VBA
HOW DO YOU STOP RECORDING A MACRO?
Step 1: Go To Developer tab from the main ribbon of Excel window.
Step 2: Click on ‘Stop Recording’ command button to stop from the recording macro.
HOW DO YOU RUN A MACRO IN EXCEL?
Press the “play” button on the macro toolbar.
Or use the keyboard shortcut “Alt+F8” to open the macro dialog box, where you can then select the macro you want to run.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO FOLLOW BEFORE BEGINNING WITH MACROS?
Go to File > Options > Customise Ribbon. Then, in the Customise the Ribbon section, under Main Tabs, check the Developer check box, and press OK.
HOW DO YOU SAVE AN EXCEL MACRO?
When you write a macro, it is saved automatically in the workbook where you wrote it; there is no need to save it separately. However, you must save the workbook in macro format (.xlsm). When you try to save a workbook with a macro in another format, Excel warns you.
HOW DO YOU RUN A MACRO?
You can select a macro from the list and run it. On the Developer tab, there’s a button called macros that, when clicked, displays a dialogue box with a list of macros from all open workbooks.
HOW TO ASSIGN VALUES TO AN ARRAY?
We can assign values to an array by:
‘Declare an array variable
Dim aValue (2) As Integer
aValue(0)=”first”
aValue(1)= “Second”
aValue(2)= “Third”
‘Or
Dim aValue () As Integer={” first “,”Second”,”Third”}
HOW TO ADD USERFROM TO A VBA PROJECT?
Step 1: In the VBA Editor window, navigate to the Insert menu.
Step 2: Select ‘UserForm to Add to Project’. In the Project Explorer, you can now see the newly added UserForm. The default UserForm name is ‘UserForm1’. You can change the name of the UserForm by using properties.
WHAT ARE VARIABLES IN EXCEL VBA USED FOR?
Variables are used to store data that can be referenced throughout the code. Text strings, numbers, and objects are examples of this. This information can be easily accessed and used later in the code by storing it in a variable. This makes coding much simpler and more efficient.
HOW CAN YOU STOP A VBA SCRIPT WHEN IT GOES INTO THE INFINITE LOOP?
By Ctrl+ Pause Break, key one can discontinue VBA script when it goes into an infinite loop
EXPLAIN HOW TO DEBUG A VBA CODE?
To debug a VBA code, follow the steps
Using Breakpoints (F9)
Step by step execution (F8)
Print & Immediate Window and Watch the window
HOW DOES “REFERENCE COUNTING” WORK IN VBA?
When a variable exits scope in VBA, the reference counter on the reference object is decremented. The reference counter is incremented when you assign the object reference to another variable. When your reference count reaches zero, the event is terminated.
WHY ARE USERFORMS USED AND HOW ?
For complex user input, userforms should be used. When using non-text as an input in an application, it is recommended to use Userforms rather than input boxes. When we use Userforms, a user can provide input an unlimited number of times, which is not the case when we use input boxes. This is accessed via the insert menu in your VBA editor, where you can then insert your code.
WHAT IS THE COMMENT STYLE IN VBA?
Comments are used to document the programme logic and user information so that future programmers can work seamlessly on the same code. In VBA, there are primarily two ways to represent comments.
1.) Any statement that begins with a single quotation mark is considered a comment.
2.) Alternatively, you can use the statement REM instead of the single quotation mark (‘).
EXPLAIN WHAT IS VBA OR VISUAL BASIC FOR APPLICATIONS?
VBA stands for Visual Basic for Applications; it is an event driven programming language developed by Microsoft. It is predominantly used with Microsoft office applications like MS-word, MS-Access, and MS-Excel.
WHERE CAN YOU WRITE YOUR VBA PROGRAM FOR MACRO?
Module is the place where you can write VBA program for Macro, to insert a Module navigate to Insert ->Module
HOW CAN YOU PASS ARGUMENTS TO VBA FUNCTIONS?
ByVal: If an argument is supplied to a procedure by Value rather than by the argument itself, then the procedure will only get the value passed, and any modifications made to the argument inside the procedure will be lost when the procedure exits.
ByRef: The actual address of the argument is supplied to the procedure when the argument is passed by reference. When the process is ended, any modifications made to the argument inside it will be recalled.
WHY DO ACTUARIES USE VBA?
Actuaries use VBA to automate repetitive Excel calculations, validate large datasets, and generate consistent outputs for pricing, reserving, and experience analysis. It is especially useful in recurring production reporting where accuracy and repeatability are critical.
HOW IS VBA USED IN FINANCE, ACTUARIAL, AND ANALYTICS ROLES?
VBA is used to automate Excel models, process large datasets, perform data validation, build reporting pipelines, and reduce manual errors in recurring workflows.
WHY IS VBA STILL WIDELY USED DESPITE PYTHON AND R?
VBA integrates directly with Excel, which remains the primary tool for financial and actuarial modelling, audit-friendly reporting, and business workflows. It allows automation without changing existing Excel-based processes.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MACRO AND AN EXCEL FORMULA?
Excel formulas perform calculations within cells, while VBA macros automate complete workflows such as importing data, transforming it, running calculations, formatting outputs, and exporting results.
WHAT IS OPTION EXPLICIT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Option Explicit forces all variables to be declared before use, preventing errors due to typos and improving reliability and auditability of models.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUB AND FUNCTION?
A Sub performs actions and does not return a value, while a Function returns a value and can be reused in calculations or Excel formulas.
WHEN WOULD YOU WRITE A FUNCTION IN ACTUARIAL WORK?
When a calculation needs to be reusable, such as discount factors, loss ratios, credibility formulas, or standardized validation rules.
HOW DO YOU IMPROVE VBA PERFORMANCE IN LARGE MODELS?
Avoid Select and Activate, use arrays for data processing, and turn off ScreenUpdating, Calculation, and EnableEvents during execution, restoring them afterward.
WHY SHOULD SELECT BE AVOIDED?
Select makes code slower, dependent on active sheets, and more prone to failure, reducing robustness and audit reliability.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE LARGE DATASETS EFFICIENTLY IN VBA?
Read data into arrays, process calculations in memory, and write results back to Excel in bulk instead of cell-by-cell operations.
WHAT ARE ARRAYS AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
Arrays store multiple values in memory and significantly improve performance when handling large datasets.
RANGE.VALUE VS RANGE.VALUE2 — WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Value2 avoids automatic date and currency conversions and is faster, making it safer for numeric-heavy financial and actuarial models.
HOW DO YOU FIND THE LAST USED ROW DYNAMICALLY?
Using:
Cells(Rows.Count, 1).End(xlUp).Row
This adapts to changing data sizes.
WHAT IS WITH…END WITH USED FOR?
It reduces repeated object references, makes code cleaner, and minimizes errors when working with the same object repeatedly.
CELLS VS RANGE — WHEN DO YOU USE WHICH?
Use Cells for dynamic indexing in loops and Range for fixed references, named ranges, or improved readability.
WHAT IS THISWORKBOOK?
ThisWorkbook refers to the workbook containing the VBA code, ensuring the code runs on the intended file.
THISWORKBOOK VS ACTIVEWORKBOOK — WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
ThisWorkbook is where the code resides; ActiveWorkbook is the currently active workbook and can change during execution.
WHAT IS ERROR HANDLING IN VBA?
It involves managing runtime errors using On Error GoTo or structured logic so errors are controlled, logged, and do not produce silent failures.
WHY IS ON ERROR RESUME NEXT RISKY IN ACTUARIAL MODELS?
It can suppress critical errors and lead to incorrect outputs, which is dangerous for financial or reserving calculations.
HOW DO YOU DEBUG VBA CODE?
Using breakpoints, step-by-step execution, the Immediate Window, Watch Window, and testing with controlled datasets.
HOW DO YOU STOP AN INFINITE LOOP OR HANGING MACRO?
Using Ctrl + Break (or Esc), then correcting loop conditions and adding proper exit safeguards.
WHAT IS AN EXCEL EVENT IN VBA?
Event code runs automatically on actions such as Workbook_Open or Worksheet_Change.
WHAT IS APPLICATION.ENABLEEVENTS?
It controls whether event macros run. It should be turned off during automation and restored afterward to prevent unintended triggers.
WHAT IS APPLICATION.SCREENUPDATING?
It controls visual refresh during macro execution; turning it off improves speed and avoids flickering.
WHY DO ACTUARIAL MODELS NEED STRONG VBA CONTROLS?
Because small errors can materially impact reserves or premiums, models must be transparent, validated, and reproducible.
HOW DO YOU ENSURE ACTUARIAL ACCURACY IN VBA OUTPUTS?
By using reconciliation checks, reasonableness tests, comparisons with known results, and peer review.
WHAT IS A RECONCILIATION CHECK?
A comparison of totals or key metrics against expected benchmarks to confirm completeness and accuracy.
HOW IS VBA USED IN ACTUARIAL RESERVING?
To build development triangles, aggregate claims by accident and development periods, and automate reserving summaries and reports.
HOW WOULD YOU BUILD A RESERVING TRIANGLE IN VBA?
By grouping claims using arrays or dictionaries by accident year and development period, populating the triangle, and validating totals against source data.
HOW DO YOU AUTOMATE DATA VALIDATION USING VBA?
By defining validation rules, flagging exceptions, generating an error report, and blocking model execution for critical issues.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE MISSING OR INVALID DATA?
Flag it, separate exceptions, document treatment rules, apply agreed defaults if appropriate, and ensure transparency.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT HARD-CODING IN MODELS?
Store assumptions in tables or named ranges and reference them dynamically.
WHAT IS A DICTIONARY OBJECT AND WHY IS IT USEFUL?
It stores key-value pairs and allows fast aggregation and lookup, ideal for grouping by policy, product, or accident year.
WHAT IS A VARIANT AND WHEN SHOULD YOU USE IT?
A Variant can hold any data type but uses more memory; use it only when the type is unknown or mixed.
INTEGER VS LONG — WHICH IS BETTER?
Long is safer for row numbers and large datasets as Integer can overflow.
WHAT IS DOEVENTS?
It allows Excel to remain responsive during long macros but should be used sparingly.
HOW DO YOU TEST VBA CODE FOR PRODUCTION?
Using base cases, edge cases, stress tests, reconciliations, and peer review.
HOW DO YOU PROTECT A MODEL FROM MISUSE?
By protecting sheets, locking VBA projects, validating inputs, and providing controlled buttons or macros.
WHY IS VBA VALUABLE FOR ACTUARIAL AND FINANCE PROFESSIONALS?
It improves efficiency, reduces manual errors, and strengthens controls and consistency in Excel-based modelling and reporting.
