this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2026
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Programming

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Small Program for VBA? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works to c/programming@programming.dev
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Alright, so I'll get laughed at here, but one of my 'goals' for work this year is I wanted to take the 4 hour VBA course on youtube and then write a small program after it that does something.

Before you laugh at me using an outdated language, I only chose it because a co worker suggested learning it, and we do use some VBA coded macros in our spreadsheets. We're not a very up to date company.

The reason I never get anything done with learning programming is I never know what to do . And if I do come up with something to do, it will be WAYY too complex over my head, i'll fail at it, then never touch it again. If it's too simple, I won't even want to bother. (Yay ADHD)

So I'm just looking for a couple suggestions for a fun little program to make (and consider the goal 'done'). I know calculators of some sort are an option...I can't really think of anything else. I guess it doesn't actually have to be a useful program but it would be cool if it was.

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[–] perishthethought@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago

Here's an idea:

  • find a Excel workbook you / your team uses a lot.
  • use VBA to add a button onto the main sheet labeled something like, "Lock".
  • when someone clicks it, that sheet gets locked from edits ("protected") and the label on the button changes to, "Unlock"
  • When Unlock is clicked, the protections are removed

A couple of notes:

  • practice this on a COPY of the sheet you all rely on
  • know that VBA has a ton of really odd things about its language -- things that no other language (that I know of) does

So learn as you go, build up your confidence, but keep in mind that not everything you learn will apply to other newer languages you might eventually learn.

Have fun, be patient, ask for help whenever you get stuck!