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Accessing Data and Data Analysis
BusinessObjects and Visual Basic for Appplications
Overview
You can customize BusinessObjects 6.x using the Microsoft Visual Basic for
Applications programming language. BusinessObjects 6.x has a Visual Basic
Editor that you can use to develop macros, add-ins and VBA data providers. The
Visual Basic Editor is the standard Microsoft VBA editor that you may already be
familiar with if you use Microsoft Office products.
This chapter describes how to use macros and add-ins in BusinessObjects. For
information on building VBA data providers, see Using Visual Basic for
Applications procedures on page98.
What is a macro?
A macro is a series of commands and functions that are stored in a Visual Basic
for Applications module and can be run whenever you need to perform the task.
If you perform a task repeatedly, you can automate the task with a macro.You
create macros using the Visual Basic Editor.
What is an add-in?
Add-ins are programs that add optional commands and features to
BusinessObjects. Add-ins are usually created by those responsible in your
company for adding customized features to BusinessObjects. All you probably
need to do is install and uninstall add-ins that are sent to you.
Before you can use an add-in, you must install it on your computer and then load
it in BusinessObjects. Add-ins (*.rea files) are installed by default in the UserDocs
folder in the BusinessObjects folder. Loading an add-in makes the feature
available in BusinessObjects and adds any associated commands to the
appropriate menus.
Unloading an add-in removes its features and commands from BusinessObjects,
but the add-in program remains on your computer so you can easily load it again.
You can use your own Visual Basic for Applications programs as custom add-ins.
For information about making a Visual Basic for Applications program an add-in,
see the BusinessObjects SDK Reference Guide.
What about the scripts I used in BusinessObjects 4.1?
The scripts that you created using the ReportScript programming language can
be automatically converted into Visual Basic macros by BusinessObjects 6.1.
See Converting scripts to macros on page516 for information on how to do this.