๐ผโญ Iterating Excel Instances via IAccessible - In some cases Excel instances aren't registered to the ROT. The Excel application however implements
IAccessible, which not only can be used to automate the UI, but can also be used to obtain the Excel Instance from a hwnd.
- ๐ผ๐ MenuRighter - MenuRighter is an Excel addin that lets you modify right-click menus. You can add almost any control found in other right-click menus or Excel 2003's "classic" menus.
- ๐ผ๐ Sam Rad's DatePicker - Visually impressive and professional DatePicker addin for Excel. Worksheet only / cannot be used with userforms.
- ๐ผ๐ xlStudio - A DAW for Microsoft Excel. Also check out the awesome video.
- ๐ผ๐ Cellivization - A cool RTS-like game created in Excel. Also check out the awesome video.
- ๐ผ๐ Arkanoid - Arkanoid, a retro arcade game, built in Excel. On some machines it runs faster than others.
- ๐ผ๐ Battleships
- ๐ผ
๐ ฐ๏ธ Pacman
- ๐โญ oletools - Python tool which can be used to decode VBA P-Code (VBA's intermediate language).
- ๐ผ๐ฆ twinBasic - A VBA compatible parser, evaluator and compiler.
- RubberDuck's style guide - Has some great intermediate - advanced guidance.
- VB6 Coding conventions - Variable/Class/Module naming conventions used in VBA. Greatly helps organisation in VBE (unless you have rubberduck).
- Thunder - The birth of Visual Basic - A little article about the birth of VB7/VBA.
- My First Bill Gates Review - Joel Spolsky, program manager for the Excel team, recounts his first Bill Gates review. Joel got numerous features added e.g.
IDispatch,Variant,For eachandWith. It also discusses the dreaded Date bug ported to Excel from Lotus 123. - Ruby, EB and DLL composition - Translated copy of VBStreets article created by Russian VBer
ะฅะฐะบะตั. Details the composition of the VB6 and VBA dlls in amongst the history of the language. - PCode Internals - VBA is compiled to PCode. Understanding the lower level P-Code is a topic of heavy interest and research.
- How many lines of code in EB - Untranlated article by Russian VBer
ะฅะฐะบะตัwhich estimates the number of lines of code in VB6/VBA. - SAFEARRAYS - The internal structure of arrays.
- JKP API Declarations
- Microsoft Office Code Compatibility Inspector - The Microsoft Office Code Compatibility Inspector was designed by Microsoft to troubleshoot compatibility issues with VBA code as when upgrading Office from 32-bit to 64-bit. MS has not maintained a link to the software for download from its servers, though versions of it are apparently available on the internet.
- Planet Source Code - The original Github before Github was Github. Now available on Github. Possibly not the entire collection (?) of projects/source code that was previously available at the PSC website, though certainly more than enough for more people, and plenty to keep yourself amused on a Friday evening.
- vbAccelerator Archive - archived copy of vbAccelerator site (articles, source code, etc.) that disappeared in 2015, reappeared in 2018, and anyone's guess what's going to next... Primarily VB6, but useful VBA resource.
- Excel Development Platform Blog - Blog dealing with advanced topics/VBA.
- MSDN VBA Documentation
- MS-VBAL Language Spec
- Ron de Bruin - Simple-Intermediate topics.
- Bytecomb VBA Reference - Intermediate-advanced topics.
- Chip Pearson's website - Great resource for beginners-intermediate.
- VBA for smarties - A great reference to numerous data structures and mechanics.
- ๐ฒAutomate Excel's cheat sheets
- Rubberduck Blog - Intermediate-Advanced topics.
- ๐ง Slipstick - Website of Diane Poremsky (MVP) with focus on Outlook and VBA.
- ๐ง TechnicLee - Outlook blog, many examples including code variations depending on user request.
- ๐๏ธ Powerpoint VBA - a site devoted to teaching VBA through making games in Powerpoint.
- MS KB Archive - Massive archive of vb6/vba problems, solutions and tutorials.
- Hard Core Visual Basic - An advanced programmer's guide to the new 5.0 version of Visual Basic. Includes a core set of utilities, shortcuts, and solutions to problems to achieve a wide range of functional programs. A hard book also exists. Also check out the Comments and corrections.
- The VBA Developer's Handbook - Write bulletproof VBA code for any situation. This book is the essential resource for developers working with any of the more than 300 products that employ the "Visual Basic for Applications" programming language. Hardbacks also available elsewhere.
- Advanced Visual Basic 6 - Power Techniques for Everyday Programs Matthew Curland. Hardbacks also available elsewhere.
- Professional Excel Development - In this book, four world-class Microsoftยฎ Excel developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. Hardbacks also available.
- ๐ฒ Excel VBA Programming For Dummies - Itโฒs time to move to the next levelโcreating your own, customized Excel 2010 solutions using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).Using stepโbyโstep instruction and the accessible, friendly For Dummies style, this practical book shows you how to use VBA, write macros, customize your Excel apps to look and work the way you want, avoid errors, and more
- ๐ฒ Power Programming with VBA - Excel 2019 Power Programming with VBA is fully updated to cover all the latest tools and tricks of Excel 2019. Encompassing an analysis of Excel application development and a complete introduction to Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), this comprehensive book presents all of the techniques you need to develop both large and small Excel applications.
- (E-Book) VBA beginners
- (E-Book) Excel VBA beginners
- Excel Macro Mastery - Paul Kelly (MVP) - excelmacromastery.com.
- Sigma Coding - Large catalogue of tutorials - beginner through to advanced. Delves into interesting areas of VBA and it uses not explored by other content creators.
- WiseOwl's VBA tutorials - Great all-round resource for VBA. Perfect introduction for beginners. In-depth lessons into all aspects of VBA. Huge playlist that covers most types of VBA.
- ๐ฒ VBA A2Z - Many tutorials, some paid content. Good array of intereting and different topics - in-depth tutorials into different parts of VBA, with some .NET/VSTO videos. Strong focus on UI development.
- Excel VBA Is Fun
- Excel for Freelancers - Hands-on tutorials to developing specific applications from beginning through to end. All levels.
- Leila Gharani - Office-wide focus - useful for beginners.
- ๐ฒGet to know VBA - Some great applications presented and created with VBA.
- Reddit - Daily VBA Q&A. Occasional Pro-Tip sharing and Show & Tell library publishing.
- StackOverflow - A great place to ask questions. Duplicate questions are flagged as duplicates and send the author to the correct place.
- Chandoo - Forum for the Chandoo - the blog of Purna Duggirala (MVP). Very active.
- Visual Basic Discord - A chat room for VB.NET/VBA/VB6 fanatics.
- Excel Discord - Discord server moderated by Tim Heng (Excel MVP) with focus on helping Excel users.
- MrExcel - Mostly Excel generic, but a lot of VBA content can be found here also.
- Excel Forum
- ๐ง Slipstick - Excellent forum for the Slipstick website (Outlook VBA) of Diane Poremsky (MVP). Diane is quick to respond, and her answers are extremely helpful.
- VBForums - Office Development - Forum with focus on VB6/.NET with VBA section.
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