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Microsoft Says Visual Basic Returning to Office

Microsoft Says Visual Basic Returning to Office

by , 3:05 AM EDT, May 13th, 2008

Microsoft dropped Visual Basic for Applications with the release of Office 2008 for the Mac, but now plans to bring the macro scripting language back with the next version of its office application suite. Many long-time Office for the Mac users discovered that documents with macros broke after moving to Office 2008.

While Microsoft enhanced AppleScript and Automator support in Office 2008, many VBA macro users found that their documents simply failed to function properly and required rewritten scripts. The limitation also meant that documents that rely on VBA macros were no longer cross-platform compatible.

Company spokespeople commented "Although the Mac BU increased support in Office 2008 with alternate scripting tools such as Automator and AppleScript -- and also worked with MacTech Magazine to create a reference guide, the team recognizes that VBA-language support is important to a select group of customers who rely on sharing macros across platforms."

Craig Eisler, general manager of the Mac BU, added "As we set our course for future versions, we are working closely with customers and will also expand our staff to ensure that Office for Mac remains the most powerful and compatible productivity suite for Mac customers."

Microsoft did not offer a time frame for the release of the next version of Office for the Mac, but considering that the current version was released only a few months ago, it's likely VBA scripters will have to wait at least another year.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:Guest
Tue May 13, 2008 3:52 am Subject: VBA back - wonder why

With typical MS approach - give mac users less - this seems about turn. Or is it that OpenOffice will have VBA in ver 3.0 (beta now available free for Intel)

I also read that Office for mac was having record sales - why. for heaven's sake when OO if free
Folks must be crazy


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Close Name:Jimbode Posts: 7 Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Tue May 13, 2008 6:18 am Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
I also read that Office for mac was having record sales - why. for heaven's sake when OO if free
Folks must be crazy

Maybe because MS are doing deals through work. I brought Office for Mac '04 and '08 also MS Office '07 for Boot Camp, all for Ј17 each (about US$33). Offered to 1000 people where I work, they count as sales.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue May 13, 2008 11:17 am Subject: VBA Will be Back

The real question is will it be relevant? When MS Office 2012 comes out, how many people will care that it now has VBA again? How many people will have found a way to work around the macros - such as giving up one platform or changing thier office program?

Once again MS figures out how to kill a feature/program through neglect and then, when users no longer ask for the feature/program, put it out to pasture.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue May 13, 2008 11:51 am Subject: That was quick

I'm on one of those survey mailing lists, where they ask you to take corporate surveys in exchange for points. Just last week there was one about macro usage in MS Office products. So while I doubt that my answers really mattered all that much (I'm still on 2004 because macros are important to my workflow), it's evident that MS was soliciting user feedback before making this decision. Now, whether the survey was used to influence todays announcement, or if it was merely used to justify a decision they had already made, we may never know. But it is nice that macros will be coming back.


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Close Name:Dirt Road Posts: 1239 Joined: 24 Oct 2002
Tue May 13, 2008 2:25 pm Subject: I'll believe it when I see it

Trusting Microsoft (or any large software company) to follow through on their promises is right up there, in my book, with trusting car dealers.

Meanwhile, OOo 3 (beta) has added VBA support. I'm fiddling with it on & off, although I haven't tried the VBA piece(s) yet.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue May 13, 2008 5:27 pm Subject: VB macro virus

yes, package it with VB macro so that the macs will get virus too.


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Close Name:Guest
Tue May 20, 2008 6:21 pm Subject: Why wait for the next version?

Why can't they provide an update to 2008 instead of making us wait a year+ and purchase a new version again?


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