Help - This is a new language to me

[Mark_Jamieson]

Hi there, hope someone can help me. I am used to visual basic which is obviously different. Is there any good guides anyone knows about how to get used to this or pointers on where to find the information. So excited (I know sad) to get some scripts working so I can speed up some of my more repetitive stuff and use new features on my base which I use daily and love it.

Cheers

Mark

[andywingrave]

Hey! I used this course to get me familiar with JavaScript and it has paid dividends:

Udemy

Learn Modern Javascript (Build and Test Apps) - Full Course

Master JavaScript with the most complete course! Projects, challenges, quizzes, JavaScript ES6+, OOP, AJAX, Webpack

Another one that people rate is the one by Wes Bos

[Mark_Jamieson]

Thanks for that will check it out… lol
I am just impatient

[Olpy_Acaflo]

Hi @Mark_Jamieson ,

About SCRIPT-BLOCK API itself + a lot of specialised js,
you will not forget to go THERE
and infos about its wonderful Author are HERE.

oLπ

[Bill_French]

Hi Mark, and welcome to the Airtable community!

Mark_Jamieson:

So excited (I know sad) to get some scripts working so I can speed up some of my more repetitive stuff and use new features on my base which I use daily and love it.

The VB-to-Javascript transition may seem daunting at first but if a near 70-yr-old accountant can do it, so can you. :winking_face:

There are many advantages to learning javascript in the context of Airtable which a number of members will most certainly demonstrate as you make this journey. Most importantly, with the essentials of javascript, you will be free to take advantages of many flavours of this language both client and server-side, so I predict your investment will pay big personal and professional dividends.

And here’s why you must not waste a moment diving in and reaching outside the VB box.

[kuovonne]

Welcome to the Airtable community!

I found that much of the knowledge used for writing scripts in Visual Basic transfer to writing scripts for Airtable. The two aspects that gave me the most trouble were the different syntax and different vocabulary.

The different syntax let to lots of syntax errors at first. Over time, the syntax errors will become less frequent as the brain starts to internalize the new syntax.

To deal with the different vocabulary (function &method names), find a JavaScript reference that you like and get used to googling.

Also, I used to use the debugger when using Visual Basic. There is no debugger for Scripting block. I find that I don’t miss it at all. I just do a lot of output.inspect instead.

[kuovonne]

Mark_Jamieson:

So excited (I know sad)

Not sad at all. Scripting block is both a shiny new toy and a powerful business tool. It can streamline many repetitive, tedious tasks, freeing time for whatever we find fun. I’d say it’s a great reason to get excited.

[kuovonne]

@Bill.French, thanks for the link to the article about Visual Basic. I enjoyed reading an article that recognizes how empowering and widespread Visual Basis was.

Many people who would never pictured themselves as coders wrote code because Visual Basic had such a low entrance threshold. I can see Scripting Block and Custom Blocks doing the same for Airtable users.

[Mark_Jamieson]

That gives me a lot of hope, not daunted just want to do it yesterday as so many ideas!!!

Thanks

Mark

[Mark_Jamieson]

This is great thank you so much… just what I was looking for