I know a bit of VBA because I did some simple automations and a bit of code debugging on Excel. Now that I'm starting to learn Python, and with the basics that I've learned so far, I think VBA is easier to do without really learning how to code. Python on the other hand can be confusing but once you get to understand how functions work, I think it's actually fun. And with what you discussed, I think I'm on the right path because I'm pursuing a career in data analysis.
Thank you so much for sharing this information!!. I just started learning Python two weeks ago and I have been using VBA for more than 20 years, so it is very important forr me to hear your opinion and as you said: I will try to use the right tool to have the job done.
Hi Jorge Cue! Thanks for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment. Glad to hear that you liked the video. Happy Python learning & coding! :)
Another advantage of VBA is that it is almost 100% compatible with VB6, so if you want to compile something to an executable that can run outside of an office application it is fairly trivial. And there are new IDE/compilers like TwinBasic that are dragging the language kicking and screaming into the modern world.
In fairness I think it's a little unfair using any libraries in the python example. In the end though, in this specific example, I don't think it matters and I think that really goes to show how much effort you've put into providing a balanced argument! Well done :) Regarding the advantages of VBA there are a few that you missed which I think are pretty big: * Ability to make macro addins to enhance whole user experience across all workbooks. - This is only paralleled by VSTO addins. * Ability to interact with Application events system - I think this is critical as you can do many simple things with events which is beyond most people's wildest dreams Regarding the disadvantages of VBA: * Restricted to Office Applications is actually not true anymore. TwinBasic is an implementation of VB7 (VBA) which works outside of Office, is fully compatible with Office, but compiles to EXE files. It also has additional features which are missing from traditional VBA/VB6. So the only thing lacking from this video really, in my view, is VSTO/XLDNA and OfficeScript
Nice job Sven! That's also how I feel - choose the right tool for the job! That said, I find myself using Python more and more even for small and quick automation things like renaming or moving files. I also agree that some companies tend to block Python or .exe files. My solution to that was to build some must-have tools for my team, then give everyone training on Python. Now everyone is getting benefit from Python and they can't do some jobs without it 😂
I totally agree with your ideas in this video. It definitely makes sense to use the right tool for the right job. Thank you, and keeping going with these amazing videos.
I appreciate the video and the channel. An advantage I would note for VBA is that it already comes with MSFT apps, no additional setup or IT requests needed. Also, I think whnen folks are looking to learn one or the other, they'd be best suited listing all the tasks they want to do, first. Then go from there. I think many people would probably be best served by VBA and would save frustration starting with that, then moving to Python. Again, not to say one is better than the other, but I would bet for most people VBA would suit their needs just fine and Python is overkill.
Hi, This is a very good review and advice. I have been writing my own code since 1980 using many languages, Assembley, Fortran, VB, C+, VBA, and many others in between. Yes, I agree with your final conclusion, but I want to add this. For many years now I have used Excel and VBA to develop very powerful engineering programs for research. What I am saying is that VBA should not be underestimated. It is just outdated, I guess. After all, it is you, the programmer, that matters much more than the language you use.
At the end of the day it depends what you're seeking to achieve . Vba within an office environment is fine particularly if you're willing to use Windows API's. I'd suggest learning C in the first instance
This was a nice and clear presentation, though the reason why I really liked VBA is the debugging code Is awesome! I really miss that in python ...and also that stupid intend you use in loops can be really annoying ..in c# , Java and other languages I find that better. Python though can be very cool if you know how to program it ..and I agree the one is not superior over the other they are just there to make your life easier. Though one major point I would at is the execution speed. I think python might be way faster then vba
knowing that still for the time being, VBS scripting can extend the use to more windows uses. I have plenty of little life-comfort tools in vbs scripts that I run from shortcuts or scheduled. it's worth the time spent learning VB/VBA language when you're a windows user. Python is cool if you need to accomplish more complexe projects with less coding efforts. still needs a good brain for good solutions :)
VBA with Excel feels super messy to me, dealing with cell references and all that, but more than anything I just can't stand having to save it with macros! I like that python doesn't ask, "Are you sure you wouldn't rather save this in a way that doesn't work?" Also, it drives me bonkers to keep switching from macro view to regular, and back. Finally, half the time I need to have it interact with legacy software, so Python is the only choice anyway - glad it's the one I prefer! Only downside, like you said, is getting permission for new software, even free.
I understand you completely... Coming from the other side: If Brain works in cells and grids, Excel and VBA literally walks you through it, else end if 😅 Python dont even need to state the Object, just put it where you wanna run it.
I use the COM object to convert lots of xls files to xlsx. Python is much easier to walk the file system with but Excel seems to produce the best results when it comes to file conversion.
Ohh man, I do need to login for commenting. You got my subscribed + All Bell + my huge Respect. I do agree with all what you said in this video. And, I think: Do not ask what programing language we should learn. But ask, Why do I have to learn that programing language. Python is so so good. But that's not easy for you if you want to create your own commercial application. You need to learn a ton of knowledge for your goal. But, with VBA you can. also commercial application. Just thing carefully, What you want to be. What will you do. Then start. If not, you'll spend a lot of time for learning but can not achieve your goal. God Bless. Have a good day.
Thanks for taking the time to watching the video and commenting. I absolutely agree - each programming language indeed has its purpose and strengths. Happy Coding! 👍🍀
i dont know but, if anybody is questioning which one to learn, why does noone say "if u cant decide, learn both" ?? Python and vba both are similar in my opinion. I first started learning vba. Now i am learning python. and thx to my vba knowledge, learning python is way easier compared to a absolute beginner
That's, of course, also a solution 😅. Adding more tools to your toolbox does not hurt (if you are willing to spend the extra time and effort). That said, I followed a similar path as you. I first learned VBA, and that definitely helped later on when I picked up Python. Today, I am still using both Python and VBA. I guess that also explains the name of my website (pythonandvba.com 😅). Cheers, Sven ✌️
If Microsoft doesn't plan to continue updating VBA, does that mean they might be phasing it out? That their applications will switch to Python as the primary coding method? That macros will start to record in Python? That people won't need a plug-in to code python in Office, in the future?
Thanks for watching. I have not used Office Scripts yet, but in general Office Scripts and VBA both serve automation purposes in the Microsoft Office Suite. Office Scripts, the newer platform, utilizes JavaScript and operates in the cloud, specifically for Excel on the web. On the other hand, VBA, a long-standing tool, operates on the desktop, spans the entire Office Suite, and relies on Visual Basic for coding. So, if you need to automate Excel in the Web, Office Scripts might be way to go.
The package and demand for VBA and Python can vary depending on many factors such as the specific company, the specific role, and the candidate's experience and qualifications.
How can i copy sheet2 data and create and notepad.text file. excluding indexing and heading. how can i do that. can u provide me code how can i do that task.
Thank you very much for watching the video and your comment. Your requirements are well noted. Yet, I receive many requests for creating individual solutions. As much as I want to help, I simply do not find the time in my daily schedule to develop & test all the different requests. I hope you can understand. Thank you!
IMO python is windows 10 and vba is windows XP sure there’s plenty u can do on both but windows 10 is cleaner and more efficient also comes with programs that windows xp can’t run
Thanks for watching. Not sure what exactly you are looking for, but here are my favorite resources for learning VBA: pythonandvba.com/resources/#VBA I hope it helps!
@@cbbcbb6803 The answer to your questions: What can Python do that VBA cannot do. I get your point with open-source, by let us be honest here. I doubt that even if VBA would be open source, suddenly there will be .bas modules available that could compete with Sklearn, Tensorflow etc. (but this is just my two cents on that). You might have a different opinion, and that is fine. Cheers!
@@CodingIsFun So, VBA, or any version of BASIC, would be like a Johnny-Come-Lately? I am always a little puzzled about why some software, especially programming languages, can do some things but not other things.
I have experience in Advance Excel, i handle VBA which already created if is there any error occurs while running means my team mate (now he left from my company) guided me, so i can debug vba. In my project my company using Excel only. Right now no one know VBA in my team, mostly all our teammates are doing repetitive tasks every day. Now i m planning to learn VBA or Python i m not that much good in coding (i Know basic SQL, PLSQL) could you please any one suggest me which one i need to learn right now.(if i learn VBA is that good future? or directly can i learn python?) I m in confusing stage please help me.
In my humble opinion, before diving into programming, it could be beneficial to examine why there are so many repetitive tasks in your workflow. It's often possible to optimize these processes with minimal coding. You might want to consider utilizing no-code or low-code tools, such as Microsoft Power Query or Power Automate. These tools are designed to streamline processes and tasks without requiring significant programming knowledge. However, if there's a need for a custom solution that these tools can't provide, then exploring VBA or Python becomes relevant. The choice between the two would be largely influenced by your specific use case, as I have explained in my video. Both VBA and Python have their strengths, and the right choice depends on what you need to achieve. If the tasks are specific to Excel, VBA could be the way to go. However, if the tasks are more diverse and complex, Python's versatility might be more suitable. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Consider your immediate needs and long-term goals, and choose the path that aligns with them. Good luck!
@@CodingIsFun Thanks for brief explanation sir, our repetitive tasks are data extraction, Data cleansing, after cleaning need to filling gap using lookup formulas , after filling gap need to organizing data, Data Transferring to msword template and also consolidation.. could help me for making right decision?
I know a bit of VBA because I did some simple automations and a bit of code debugging on Excel. Now that I'm starting to learn Python, and with the basics that I've learned so far, I think VBA is easier to do without really learning how to code. Python on the other hand can be confusing but once you get to understand how functions work, I think it's actually fun. And with what you discussed, I think I'm on the right path because I'm pursuing a career in data analysis.
Hi, Jimcarl S. Thanks for watching the video and sharing your opinion on this topic. Good luck on your Python learning path! 💪🚀
Thank you so much for sharing this information!!. I just started learning Python two weeks ago and I have been using VBA for more than 20 years, so it is very important forr me to hear your opinion and as you said: I will try to use the right tool to have the job done.
Hi Jorge Cue! Thanks for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment. Glad to hear that you liked the video. Happy Python learning & coding! :)
Very helpful. Especially seeing the two codes side by side gives the beginner a sense of the learning threshholds. Thanks!
I'm glad you liked my video and I appreciate your feedback. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment! :) 👍
Another advantage of VBA is that it is almost 100% compatible with VB6, so if you want to compile something to an executable that can run outside of an office application it is fairly trivial. And there are new IDE/compilers like TwinBasic that are dragging the language kicking and screaming into the modern world.
Very good point! 👍
In fairness I think it's a little unfair using any libraries in the python example. In the end though, in this specific example, I don't think it matters and I think that really goes to show how much effort you've put into providing a balanced argument! Well done :)
Regarding the advantages of VBA there are a few that you missed which I think are pretty big:
* Ability to make macro addins to enhance whole user experience across all workbooks. - This is only paralleled by VSTO addins.
* Ability to interact with Application events system - I think this is critical as you can do many simple things with events which is beyond most people's wildest dreams
Regarding the disadvantages of VBA:
* Restricted to Office Applications is actually not true anymore. TwinBasic is an implementation of VB7 (VBA) which works outside of Office, is fully compatible with Office, but compiles to EXE files. It also has additional features which are missing from traditional VBA/VB6.
So the only thing lacking from this video really, in my view, is VSTO/XLDNA and OfficeScript
Those are all excellent points! 👍 Thanks for watching the video and sharing your opinion.
Nice job Sven!
That's also how I feel - choose the right tool for the job! That said, I find myself using Python more and more even for small and quick automation things like renaming or moving files.
I also agree that some companies tend to block Python or .exe files. My solution to that was to build some must-have tools for my team, then give everyone training on Python. Now everyone is getting benefit from Python and they can't do some jobs without it 😂
Thank you, Jay! Fantastic to hear that your teammates are also using Python now.
BTW, keep up the great content on your channel! 💪 Love your videos 👍
@@CodingIsFun thanks Sven!🙏
Hands down the best video I have seen on this topic.
Thank you ! I got my answer
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching and for the kind words. Cheers, Sven ✌️
I totally agree with your ideas in this video. It definitely makes sense to use the right tool for the right job. Thank you, and keeping going with these amazing videos.
Hi Rafael Santos. Thank you for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment! :)
I appreciate the video and the channel. An advantage I would note for VBA is that it already comes with MSFT apps, no additional setup or IT requests needed.
Also, I think whnen folks are looking to learn one or the other, they'd be best suited listing all the tasks they want to do, first. Then go from there. I think many people would probably be best served by VBA and would save frustration starting with that, then moving to Python. Again, not to say one is better than the other, but I would bet for most people VBA would suit their needs just fine and Python is overkill.
Thanks for watching the video and sharing your thoughts! Cheers, Sven ✌️
Very well prepared opinion, I love the metaphores used to illustrate.
Thank you, Ermal Gashi! 😃
Hi,
This is a very good review and advice. I have been writing my own code since 1980 using many languages, Assembley, Fortran, VB, C+, VBA, and many others in between.
Yes, I agree with your final conclusion, but I want to add this. For many years now I have used Excel and VBA to develop very powerful engineering programs for research. What I am saying is that VBA should not be underestimated. It is just outdated, I guess.
After all, it is you, the programmer, that matters much more than the language you use.
Thank you for watching and for your comment. I completely agree with you! Cheers, Sven ✌️
At the end of the day it depends what you're seeking to achieve . Vba within an office environment is fine particularly if you're willing to use Windows API's.
I'd suggest learning C in the first instance
Thanks for you taking the time to watch the video and leaving your thoughts, means a lot. 👍
I learned so much from this video! Thank you!
Thank you, Florian, for watching the video. Glad it was helpful!
This was a nice and clear presentation, though the reason why I really liked VBA is the debugging code Is awesome! I really miss that in python ...and also that stupid intend you use in loops can be really annoying ..in c# , Java and other languages I find that better. Python though can be very cool if you know how to program it ..and I agree the one is not superior over the other they are just there to make your life easier. Though one major point I would at is the execution speed. I think python might be way faster then vba
Thanks for watching the video and sharing your thoughts!
Great video, but to my opinion you are missing an Excel VBA pro: The UI. It is MUCH easier to make a proper GUI
Great point! Cheers, Sven ✌️
Thana you very much for this in detail briefing. Love your videos.
Thanks for watching. Glad you like my videos. :)
Thanks a lot for this video, it’s very clear and efficient.
A pleasure! Thanks for watching the video and your comment! :)
As always great job, La Máquina!
Would be great to have the canteen menu as .exe 😉
Already looking forward to our TM1 videos 👍🏽
Muchas gracias, la máquina! 🦾
Good work. I worked a little project with VBA, but now I´ll use python instead
Thank you! Happy coding in Python! :)
knowing that still for the time being, VBS scripting can extend the use to more windows uses. I have plenty of little life-comfort tools in vbs scripts that I run from shortcuts or scheduled. it's worth the time spent learning VB/VBA language when you're a windows user. Python is cool if you need to accomplish more complexe projects with less coding efforts. still needs a good brain for good solutions :)
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! Cheers, Sven ✌️
Thank you so much, you are succinct and very informative :)
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching and for the kind words.
VBA with Excel feels super messy to me, dealing with cell references and all that, but more than anything I just can't stand having to save it with macros! I like that python doesn't ask, "Are you sure you wouldn't rather save this in a way that doesn't work?" Also, it drives me bonkers to keep switching from macro view to regular, and back. Finally, half the time I need to have it interact with legacy software, so Python is the only choice anyway - glad it's the one I prefer! Only downside, like you said, is getting permission for new software, even free.
Thanks for watching the video & sharing your opinion!
I understand you completely... Coming from the other side: If Brain works in cells and grids, Excel and VBA literally walks you through it, else end if 😅
Python dont even need to state the Object, just put it where you wanna run it.
Awesome explanation!
Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching.
I use the COM object to convert lots of xls files to xlsx. Python is much easier to walk the file system with but Excel seems to produce the best results when it comes to file conversion.
Thanks for watching. Totally agree on that one. Python makes navigating the file system much easier compared to VBA. Cheers, Sven ✌️
Ohh man, I do need to login for commenting.
You got my subscribed + All Bell + my huge Respect.
I do agree with all what you said in this video. And, I think: Do not ask what programing language we should learn. But ask, Why do I have to learn that programing language.
Python is so so good. But that's not easy for you if you want to create your own commercial application. You need to learn a ton of knowledge for your goal. But, with VBA you can. also commercial application.
Just thing carefully, What you want to be. What will you do. Then start. If not, you'll spend a lot of time for learning but can not achieve your goal.
God Bless. Have a good day.
Thanks for taking the time to watching the video and commenting. I absolutely agree - each programming language indeed has its purpose and strengths. Happy Coding! 👍🍀
Clear explanation.. Thanks a lot.
Thank you! 👍
i dont know but, if anybody is questioning which one to learn, why does noone say "if u cant decide, learn both" ?? Python and vba both are similar in my opinion.
I first started learning vba. Now i am learning python. and thx to my vba knowledge, learning python is way easier compared to a absolute beginner
That's, of course, also a solution 😅. Adding more tools to your toolbox does not hurt (if you are willing to spend the extra time and effort). That said, I followed a similar path as you. I first learned VBA, and that definitely helped later on when I picked up Python. Today, I am still using both Python and VBA. I guess that also explains the name of my website (pythonandvba.com 😅). Cheers, Sven ✌️
Totally agree bro, new subs here
Welcome aboard! 🎉 Cheers, Sven ✌️
@@CodingIsFun cheers mate
Anytime you can avoid a MSFT product you are likely better off.
Thank you for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment!
If Microsoft doesn't plan to continue updating VBA, does that mean they might be phasing it out? That their applications will switch to Python as the primary coding method? That macros will start to record in Python? That people won't need a plug-in to code python in Office, in the future?
Thanks for watching the video. Only Microsoft knows the answers to your questions ;)
This video could be 3 seconds long. Learn Python.
Why if interested in Excel only?
Excelente!!
Muchas gracias! 👍
Bravo!
Glad to hear you liked it! Thank you for commenting and watching. 👍
I suppose that it should be added that python is free open source software whereas excel is not. This is a material cost.
I'm a python web scraper and I have good grip on python, so, Should I go for VBA or continue with the python to handle excel problems?
In that case, you might want to tackle your Excel problems/automation with Python
and Office Scripts ? What do you think of it ?
Thanks for watching. I have not used Office Scripts yet, but in general Office Scripts and VBA both serve automation purposes in the Microsoft Office Suite. Office Scripts, the newer platform, utilizes JavaScript and operates in the cloud, specifically for Excel on the web. On the other hand, VBA, a long-standing tool, operates on the desktop, spans the entire Office Suite, and relies on Visual Basic for coding. So, if you need to automate Excel in the Web, Office Scripts might be way to go.
Thanks
Thank you so much for your support! I appreciate it! 🙏
Which will be given high package and VBA or phyton and which one is highly demand in MNC companies.
The package and demand for VBA and Python can vary depending on many factors such as the specific company, the specific role, and the candidate's experience and qualifications.
How can i copy sheet2 data and create and notepad.text file. excluding indexing and heading. how can i do that. can u provide me code how can i do that task.
Thank you very much for watching the video and your comment. Your requirements are well noted. Yet, I receive many requests for creating individual solutions. As much as I want to help, I simply do not find the time in my daily schedule to develop & test all the different requests. I hope you can understand. Thank you!
@@CodingIsFun thanks for your responses. i am able to get code now.
i used 'for loop 'from first row to till last row and column and store in variable. then i write that variable into notepad file
IMO python is windows 10 and vba is windows XP sure there’s plenty u can do on both but windows 10 is cleaner and more efficient also comes with programs that windows xp can’t run
Thanks for watching the video and sharing your opinion.
VBA has a steep learning curve
Thanks for watching!
I would say online resources wise it's probably a bit tougher, but having the macro recorder helps a lot!
So learn vba. Everything else will be easier
thanks
Thanks for watching!
why isn't there any practical books on vba?
Thanks for watching. Not sure what exactly you are looking for, but here are my favorite resources for learning VBA: pythonandvba.com/resources/#VBA
I hope it helps!
What if Microsoft were to open-source VBA. What can Python do that VBA cannot do? What can VBA not do versus what is VBA not allowed to do?
Thanks for watching. Machine-/Deeplearning would be one example.
@@CodingIsFun Machine/Deeplearning would be an example of what?
@@cbbcbb6803 The answer to your questions: What can Python do that VBA cannot do. I get your point with open-source, by let us be honest here. I doubt that even if VBA would be open source, suddenly there will be .bas modules available that could compete with Sklearn, Tensorflow etc. (but this is just my two cents on that). You might have a different opinion, and that is fine. Cheers!
@@CodingIsFun So, VBA, or any version of BASIC, would be like a Johnny-Come-Lately? I am always a little puzzled about why some software, especially programming languages, can do some things but not other things.
It’s hard to find useful information on VBA.
Thanks for watching. I have listed down my favorite resources here: pythonandvba.com/resources/
I have experience in Advance Excel, i handle VBA which already created if is there any error occurs while running means my team mate (now he left from my company) guided me, so i can debug vba. In my project my company using Excel only. Right now no one know VBA in my team, mostly all our teammates are doing repetitive tasks every day. Now i m planning to learn VBA or Python i m not that much good in coding (i Know basic SQL, PLSQL) could you please any one suggest me which one i need to learn right now.(if i learn VBA is that good future? or directly can i learn python?) I m in confusing stage please help me.
In my humble opinion, before diving into programming, it could be beneficial to examine why there are so many repetitive tasks in your workflow. It's often possible to optimize these processes with minimal coding.
You might want to consider utilizing no-code or low-code tools, such as Microsoft Power Query or Power Automate. These tools are designed to streamline processes and tasks without requiring significant programming knowledge.
However, if there's a need for a custom solution that these tools can't provide, then exploring VBA or Python becomes relevant. The choice between the two would be largely influenced by your specific use case, as I have explained in my video.
Both VBA and Python have their strengths, and the right choice depends on what you need to achieve. If the tasks are specific to Excel, VBA could be the way to go. However, if the tasks are more diverse and complex, Python's versatility might be more suitable.
Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Consider your immediate needs and long-term goals, and choose the path that aligns with them. Good luck!
@@CodingIsFun Thanks for brief explanation sir, our repetitive tasks are data extraction, Data cleansing, after cleaning need to filling gap using lookup formulas , after filling gap need to organizing data, Data Transferring to msword template and also consolidation.. could help me for making right decision?
for me, I'd stick with excel... python? no thanks...
That's cool. Happy Excel-ing! :)
Bawahaha wtf this isn't even debatable. Python
Thanks for watching the video & your comment!
if you dont want to suffer you shouldn't learn VBA
😦