VB: Filtering data on excel table - excel

Question

In python, using libs to work with excel files, I could do what I want.
But now, because I'm trying to learn VBA, I need to ask this question.
I'm working on a worksheet that has around 12 columns, and 50000 rows.
This data represents Requests sent to the company.
The 5# column represents its code, 10# the time took to finish it.
But, for example, rows 5, 10 and 12 could belong to the same Request, and was just divided for organizational purposes.
I need to treat these data, so that I can:
Column 6# represent the person
who answered the request. So, I need
to put each request on the "person's
worksheet". Also, create this
worksheet for him before starting to
add requests to it.
For each person (worksheet),
contabilize request types (Column
2#) attended by him. I.e., create
another table on its worksheet
showing:
Type_Of_Request | Number_of_ocurrences
Create a final Report Worksheet, showing the same table
above, but accounting all requests
(without person filter)
Obs: I know that most questions on stackoverflow are to solve a specific question, but I'm asking for start routes here.
Or even solutions, if possible.
For explanation purposes, I think that explaining the algorithm used in python will help persons who know a little of python and VBA to help me here.
So, for each issue:
Create a dict that manages the 6# column data.
This dict will have the person's unique name as the key, and for each request that him answered, it will be added to a list pointed to his name (the dict key).
Something like:
{person1: [request1, request2, request3, ...], ... }
Another dict that manages the 2# column data (the request type).
Now, I will have a dict where each entry will have a list showing requests that are of that type.
After positioning all requests, I did a simple sum on the list, and filled a table with (key, sum(dict[key]))
where dict[key] is the list of requests of same type, and a sum on it returns the total of requests of that type.
Something like:
{request_type1: [request1, request2, request3, ...], ... }
Well, same of 2, but applying the algorithm on the initial complete table.
I don't know if VB has a dict type like python has (and helps a lot!), even because I'm new on VB.
Thanks, a lot, for any help.

Answer 1

vba does indeed have a dictionary type, but it's usage may not mirror python's implementation. (see: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa164502%28v=office.10%29.aspx )
you can also create a user defined type ( see: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa189637%28v=office.10%29.aspx )
If you have a working solution, that is your best jumping-off point. Many of the python string function etc are probably even named the same or close enough for you to easily find them in the language reference.

Answer 2

You may find this easier with ADO, which works quite well with Excel using the Jet/ACE connection. It also will allow to use rs.CopyFromRecordset to write suitable sets to worksheets.