A U T O M A T I O N P R O G R A M M I N G
Hidden behind its standard user interface we all know, Microsoft Office includes another world for software developers. By programming in a language called VBA (Visual Basic for Applications), I create fully customized dialog boxes and supporting software that extends Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook far beyond their standard functionalities, and in some cases, lets the programs work together in unprecedented ways.
As a seasoned 'old school' software developer in the Office suite, I write intelligent automation code that taps into the power of the object models native to each of the Microsoft Office applications. In some cases, one application has to talk to another (such as Excel writing data into PowerPoint slides).
I can use VBA to automate menial repetitive tasks that eat up your time, or build you brand new tools that never existed before. In either case, we design the specifications together so my work meets or exceeds your vision.
I've created many smart one-of-a-kind dialog boxes whose controls trigger the necessary actions. Each dialog box can have text boxes, drop-down lists, check boxes, mutually-exclusive option buttons, spin buttons, command buttons, labels, and combo boxes. Typically the programming that supports all of these controls contains mechanized decisions and actions in hundreds of lines of code that produce consistent results faster than any human can work. My clients experience unprecedented productivity encapsulated precisely the ways they want it.
Hidden behind its standard user interface we all know, Microsoft Office includes another world for software developers. By programming in a language called VBA (Visual Basic for Applications), I create fully customized dialog boxes and supporting software that extends Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook far beyond their standard functionalities, and in some cases, lets the programs work together in unprecedented ways.
As a seasoned 'old school' software developer in the Office suite, I write intelligent automation code that taps into the power of the object models native to each of the Microsoft Office applications. In some cases, one application has to talk to another (such as Excel writing data into PowerPoint slides).
I can use VBA to automate menial repetitive tasks that eat up your time, or build you brand new tools that never existed before. In either case, we design the specifications together so my work meets or exceeds your vision.
I've created many smart one-of-a-kind dialog boxes whose controls trigger the necessary actions. Each dialog box can have text boxes, drop-down lists, check boxes, mutually-exclusive option buttons, spin buttons, command buttons, labels, and combo boxes. Typically the programming that supports all of these controls contains mechanized decisions and actions in hundreds of lines of code that produce consistent results faster than any human can work. My clients experience unprecedented productivity encapsulated precisely the ways they want it.
Here is an example:
Mary clicks a button on the ribbon in Word, and this dialog box opens, with today's date already filled in.
Mary completes this form (which has some required fields), and clicks an OK button on the Done tab.
Here is what happens automatically:
- The program checks that all required information has been entered, and if not, tells Mary what is missing.
- Styled documents are generated in Word, containing information that was entered into the dialog box.
- Pertinent text is copied from the documents onto the clipboard (where cut and copy store information to paste).
- The documents are saved using the correct naming convention, and closed.
- An email message is started in Outlook containing standardized text plus data pasted in from the documents.
- The email message is addressed to the correct recipients.
- The saved documents are attached to the email message.
- The dialog box closes, leaving Mary ready to modify the email message before sending it.
Clearly, this automation is a time-saver. It also ensures that the required information is collected before the email message is sent, that the documents are saved properly, and that the email message content matches the documents.
While it may seem an exaggeration to say that almost anything is possible, the scope of projects I've completed with this technology – which is usually combined with what the software does without programming – is truly extensive. I've created everyday automation projects such as correspondence templates, document assembly, general utilities, intelligent time sheets, and enhanced Find/Replace functionality, as well as more intricate applications for charting stock market activity, wrangling inconsistent data from outdated records systems, creating hundreds of individualized PowerPoint presentations from Excel data, testing for conflicts of interest, interactive reporting on several thousand rows of survey data, games, quizzes, cost estimators, and automated budget calculations to use every penny on salary increases for hundreds of employees based on a changing ratio of performance and longevity, plus so much more.
Some automation works on existing Word documents or Excel workbooks, for example, to accommodate the addition of a new office in the firm's letterhead when repurposing a letter, to apply firm styles on paragraphs that meet specific criteria, to insert a formatted Table of Contents section with standardized title, to set document-level options, to remove default settings, to consolidate selected data and apply advanced filters, to generate reports based on particular attributes, to print envelopes, plus so much more.
As is the case with all the training, support, and special projects I do for my clients, the goal here is for your investment to easily pay back for itself in ease, time savings, and productivity.
The great majority of companies invest in Microsoft Office without ever getting it customized to do their specific work for them. We live and work in the computer age. Automation delivers on that promise. Click a button and a fully customized dialog box opens, one which can read in options from a text file stored on your server. Select your options (which can include reading and click OK... and part of your task – or the entire thing – is done.
► What customized automation in Microsoft Office would help you get your work done more accurately in less time?
"Rob has worked with Tab Service on several automation and reporting projects involving VBA programming in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and/or Word. Each project presented Rob with difficult programming and formatting challenges that he tackled professionally and completed successfully. Rob has a comprehensive grasp of all Microsoft Office products and possesses excellent communication skills. He handled each project effectively and our clients have always been very pleased with the outcomes his work has produced. I have no hesitation recommending Rob Mendell for any project involving Microsoft Office automation techniques."
— Bob Lambert,
President at Tab Service Company
Recommendation on LinkedIn
"Rob Mendell did an absolutely wonderful job in preparing conflict waiver letter macros. I cannot tell you how helpful Rob was and what an enormous help the letters/macros will be to our letter writing group."
— Mia Jiganti,
Director of Conflicts Administration, DLA Piper
Excerpt from an email message to the Training Manager of DLA Piper
— Bob Lambert,
President at Tab Service Company
Recommendation on LinkedIn
"Rob Mendell did an absolutely wonderful job in preparing conflict waiver letter macros. I cannot tell you how helpful Rob was and what an enormous help the letters/macros will be to our letter writing group."
— Mia Jiganti,
Director of Conflicts Administration, DLA Piper
Excerpt from an email message to the Training Manager of DLA Piper