Directions: When solving the following
problems start with a blank piece of paper, read the problem, think about the
steps needed then start drawing the flowchart symbols on the paper in the
correct order. Use the sample flowchart symbols by using the link listed below, perhaps
printing them out and having them in front of you as you work would be helpful.
When done, click on the Flowchart solution link to see how well that you have
done, if your work does not match the solution, start over again with another
blank sheet of paper, keep practicing until you get it right. I say in class
learning programming is like learning to play the piano, you need to practice a
lot. I remember when I was first learning I could not play some songs fast
enough from reading the music because I had to keep looking at the positions of
my fingers, some songs I had to memorize to get up to speed, you need to memorize
the shapes and meanings of the flowchart symbols in the same way through
practice. Some students have said that learning programming is like taking a
foreign language, they are right, I remember taking French in college and
practicing in the language lab for hours on pronouncing the sentences correctly.
To learn the correct syntax of the VBA statements takes a lot of practice. Once
you get the flowchart correct follow the same plan for the program, start with a
blank sheet of paper, look at the finished flowchart and write a VBA statement
for each flowchart symbol. When done click on the VBA Solution Code link to see
how well you did, again if your work did not match the solution try again on a
blank sheet until you get it right. There are no short-cuts to learn
programming, it takes practice, practice, practice, you get out of something the
amount of work that you put into it, good-luck enjoy the
journey.
VBA Coding Tips: Remember most every program
has four main sections: 1) Declaring Variables 2) Getting Inputs 3)
Processing steps (Calculations) 4) Outputs This will help you put your
program statements in the right order. You might want to put these
four steps in your program code as comment statements to keep you on the
right path.
When typing in your code look at what the computer is telling
you on the screen. Once you type in a function name like InputBox it displays
the arguments in the correct order, please use it. Another example when you use an object like a command button (cmdCalculate); when you type in the period at
the end of the object name you get a pull-down list of properties and methods,
type in a few unique letter for the property or method and it will move to that
value in the list, just hit the Tab key to accept it. This not only saves a lot
of typing but also a lot of errors. This is called the intellisense feature of
VBA, please make use of it.
Really try to understand the code as you are
entering it, do not just type it in blindly. If you are having trouble understanding
a VBA statement like Rnd, select it, then press the F1 function key, this will
take you to Microsoft's site and give you help for the statement. If you are
lucky there may even be some example code listed for the statement, there has
been many a time when I copied this sample code into my program and then revised
it for my particular situation.