Excel 2007: Microsoft Advisory Services Engagement Scenario - Custom Code Solutions

SUPPORT SOLUTION:
Assisting customers in the development of custom code solutions to resolve business application and or business automation challenges. (Potential products that this solution could be applied to are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio and Publisher). Assisting customers in the development of custom code solutions to resolve business application and or business automation challenges. Applications that this solution could be applied to are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio and Publisher. Note: These solutions can be delivered in VBA, xml, html, JavaScript etc.This Advisory can be further divided into multiple scenarios based on the specific customers’ requirements i.e. existing code that needs to be modified or new code that has to be created (see table below).Collapse this tableExpand this tableIs this existing code that needs to be modified?Is this new code that needs to be created?• Has this been created “in house” or third party? Is a development resources available? (Developer and/or full access to code.) • Is this part of a migration? For example, New User Interface, Environmental upgrades, changes (new version or new software hooks required into new applications) • What is the ask? For example, Performance enhancement, Change existing output, Fix errors?• Is this a business automation request? Is it impacting one application or multiple applications? • Is this existing code that has stopped functioning? (Note: This could be break fix)• Is this a business rule not covered by existing system/application policy? For example, enforce styles/footers/disable functionality.Guidelines to determine if this is a custom code Professional Advisory
4,
What version of the application (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio and Publisher) are you using?What version of development platform are you using?What is the operating system and version?How many users will use this solution?Would you classify your question as “how can I get the application (Excel, Word etc.) to do this” or “Application is failing (error, crash, etc.) when I do this”Does code preexist or has any code been written for this task? Existing Code:Is there a problem with the existing code?Are there any application error messages?Are there any runtime error message?Is the application crashing or hanging?Is the code running successfully, but not accomplishing what you need it to do?Did you want us to modify the existing code?Is the existing code all written in VBA through the VBE?Was any of the existing code developed via third party?Is the individual(s) that wrote or support the existing code still available?No Existing Code:Are there any application error messages?Can you perform the task through the UI?Does the task involve decision making (logic)?Is this solution required to work around a documented application limitation/by design? If Yes, What is the Article?Is this solution required to work around a documented Bug? If Yes, What is the Bug number?.Scoping questions

Gather environmental and product information:What version of the application (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio and Publisher) are you using?
What version of VBA or development platform are you using?
What is the operating system and version?
What languages are being used (E.g. French, Spanish etc.)

Please describe what you are trying to accomplish in the application:Task automation
Document efficiency and or performance
Complex worksheet formula usage
Mail MergeAdditional development considerations;
What is your experience with the development platform and will you be the one supporting this code?
How many users will employ this process/code?
Is this code being deployed to your users or to your customers? (Internal or external)
Will they be running the code from the client side?
Will you be pulling data from the server?
Will data be coming in from an import/export or copy/pasted in?
Please provide any additional information about your environment that may be of help (network, data input, etc.)?

Does code preexist or do you require new code to be written?Existing Code:
Explain what the existing code does, and what you expect it to do?
Are there any Application error messages? (Do you know where in the code it is breaking)
Are there any runtime error messages?
Is the application crashing or hanging?
Did this code function correctly in a previous version of the Office Application?
Was any of the existing code developed via Third party or in house developer?
Do we still have access to the third party and or in house developer that supports the existing code?
Can you do the same functionality via the UI?
Are there any non-office Object Models being used (file system object, ADO, windows API, xml, references)
Is the code using only VBA?
Any COM and or application add-ins? Is OLE automation being used? (i.e. is Excel controlling Word)
Please provide any additional details or assumptions regarding your existing code. (Data Layout, data source, environment, logic)
No Existing Code:
Are there any application error messages?
Can you perform the task through the UI?
Is the task repetitive? Please describe or demonstrate.
Does the task involve decision making (logic)?
Will the data or layout of the data being used always be the same, if not, how will it vary/change?
Will you always want the output to be the same, if not, what are those conditions?
Please provide any additional details or assumptions regarding your existing code. (Data Layout, data source, environment, logic)
.Below is a list of self-help resources or this scenario. These resources may also be used by Microsoft Support Engineers during an Advisory Services engagement..Word

Word Object Model Overview
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/kw65a0we(VS.80).aspx)
Documents that have attached templates take a long time to open in Word 2002 and in Word 2003
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/830561)
Sample macro to print all Word documents found in a folder
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306346)
Sample macro that uses a loop to find text in Word documents
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306338)

Welcome to the Word 2010 Developer Reference
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee861527(v=office.14).aspx)
Word 2010 Object Model Changes Since Earlier Versions
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee836186(v=office.14).aspx)
Customizing the 2007 Office Fluent Ribbon for Developers (Part 1 of 3)
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa338202(office.12).aspx)
How Do I Videos for Office Developers
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/bb496949.aspx)
How Do I: Use Word Content Controls?

(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/cc315062.aspx)
How Do I: Manipulate Custom XML Parts in Word 2007
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/bb510382.aspx)
.Excel

Excel VBA Performance Coding Best Practices
(http://blogs.msdn.com/b/excel/archive/2009/03/12/excel-vba-performance-coding-best-practices.aspx)
Excel Programmability
(http://blogs.msdn.com/b/excel/archive/tags/programmability/)
Programmability Improvements in Excel 2010
(http://blogs.msdn.com/b/excel/archive/2010/01/27/programmability-improvements-in-excel-2010.aspx)
Excel Object Model Overview
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/wss56bz7(VS.80).aspx)
291308 How to select cells/ranges by using Visual Basic procedures in Excel
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;291308)
141762 XL: How to Use Looping Structures in Visual Basic for Applications
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;141762)
.PowerPoint, Visio & Publisher

PowerPoint Object Model Reference
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb251394(office.12).aspx)
Publisher Object Model Reference
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa437535(office.12).aspx)
How Do I: Automate PowerPoint from an Excel Add-in?
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/bb839515.aspx)
How Do I: Create Custom Menu and Toolbar Items in Visio 2007
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/bb510382.aspx)
.General VBA Links

Getting Started with VBA in Office 2010
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee814735.aspx)
Ten Tips for Microsoft Office VBA Library Development
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa164019%28office.10%29.aspx)
Programming resources for Visual Basic for Applications
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/163435)
.Note This is a “FAST PUBLISH” article created directly from within the Microsoft support organization. The information contained herein is provided as-is in response to emerging issues. As a result of the speed in making it available, the materials may include typographical errors and may be revised at any time without notice. See Terms of Use
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=151500)
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