MacTech magazine included with its April issue a 150 page Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to AppleScript Transition Guide. Now the company has posted it online for free. It’s also available for PDF download or in a print version, for additional fees.
Microsoft’s decision to excise VBA from the next version of Microsoft Office for the Mac has left IT administrators and network support techs scurrying for solutions that will help them migrate users who depend on custom VBA scripts. Microsoft’s putting its faith in AppleScript to get the job done, and MacTech’s guide offers in-depth explanations for how to make the switch.
The guide features step-by-step instructions and was authored by some of the biggest experts on VBA, AppleScript and Office in the industry. Topics include AppleScript basics, AppleScript in Microsoft Office, specific information on converting Word, Excel and PowerPoint VBA macros to AppleScript, an introduction to Entourage scripting (interesting, since Entourage doesn’t use VBA at all), and a list of resources.