Recently there has been a tremendous outcry in the Office community swirling around the rumour that Microsoft is removing Visual Basic for Applications from future versions of Office. Business managers are wondering if they should bother with Excel VBA training programs if the macro language is on its way out.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, the rumours of VBA’s death have been greatly exaggerated.

Office 2008 Ships Without VBA

The controversy began when the latest version of the software suite for the Macintosh, Office 2008, was released without VBA support.

The reasons for the change were rooted in the Macintosh itself. It has always been difficult to keep VBA compatible with the Macintosh processors. It would have required a great deal of effort to maintain support for something that is used by no other application than Office.

Instead, the Macintosh version of Office supports AppleScript for macro creation. The object models of the two languages are equivalent so it is a simple matter of changing syntax. However “simple” doesn’t mean “easy” and workbooks with large, complicated macros are going to be difficult to upgrade.

VBA Is Safe in Windows Office

Recently, The Register reported that Office 2009, the next Windows release of Office, would also not include VBA. This was an incorrect report and The Register has since retracted the statement, but not before creating an online firestorm.

The reasons for the removal of VBA from Mac Office are irrelevant to a Windows environment. Microsoft has stated definitively that VBA will be in Office 2009 and they have no plans to remove it from future versions.

Should VBA Be Deprecated?

There is good reason for Microsoft to consider abandoning VBA in favour of a more secure macro environment. VBA is one of the biggest security holes in the Office suite and Microsoft is working to protect Office from all vulnerabilities. However the balance between future needs and backward compatibility has always been a tough decision for software developers.

Although VBA may eventually be deprecated from the Windows Office environment, that doesn’t mean the macros well become obsolete. For example, Microsoft removed XLM macros in favour of VBA in 1995 and yet they still function even in Excel 2007.

If Microsoft introduces a new, more secure macro language in Office 2009, VBA will still be an available tool and that means there will always be a place for Excel VBA training in your organization.

Even if your business uses only Macs, VBA is still part of the picture. Most organizations don’t immediately upgrade so older versions of Office are in use well after they cease to be the leading edge. When you do upgrade to Office Mac 2008, you are going to need Excel VBA training to understand those obsolete macros so that you can rewrite them in AppleScript.

Author is a trainer with a Microsoft Office Training company, the UK industry leader in its sector. For more information on Excel VBA Training, please visit http://www.microsofttraining.net/pages/courses/Excel2002VBA.shtm

The great problems that people have when they start a business are they maybe have great ideas but do not know how to transform them into a product.

Many are do not know how but to create but what to create. As a consequence they rely on external services, e.g. freelancer, programmers, writers, etc.

The time and the quality to release a product can be a disaster if they cannot clearly communicate what they want.

Experts talk about product specification and they say you need to provide a description of your idea and you are done.

Then when you ask for a book, a report or an ebook you may finally obtain something which is totally out of your thoughts.

The same happens for software applications and in these cases you may realize that if something does not work or is missing is because you did not clearly specify in your request.

Then you need to upgrade your contract and as a result you have an increase in costs and a shift of your time to market. You are leaving money on the table: more costs and less income. Maybe your competition can find an enhanced solution and you are out of the market.

The real problem lies on the fact that we all need to start well. The most important and difficult part in our business is to the starting point. It is a very stressing part but if well performed you can only enjoy the profits on.

We all tend to avoid stress and concentration on stuff that are not strictly related to the product creation. We only think to our idea and to make money.
We need to focus on two aspects: communication and documentation.

Communication is the most important aspects in human life. It is the means to transfer information among human beings. In your business you need to transfer your ideas to someone else who should transform it into a final product.

We all think that what is clear in our mind is clear to every one. We do not have to leave anything as expected. We should provide an explanation for every concept even the simplest one. In fact something which is obvious for us is not obvious for other people.

Misunderstanding is a great problem which often determines an ineffective and inefficient communication. Then we complain with the supplier thinking he/she is wrong when it was our fault not to underline some aspects which would be important for him/her to make the right things.

The second important aspect is the documentation.

People hate to read and write. Unless you are a writer you do not like to write down anything, especially if it takes a lot of time and effort.

Writing, and as a consequence documentation, is the main way of communication. Especially in official agreement it is the only way to formalize rules and requests.

You need to provide a good documentation to improve communication.

Well do not be scared. I do not mean you need to be a writer. When I talk about communication with the aim to transfer your idea into a specific request for developing a product I am talking about a clear statement of work which must be very clear and simple. In this way the supplier will have almost no doubt on how to proceed.

Moreover the documentation must cover every issue, feature and topic related to the product. You need to describe everything, including the conditions which can determine some variations of the specifications.

Clear statement of works cannot cause misunderstandings: black on white!

There are various secrets to create an effective documentation and this will be treated in another section.

Daniele Protti provides business management services to online businesses, courses, dedicated trainings to their employees or collaborators.
You can request for any kind of support with the aim to finally create a vision and a mission for your business.

http://www.davincistrategylab.com

What is stopping you from writing your own computer software? Do you think it will be too difficult? Do you think you will have to learn a new programming language? Do you believe that it would be boring?

If you have ever thought to yourself “I wish I could make my computer do …” or thought “I wish I could automate this task on my computer” then you are on your way to becoming a computer programmer.

Now, before you stop reading and think that computer programing is only for geeks and nerds, let me assure you that anyone can learn to program their computer. You can automate tasks and even create simple utilities that will save you lots of time and work.

The key to creating your own software is choosing a development tool that you find intuitive and easy to use. Many programming languages now have development environments that include drag and drop components that let you build windows and much of the program without actually writing any code.

Many languages, like BASIC and all its flavors, were designed with beginners in mind. These languages are relatively simple to learn compared to others. Additionally, there are many low-cost compilers available on line.

Recently a few programming tools have cropped up that allow you to make very simple software programs without any programming at all. These programs however are very limited in what they can accomplish. Most of these types of programs simply alter a template that you create in a text file. While these types of so-called development tools can, with a little imagination, allow you to create simple programs, they are not really robust enough to be considered true programming utilities.

Finally, you need to choose a programming language and development program that you can “connect” with. Sometimes a language just will not “click” for you, while another may come more naturally. By trying out several different options you can find the one that offers you the best combination of ease of use and flexibility.

While it may seem like an overwhelming idea at first, creating software is something that just about anyone can do. It takes a little patience at first and the ability to handle some trial and error, but it is possible for you to become a computer programmer.

Remember, decide what your goals are and seek out a programming tool that is both flexible and easy to use. Spend a little time learning the basics and soon you will be able to create your own computer programs.

James Pearson is the creator of the website http://www.freesoftwarecreator.com where you can find a robust programming utility that allows you to create real software programs without learning a programming language and a step-by-step video tutorial series.

Thought creating your own software programs was reserved for die-hard computer geeks? Think again!

If you have ever considered creating your own computer software, but thought that the time needed to learn a programming language and the cost of the development program were just too much, then you are in for a pleasant surprise.

Instant EXE is a software development program that allows just about anyone to create their own Windows-based computer programs. Want a utility to store your recipes? Need a tool to monitor a device on your network? Need to automate a process you do over and over again? Then Instant EXE just may be the solution for you.

There are two things that really make Instant EXE the ideal development tool for programming beginners as well as veterans. First, there really is no programing language to learn.

You see, instead of learning a complicated language Instant EXE (or jut IX for short) has a set of 50 highly customizable commands. Simply double-click the command from the list and it is inserted into your program, or script as they are called.

But, don’t let the fact that the program is easy to use make you believe that IX is not a robust development environment. Each of the commands is highly customizable using a graphical window for each. You do not need to remember or even type any routines yourself. Simply change the settings in the dialog box to change the command’s behavior.

IX’s completely graphical interface makes creating your own software much quicker and easier than other development utilities. Furthermore, there are hundreds of variables and formulas that you can choose from, giving you access to every property and setting imaginable.

The second attractive feature is that Instant EXE is completely free. You can create, compile, and distribute your own software without paying for the development environment or paying any royalties at all. This feature alone makes IX a great choice for hobbyists, network administrators, school and computer user groups, or anyone that wants to write their own software.

How can the company that produces IX support itself you ask? IX comes in 2 flavors. The standard flavor, which is sufficient for most people, doesn’t cost anything. However, if you want to unlock even more features you can upgrade to a low-cost paid version and even add in one of the growing number of plug-ins.

The plug-ins extend IX’s abilities even further. The database plug-in, for example, allows you to manipulate databases in the popular Microsoft Access format. The Browser plug-in allows you to include a web browser interface in your programs and even interact with those web pages. You could for example, automatically submit web searches using this plug-in.

Finally, IX has a very avid user group and forum where people exchange ideas and help each other out. If you’re looking to create a computer program of your own, then Instant EXE is definitely worth checking out.

James Pearson is the creator of the website http://www.freesoftwarecreator.com where you can find a robust programming utility that allows you to create real software programs without learning a programming language and a step-by-step video tutorial series.

The different types of project review each have their own characteristics and benefits. For any review however it is important to decide what the overall purpose is, and who should gain what from the output. This step is missed out in many cases and the design of the review is not given sufficient attention. Standard methodologies for carrying out project reviews can be helpful, but must be supplemented by intelligent thought! In the author’s experience a review should consider both the project management standards and the subject matter of the project. Mistakes in either or both of these can lead to disaster, and it can take considerable skill and knowledge to uncover the truth.

If you are responsible for a project’s success then you need the truth, and you are responsible for setting the principles and scope that will govern how effective the review will be in uncovering that truth. In particular you need to pick the reviewer so that you understand what bias is likely to be reflected in the results. Bias can arise from background, review methodology or political interests; and may not be intentional.

Bias due to interests
The review may been commissioned, designed or just operated by people who wish to prove certain results and disprove others. It may be that some wish to prove a particular methodology works, and therefore the review concentrates on the extent to which that methodology has been completely and fully employed. This may be completely different from assessing whether the project itself is likely to succeed or fail. The Prince2 manual for instance has a comprehensive healthcheck. This will check for the complete use of Prince2 but the questions are mostly of the ‘is there…item X’ type, and there are very few questions asking about the quality of any of the items whose existence is being checked. Jobs and career progress may be at stake and informal alliances may be formed to ensure that the “correct results” are obtained by the review.

Bias due to role
The UK government OGC gateway review is an externally focused health check which concentrates on the extent to which the project is still required and could deliver the benefits sought by stakeholders. It is also quite reasonably designed to protect a purchaser ( because the UK government almost always has this role ), rather than the creator or supplier of the project. This affects the questions and can lead to a situation in which the project is affirmed as meeting all the criteria for the purchaser but is doomed as a result of events being suffered by the supplier ( e.g. commercial losses, staff turnover etc. )

Bias due to reviewer’s background
There can be subtle issues arising from the background of those carrying out the project review. Some reviewers will be much more technologists than project managers, whilst others will be the reverse. Although it makes competent practitioners much harder to find there is a good case for insisting on both sets of skills.

Bias due to distance
Reviews are sometimes undertaken by those who inhabit a management world of reports. If they then communicate with project managers and others who are somewhat distant from the actual tasks then the overall effect may be that the blind are leading the blind. Remember that real people, somewhere, should be actually doing the work to deliver the tasks required by the project. A competent reviewer needs to find them, understand them and discover what they think. This necessitates not only people and managerial skills but also some understanding of the skills employed by the project staff.

Checklists
These are useful for ensuring appropriate coverage but it is equally important that the reviewer can think freely and explore the implications of the information that the project team give. This information is normally messy and ill organised. Coherent results pointing in a single direction are unlikely and the reviewer needs to be able to cope with

So what should the balance be ?
Project Management skills in medium or large projects are certainly critical as the need to be organised is a critical success factor. ‘Ready aim fire’ expresses the simple truth that without those competent to first aim the project team members in the correct direction there is little chance of the target being hit. It is important that clear business justification and rules for project control are created and maintained during the life of the project. Appropriate risk management and planning are also vital to enable the overall project to achieve its intended results.

That the reviewer also possesses a reasonable level of subject related understanding is also critical so that those who are undertaking the work can be questioned rigorously about the quality and assumptions underlying the work they are undertaking. This isn’t about the facility to do the work, but the ability to discuss designs, build dependencies, test conditions and the like in the detail that will establish whether the sequence of work intended is viable.

Reviews can be very important, but deciding who should carry them out, and how they should be undertaken is not simple. The most important determinant of success is your choice of reviewer.

Vernon Riley reviews IT projects as a project manager and technical consultant. He has 20 years experience of major IT projects, and the difficulties of delivering complex projects. Visit
http://www.kutchka.co.uk/projectreview.asp now to find out more.