How long does the Excel Macros and Working with Other Programs course take?

The course lasts one day and is taught in the open learning format. You work at your own pace on macros, links with Word, Access and PowerPoint, and the exchange of data between Office programs. An experienced trainer guides you individually, so that you focus on the topics that matter to you. You are welcome to bring your own practical examples.

What will you learn in the Excel Macros and Working with Other Programs course?

In this course you learn to record, understand and edit macros in order to automate repetitive tasks in Excel. You work with absolute and relative recording, the personal macro workbook and templates. You also create links with Word, Access and PowerPoint, and exchange data with external databases. Optionally, you can also focus on Excel with Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Do I need any prior knowledge for the Excel Macros and Working with Other Programs course?

Yes, you need advanced Excel knowledge. You already work confidently with formulas, functions and pivot tables, so that during the course you can get straight to work with macros and links to Word, Access and PowerPoint. Programming experience is not required. At the start of the day, the trainer discusses your starting level and adjusts the exercises accordingly.

What is the delivery format of the Excel Macros and Working with Other Programs course?

The course is delivered as an open learning day: a full course day in which you work on your own learning objectives in a small group, guided by an experienced trainer. Together with the trainer you decide which topics receive extra attention, for example recording macros, links with Word or Access, or optionally Copilot in Excel. You are welcome to bring your own practical examples.

Will I also be taught Copilot for Excel during this course?

Yes, Copilot in Excel is covered optionally during this course. Let us know at the start that you would like to spend time on this, and the trainer will explain how to use the AI assistant alongside macros. Think of generating formulas, analysing data and combining tasks with your own automated workflows. That way you make use of both classic automation and modern AI support.

Can I also take the Excel Macros and Working with Other Programs course in-company?

Yes, this course can also be taken in-company at your own workplace. That is useful when several colleagues want to learn to work with macros and links between Excel, Word, Access and PowerPoint at the same time. The content is agreed in advance, so that practical examples from your own organisation take centre stage. Request an in-company course via the course page for a tailored proposal.

When is this macros course more useful than following YouTube tutorials or an e-learning course on your own?

Self-study and YouTube work fine for individual macro recordings, but grind to a halt as soon as you have to edit code in the VBA editor, track down errors or create links with Word, Access or PowerPoint. In the open learning format you get a skilled trainer who discusses your starting level and tailors the exercises to your working situation. You may bring your own practical examples, for instance a recurring report that you want to automate. You won't get that in a general e-learning course. Choose self-study if you record the occasional macro. Choose this course if you want to understand, modify and integrate macros with other Office programs, or if you want to work with a personal macro workbook and templates. The optional explanation of Excel with Copilot is an extra that you rarely get in a coherent form in individual tutorials.

Does the VBA knowledge from this course also work in other Office programs such as Word and Access?

Yes. The VBA editor and the basic principles of macros (sub procedures, variables, loops, object model) are virtually identical in Excel, Word, Access and PowerPoint. What you learn in this course about recording, editing and debugging macros can therefore largely be reused in the other Office programs. The object model does differ per program: in Excel you work with Workbooks, Worksheets and Ranges, in Word with Documents and Paragraphs, in Access with Recordsets. The course explicitly covers how to create links from Excel to Word, Access and PowerPoint, for example to exchange data or access an external database. If you then want to build full VBA projects within Access or Word, a follow-up course aimed at that specific program is a logical next step.

What will you be able to do after this course that the average Excel user cannot?

After this course you will automate recurring tasks in Excel using recorded and manually edited macros. You will recognise the difference between absolute and relative recording, and know when to choose which. You will save macros in a personal macro workbook, so that they are available in every workbook. You will read VBA code in the editor, track down errors and adjust steps without recording again. You will also create links with Word, Access and PowerPoint, and exchange data with external databases. An average Excel user works manually with formulas and tables. From now on you will build small solutions that reduce actions taking minutes or hours to a single click. That difference is measurable in time saved per week.

How does this course fit into a learning path towards Excel Expert level?

This course forms the second half of the Excel Expert programme. The first half covers formulas, functions and pivot tables. This part focuses on two other expert skills: building macros and making Excel work together with Word, Access and PowerPoint. You can take both parts separately or combine them, depending on what you already know. If you take only this part, advanced knowledge of formulas and functions is recommended, because macros often act on calculations and data processing. Anyone who completes the entire Excel Expert programme covers the full breadth of advanced Excel use: analysis, reporting and automation. Unsure about your starting level? The trainer discusses this at the start of the day and adjusts the exercises accordingly.

How does this course compare with Power Query or Power Automate for automating Excel tasks?

Macros (VBA), Power Query and Power Automate solve different problems. Power Query is strong at retrieving, cleaning up and combining data from multiple sources, and refreshes with a single click. Power Automate automates workflows between apps, for example an email that adds a row in Excel. Macros excel at automating actions within Excel itself: formatting, calculations, buttons, and links with Word, Access and PowerPoint via VBA code. This course focuses on that last category. You learn to record macros, edit them in the VBA editor and link them to other Office programs. Optionally, the course also covers how Copilot in Excel helps you with formulas and analyses. For data import flows, Power Query usually remains the more logical choice; for repeatable actions and cross-Office links, macros are more powerful.

How does Copilot in Excel help with writing or understanding VBA macros?

Copilot in Excel (the AI assistant in Microsoft 365) can help with explaining existing VBA code, suggesting formulas and summarising or analysing data in tables. For recording and editing classic macros, the VBA editor remains the main tool; Copilot is mainly useful as a sounding board that explains code in plain language or suggests a first draft that you then check and adjust yourself. In this course Copilot is covered optionally, as an addition to the macro topics. You learn when Copilot saves time and when a recorded or manually written macro is more reliable, for example with recurring actions that have to run in exactly the same way. Important: Copilot requires a Microsoft 365 licence with Copilot access and works best in recent Excel versions.

Excel Macros and Working with Other Programs course

Name: Excel Macros and working with other programs
Price: 525.0 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 8.3 (7 reviews)

With macros you automate recurring tasks in Excel at the touch of a button. You learn to record, understand and adapt them, and to create links with Word, Access and PowerPoint. Optionally, we also pay attention to Excel with Copilot.

Description

In this course you work on automating repetitive tasks in Excel using macros. You record macros, run them, edit them in the editor and learn to trace errors. The difference between absolute and relative recording is also covered, as are the personal macro workbook and the use of templates.

An important part is the collaboration between Excel and other Office programs. You exchange data with Word, Access and PowerPoint, create connections with an external database and convert or import files. Sending workbooks and compatibility between versions are also covered. Optionally, the course pays attention to working with Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel.

This course forms the second half of Excel Expert. The first half focuses on formulas, functions and pivot tables. You take the course as an open learning day, working at your own pace under the guidance of an experienced trainer. You can bring practical examples from your own work situation, so that the exercises match your objectives.

Topics

Recording and running macros
Editing macros and tracing errors
Absolute and relative recording
Ways to start macros
Personal macro workbook
Working with templates
Integration with other Office programs
Converting and importing files
Exchanging data with Word
Exchanging data with Access
Connecting to an external database
Sending and sharing a workbook
Compatibility between versions
Optional: using Excel with Microsoft 365 Copilot

Result

After this course you take work off your hands by recording, understanding and adjusting macros in the editor. You automate recurring tasks at the touch of a button and you know how to trace and resolve errors in a macro.

You will create links between Excel and other Office programs such as Word, Access and PowerPoint, and exchange data effortlessly with external databases. Optionally, you will also learn how to use Copilot in Excel to work faster with data and macros.

Target audience

This course is intended for Excel users who want to automate common tasks with macros and exchange data between Excel and other Office programs such as Word, Access and PowerPoint. You already have experience with Excel and want to take a step towards expert level. Would you also like to discover how Microsoft 365 Copilot can speed up your work in Excel? That is covered optionally.

Teaching method

You take this course in our open learning format. This means you work on assignments in a small group at your own pace and level. An experienced trainer moves around the room, answers your questions and helps you along where needed.

You decide which topics to focus on. Do you have an example from your own practice? Bring it along and tailor the exercises directly to your work situation. That way you work specifically on what matters to you.

Prior knowledge

You need a basic knowledge of Excel. For example, you can work with formulas, functions and pivot tables, or you have taken the Excel Expert part 1 course. Programming experience is not required: you will learn macros step by step during this course.

Comments

You work through the exercises at your own pace and can always ask the trainer for help. Optionally, the course also covers Excel with Copilot, so you can see how AI can support your workflow. You are welcome – and indeed encouraged – to bring your own practical examples.

Course format

This training is offered on the basis of our Open Learning teaching method. This means that you work independently, with active guidance from our trainer, to master the material. That way you can achieve your learning objectives at your own pace, without being held back by fellow participants working faster or slower. The trainer makes sure that you stay on schedule and meet your learning objectives. This form of learning leaves room for a tailored approach. You have the opportunity to bring in examples from your own practice and IT environment, so that your learning is even more specific. more...

Language

The training is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer has a good command of English. English-language course material can be used. With a minimum enrolment of 3 participants, the training can also be given entirely in English.

Number of days:

1 day

Course times:

from 10 am to 5 pm

Study load:

7 hours

Education level:

This training is suitable for all levels.

Exemptions:

Exemptions do not apply to this course.

Preparation time:

No preparation time applies to this course.

Certificate:

At the end of the course, a certificate is issued as proof of participation.

The best training for you

At Learnit you will always find a course that takes you further. From (technical) IT skills to communication or personal leadership. You can also choose the training format that suits you best: a classroom course, a tailor-made course at your own office, an online course or an e-learning. We have the right course and the right format for everyone. Because learning in the way that suits you best delivers the best results.

Moving forward together

Taking a training course at Learnit means learning together. Together with your experienced trainer, together with your course group or together with your colleagues. And whether you take the training at home, at your office or at one of our training locations, we are always available to help you. To share our knowledge with you in a way that is genuinely useful to you. Getting further together through personal attention and understanding each other well; that is what we believe in.

Apply it directly in your work

Learning theory from a book that you can then hardly use in your work? Not at Learnit! Whichever training you take with us, you can put it to use at your workplace straight away. Because of the unique learning objectives you set together with the trainer at the start of the training. Because of the alternation between theory and (interactive) practical assignments. And by bringing the challenges you face in your daily work along to the training.