Does VBA contain a comment block syntax?

Question

In VBA is there a short way to comment out a block of code the same way java uses /*...*/?

Solution 1

Although there isn't a syntax, you can still get close by using the built-in block comment buttons:

If you're not viewing the Edit toolbar already, right-click on the toolbar and enable the Edit toolbar:

Then, select a block of code and hit the "Comment Block" button; or if it's already commented out, use the "Uncomment Block" button:

Fast and easy!

Solution 2

prefix the comment with a single-quote. there is no need for an "end" tag.

'this is a comment

Extend to multiple lines using the line-continuation character, _:

'this is a multi-line _
   comment

This is an option in the toolbar to select a line(s) of code and comment/uncomment:

Solution 3

There is no syntax for block quote in VBA. The work around is to use the button to quickly block or unblock multiple lines of code.

Comments

[Mark C.]

Yes and it's called "Comment Block" AND, it may not be present on your toolbar. If not, right click a toolbar in the VBE and choose "Customize". On the Commands tab, choose "Edit" and scroll down the Commands list until you find it. Drag to a toolbar. Do the same for the "Uncomment Block" icon from here

[RubberDuck]

stackoverflow.com/a/12933280/3198973

[Tim.DeVries]

This works but I am looking for something i can put at the end and at the start of an already existing block of code rather than something on every line.

[RubberDuck]

Doesn't exist the way you want it @Tim.DeVries.

[David Zemens]

@Tim.DeVries there is no such functionality in VBA. Your best alternative is to simply use the cursor to select multiple lines of code and press the button for "Comment Block" from the menu bar. There is no syntax that does this.

[David Zemens]

Curious why you'd un-accept my answer (two weeks later!) in favor of a nearly-identical answer that was posted ~2 hours after mine... I have no need for the karma here, I'm just trying to find out why this answer is not good for you now, when it was originally...

[Andre]

This answer doesn't add anything to the accepted answer.

[Some_Guy]

If you really want to comment out a code block without changing each line, you can just put a goto before it and a label after it. A bit ugly but its done all the time in batch and VBScript. stackoverflow.com/a/19747128/4842964 stackoverflow.com/questions/8526946/…

[David Zemens]

@Some_Guy that may or may not work depending on circumstances (and many people also don't like peppering their code with GoTo statements, as a matter of style). At the very least, that method still requires the full "commented" block must compile, otherwise it's useless. try it: i.imgur.com/Z2WksP0.png

[Some_Guy]

That's just because you're missing beans.dll

[Some_Guy]

@DavidZemens That's just because you're missing beans.dll

[Some_Guy]

But good point, as I said, it's ugly. People hate goto but GoTo Commented_Out doesn't make for unclear control flow, and allows you to quickly comment out a block of (compilable) code. But yeah, it's a bit ugly, and entirely down to preference. Commenting out code is generally bad style anyway, but if you want to as a quick and dirty solution then a goto works just fine, and doesn't require you to mess around with the crap IDE or adding stuff to each line.

[David Zemens]

@Some_Guy I actually like the idea and it's never occurred to me to do that before :) just pointing out some limitations . And you're right, I am missing the beans.dll...

[Forcuti Alessandro]

I don't understand why multiline comments are implemented in this way. If I must repeat "_" character ad the end of new line then I use the ' character