Excel Best Practices for Credit Unions

VBA/Macros

What is VBA?

• VBA – Visual Basic for Applications– Programming language used in Excel– This language is used to write Macros

• Macros – Automated tasks or programs that run in Excel

Why are VBA & Macros Important?

• They can automate repetitive tasks which saves time and increases productivity

• Other programs and software can be utilized in VBA, like Outlook or a data extraction software like Monarch Pro

Example:

• Suppose that for each business day you would like to do a brief summary of your credit union’s financial position.

• In order to do this you need to bring in 3 reports and send out an e-mail to management.

• This process can be automated with the use of VBA and Macros.

Example: Importing Reports

• Importing the 3 reports– The reports are in the same format every day– However, they have excess data that is not needed– Monarch Pro can be used to easily extract just the

needed data

Example: Send E-mail

• Once the Excel file has been updated, you want to send a financial statement summary e-mail to management.

Example: Conclusion

• In less than 5 minutes: reports can be run, uploaded into Excel, and e-mails sent to management.

• Management can use this to monitor liquidity, increases/decreases in shares or loans, cash over/shorts, vault limit compliance, etc.

How Else Can We Use VBA?

• Upon Open, a shared Excel file will open the named tab that corresponds to the user’s Active Directory Display Name.

Other Ways to Use VBA

• Bank Reconciliations– Import transaction history from Corporate CU and

GL using a macro and Monarch

• Upload Journal Entries to Core Processor– Most cores have an import feature that allows you

to import a GL journal entry

Tips & Tricks

• ALT-F11 will access VBA editoro Create code in

Modules

Tips & Tricks

• Record Macro then Edito Create code in Modules

Tips & Tricks

• ALT-F8 will bring up all available Macroso You can also

assign a Macro to a button

Tip & Tricks• Start simple: use the Macro Recorder, then edit it.• Use named ranges in your Macro, so that the Macro

remains dynamic in case cell locations change.• Set up master templates.• Copy ideas from experts online and rewrite to fit your

needs.• For increased speed, turn off screen updating

(Application.ScreenUpdating = False) while the Macros run, and turn it back on at the end of the Macro (Application.ScreenUpdating = True).

Resources

• Excel VBA Reference – https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ee861528.aspx

• Ron de Bruin– http://www.rondebruin.nl/– Using VBA in Excel for Email automation with Outlook

• Chip Pearson – http://www.cpearson.com/Excel/topic.aspx– VBA and power formula use

Resources• Debra Dalgeish

– http://www.contextures.com/– Excellent Pivot Table and Formula reference

• Jon Peltier– http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Charts/ChartIndex.html– Charts, add ins, Tutorials

• Monarch – http://www.datawatch.com/products/datawatch-monarch/

• Free VBA Code, Formulas, Tips, & Tricks– http://www.ozgrid.com/VBA/