Book Review : Excel Programming with VBA Starter by Robert Martin

This blog will focus on a book review that I was invited to join in helping out in doing a technical review with publisher Packt Pub (2010-present).

Robert Martin (2012) "Excel Programming with VBA Starter" [accessed 10 June 2013] has done a good job of laying out a pathway  for beginners to pick up the pace of doing Excel formulas into becoming a VBA programmer.

The book cover these broad topics into sections.

The first section discusses what is Excel's macro and shows possibilities to simplify complex using the power of macros. Introduces the reader the macro environment known as the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) and how would the reader go about in finding out where to create their first macro.

Once the reader develops confidence of creating macros with the macro recorder and learning the "words" of the macro language so to speak. This macro language are described as objects. Objects are represented to perform specific actions as formulas do in calculation or to alter the way information is displayed or presented like changing colours of cells in a spreadsheet.

Next sections covers modules which are a grouping the similar tasks and/or macros. The book discusses how to create modules and functions that returns information after working out a complex maths formula. Variables are mentioned which are often used by programmers to track how many times certain information has been processed. Variables do differ according to their type so the author has done well to expand the reader understanding of what type of variables are used for many things.

The same section assists understanding that there many types of tasks as there are variables which macros can be used to perform on Excel's data. To provide an example, the reader will appreciate how to follow down a large list of financial data in a sheet using a loop that examines the totals with a calculation of a discount in the next cell.

Lastly, the understanding of what objects is and how they affect with each other is expanded to help readers learn more about complex topics of VBA such as Classes and Enumeration.

The book contains good examples to guide the reader through and offers a comprehensive list of website links for readers to seek further on their own art of programming.

Til then,
Peter.

Excel, VBA and Software Development tools Intro.

This blog introduces readers to all the information in regards to Excel, VBA, Software development and thinking tools encouraged for communicating with others.

For Excel
I am excited to have found a very helpful online community resource called GCFLearnFree.org
(1998- present day) "GCFLearnFree" [accessed 13 June 2012] is a free online learning course for the general population. Excel 2007 and Excel 2010 lessons are available.

For VBA
To save my time reinventing the wheel, I took a look on the Internet of what other websites offered in regarding teaching VBA.

Peter (1997–present) from his website "Excel Macros Programming" [accessed 13 June 2012] has been teaching VBA for all versions for a general audience in positive tone & approach as Peter's (1997) profession as an accountant/businessman by trade. Therefore, I feel it is a good cover point in knowing the basics and simple programming tasks such as modules, functions to simplify complex calculations and procedures.

Chip Pearson  (1997-present day), "Pearson Software Consulting, LLC" [accessed 13 June 2012] explains VBA classes including how to construct them. Pearson (1997) uses the context of business employee to guide the readers about classes.

David Horowitz's contribution to Cimaware software website (2000–present) "Using Classes in VBA | Expert Zone" [accessed 13 June 2012]. Frankly, I found it helpful when someone provides a different context learning classes which Horowitz (2000) used information about dogs. I got the point very quickly there.

Bruce McPherson from his Excel Rambling site (2011–present) "Excel Liberation" [accessed 13 June 2012] provided great contributions to eggheadcafe (2000–present day) [accessed 13 June 2012] for .net developers and extend Excel VBA for integration of other emerging techolongies such as javascript. Bruce (2011) has a no nonsense and to the point approach. Mcpherson (2011) [accessed 13 June 2012]  showed what you really need to understand and learn about VBA then expand that approach about classes [accessed 13 June 2012].

Classes are a means of describing objects related to the real world. I would like to take advantage of using classes to describe the business, associated business practices with modern programming software practices.

For software development
I am inspired by the following books from Head First series, published by O'Reilly Media.

Software Development by Dan Pilone; Russ Miles (2008) 
· Object-Oriented Analysis & Design by Brett D. McLaughlin, Gary Pollice & David West (2007) here
· Design Patterns by Elizabeth Freeman, Eric Freeman, Bert Bates, Kathy Sierra, Elisabeth Robson (2004) here

For other topics
Edward de Bono (1992) developed a thinking tool that was later published into a book titled Teach your Child How to Think. The book is available from Amazon here and has been very helpful for me to discuss ideas in later blogs.

Varing points of view in regards to the content will be highlighted. There is a total of 7 attention directing tools along with 6 coloured thinking hats to show different types (or ways) of thinking. The table below summarises the tools available in no particular order. I'll describe the tools when we use them.

The table below has been developed from Edward de Bono's book Teach your Child How to Think (1992)

Name of Tool	Meaning and purpose of tool
Attention directing tools
CAF – Consider all factors	Used to increase the scope or widen the topic at hand.
APC – Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices	Instead of moving forward, we go sideways or in parallel of the topic.
OPV – Other People’s Views	Recognising that thinking affects people, we need to see their values.
C&S – Consequence and Sequel	If an action is taken now, what consequences will occur in the future
PMI – Plus, Minus & Interesting	A method to explore each part before making judgements
AGO – Aims, Goals and Objectives	A means to break down a problem into smaller parts to be achieved.
FIP – First Important Priorities	Which part do we get to do first?
Types of thinking (6 thinking hats)
White Hat	Facts, figures and information
Red Hat	Emotions, feelings, hunches and intuition.
Black Hat	Caution, truth, is this safe to proceed?
Yellow Hat	Advantages, benefits, savings
Green Hat	Suggestions, new different ideas
Blue Hat	Thinking about thinking. The approach of thinking.

In conclusion, I have discussed what Excel does, what VBA does, how to do classes in VBA, where I received ideas for software development and suggested some ideas explaining how to think about problems.

Til then,
Peter.

Fictional Business Plan

This blog explains the creation of a fictional business plan

I borrowed a business book by Greg Balanko-Dickson (2006), "Tips and Traps For Writing an Effective Business Plan" from my local library. This book is also available on Amazon, just click on the link.  Greg covered many steps involved in making a business plan which I used his points to realise the overall business as examples for blogs.

The information below is just a matter of putting my raw imagination into context for business. All names and places are purely fictional.

The company name is called "J&J's Groceries - You select! We deliver Grocery!". I choose the name as the company provides good thought into a brand name for customers in selecting good quality food (fruit and veggies) from the stores at various locations and the company delivers their food at their earliest convenience.

Business industry is a Grocery and Food Delivery Industries combined. There are three competitors, named "Brians Groceries", "Council Food Deliveries" (similar to "Meals on Wheels" form of service which is managed by a council by volunteers), "Supermarket Fresh" a local supermarket. Excel will be used to find how much share of the industry or market is currently the strongest.

Structure of the company is a small business aged three years old managed by two brothers named Jane and Joe Bros Limited. The ownership is registered by Jane who is in partnership with his younger brother Joe. Jane (pronounced JA-ne) is a business-oriented person who learnt a diploma in TAFE about managing a business. Joe is an experienced green grocer who their late father Back has handed down their family tradition of grocery store to Joe. Joe has asked Jane if he could take care of the business so Joe can focus primarily on goods and supplies. This has worked out well as long as Jane can keep the language simple that Joe could follow and understand about how the business runs.

The staff roles and some responsibilities are listed as follows
Jane and Joe - Business owners. Jane is an afternoon type of worker. Jane will manage the store, briefly review business operations, handle some order processing and finish with some delivery using his own car for customers orders. Joe is a morning type of person who is always follow the rising of the sun to buy daily groceries from various suppliers and be the first in the store selling them to customers before Jane enters the store at around about lunch time.
Shelly - business secretary and receptionist who mostly works in the office and produce reports for both Jane and Joe at various times of the day regarding the flow of business in general.
Eric - Store man manager who works well with Joe in the morning with spending money on goods acquired in the early morning shopping with suppliers and Eric then ensures they are delivered into the store house on time for processing customers and business orders.
Porter - Business only delivery trucker who ensure all orders are delivered to business as a priority.
Mick - an IT university student currently doing some work experience in the business sector to fulfill a business profile study for the course. Micks current Excel skills will become invaluable to both Jane and Joe gaining a snapshot of what occurs in the business. Further blogs will be developed as the story unfolds on how Mick can work towards improving the business.
Ashley, Furnis, Doein - young part-time workers helping out the business. Processing goods in the warehouse for orders/requests into deliveries packages for truck delivery.
Walter - A family friend who is a qualified accountant whom regularly audits the bookkeeping practices, helps out with business tax returns and ensure the financial strategies are sound.

The customer demographics are deliberately set to be simple. We have 6 types of consumers accordingly to their needs.
1) Morning Groups - Various fresh food for families or early starters who are up in the morning often needs fruit for their lunches on their way to work.
2) Afternoon Groups - Various fresh food for workers who walks in for their lunch consisting of fruit or families who have time to get vegetables for dinner.
3) Evening Groups - Various fresh food for later workers who needs to make their dinners
4) Business catering - Fresh food at a modest bulk price to serve food for business lunches.
5) Business restaurants - Fresh food for discounted price.
6) Business cafe - Fresh food as a negotiable price for cafe.

The Suppliers - 5 suppliers were identified.
1) Locally - "Grocery Farmers Market" is the main distribution hub where many local farmers produce their fruits and vegetables. Prices are set at wholesale for bulk containers. Competitors also shows up there.
2) Locally - "Paddy Orchards" for a seasonal and a limited number of stock on fruits only.
3) Locally - "Shack Vegetables" for seasonal and limited stock on vegetables only.
4) Interstate - "Fields Orchards" is a small family owned business providing distribution of their own farmers produce.
5) International - "Hardy Garden Market" is the wholesale distribution for special fruit and vegetables recognised by some customers not produced locally.

The products or goods are basically fruits and vegetables that are managed according to seasons as the suppliers rotate their goods due to availability. Further blogs will be required to explain this section in depth.

The services have not changed over the last three years which is basically put the goods in printed boxes of various sizes to allow better handling and storage on Porter truck or Jane car.

Operational procedures
Administration and Office Manager (Jane & Joe on a time rotation basis, Shelly full time for delegated tasks)
Responsible for some administration, office management, financial keeping and reporting.
· Cash flow management: tracks and analyse financial performance
· Internal control systems: budgets, purchase orders, credit approval and collection.
· Weekly and monthly ratio reports and analysis reports.
· Account receivable collection: maintains average receivables aging 30 to 60 days
· Job costing
· Payroll
· Accounts payment (A/P) and accounts receivable (A/R)
· Overseeing of shop expenses
· Handling of bank reconciliations
· Forecasting of A/P and A/R on a weekly basis with operations manager.
· Individual case studies for major purchases, as needed

Operations Manager - Dispatch and Sales (Eric and Porter)
Management of the day-to-day operations
· Purchasing goods from suppliers
· Maintaining on-time pickup and delivery schedules according to customers demand
· Maintaining daily drivers logs
· Completing dispatch and billing orders
· Compiling weekly management reports
· Sales: Maintaining contact with all major accounts (weekly) and actively establishing relationships with new customers (1 per week).
· Work Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm
· On call roster 24/7

Equipment Maintenance
Jane & Joe has a contract agreement with provider "Tracey's business suppliers" for all primary equipment and maintenance repairs which also include office equipment like computers and photocopiers.

Processes
Early morning is mostly purchasing goods from suppliers according to customer demand
Delivery of goods to arrive in shop / warehouse
Load the shop for regular customers while warehouse starts business packaging
Commence delivery of packaging during the day while customers orders will be generated at the end of the day
Finalise all delivery that are outstanding before closing up the shop

This business has 5 goals.
1) Maintain good food quality - Ensure the quality of food and proper food handing procedures remains high by asking customers a survey of their business at the end of each month. Data is collected and audited by Walter against financial and business performance.
2) Delivery commitment - Ensure all goods received from the suppliers arrived within no more than 3 hours from purchase to allow processing of orders/requests from customers. Ensure all delivery of customers orders/requests are completed with 4 hours maximum. All information are recorded on paper based notes with different time-based stamps.
3) Stakeholders complaints procedure - Ensure all complaints are recorded in a timely manner that can be reviewed and actions are communicated back to the stakeholders affecting the business. Data is collected and audited by Walter against financial and business performance monthly.
4) Financial goals - Ensure a buffer of at least 2 to 3 percent of total cash flow is achievable to cater any unexpected risks to the business.
5) Implement a risk management process throughout the business - This will improve occupational and health safely issues raised in the workplace.
That will be enough to get started on the next blog. I will create an introduction to Excel and VBA before addressing the transfer of content into Excel.

Til then,
Peter.