I'd like to think Microsoft's most recent announcement regarding the lack of VBA support in Excel 2008 has something to do with me.

Not only did I ding Microsoft's Macintosh Business Unit for excluding the application in Excel 2008, but I also asked Jeff Price, product unit manager over at MAC BU, to further explain the decision to drop VBA, in person at Macworld last week.

That was on Jan. 15.

And look what was posted on the MSDN blog on Jan. 16:

Clarification on VBA Support

Following MacWorld earlier this week, there has been some inaccurate information circulating online regarding VBA support in Office for Windows. While it's true that VBA isn't supported in the latest version of Office for the Mac and the VBA licensing program did close to new customers last year, we have no plans to remove VBA from future versions of Office for Windows. We understand that VBA is a critical capability for large numbers of our customers; accordingly, there is no plan to remove VBA from future versions of Excel.

Published Wednesday, January 16, 2008 10:28 PM by Joseph Chirilov

Filed under: Programmability

Personally, I like reading that blog entry as if there were a giant "DUH" at the front of every sentence and the haughtiness of a spoiled teenager.

"Like DUH, just because we totally took it out of Office 2008, doesn't mean we aren't EVER going to bring it back. Gawd."

And while I venture to say this is a pretty lame explanation, it is one nonetheless, and that is certainly a start. But, c'mon, Microsoft, you released a product that only configures macros support for Excel 2008 spreadsheets?

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Jeff did not seem happy that I had asked about the lack of support for VBA in Excel 2008.

In fact, since it was an on-camera interview, I had given Jeff a heads-up that I was going to ask him about VBA, so once the camera was rolling he wouldn't be completely caught off guard.

"Ohhhhh, you're going to ask about VBA," he said, rather defeated.

Now, I don't think Jeff was scheming here or anything like that; rather, Sheridan Jones, MAC BU's group marketing manager, had slipped out the door to attend to more pressing matters.

Both of them looked exhausted and it was only Day Two of Macworld.

It seemed to me that my interview was the first time Jeff had had to field a VBA question, but maybe I misread him and he and Sheridan were responding to the VBA unrest all day.

Regardless, I like to think that I was the muckraker who has Microsoft quivering in its boots, wide awake at night wondering if it could avoid supplying an answer to the people.

Though I am pretty sure the more accurate answer is a whole lotta pissed off users who have had plenty to say to the software giant and will have plenty more to say as the year continues.