Specify a certain column in a range? - vba

So sorry if this is really obvious, but I'm having some trouble connecting two pieces of information.
I have a one-cell range (for example, like A1) and a second, larger range (such as A1:C223). I want to be able to write some code that will make a new range using the column of the one-cell, and the number of rows of the larger range (so in this example, it would end up being A1:A223).
I want to use this specifically to create a loop later, but I'm having trouble creating this range first. Any help would be appreciated.

I think I understand what you want. See if this works:
Sub test()
Dim rangeA As Range, rangeB As Range, combRange As Range
Set rangeA = Range("A1")
Set rangeB = Range("A1:C223")
Set combRange = Range(Cells(rangeB.Rows(1).Row, rangeA.Column), _
Cells(rangeB(rangeB.Rows.Count, 1)(1).Row, rangeA.Column))
Debug.Print combRange.address
End Sub
Edit: This is a little too much perhaps, it looks like #SiddharthRout has a great solution too in the comments :D

Related

VBA: Using Array Formula

I want to find a row number based on two criteria, in column C and E. My data looks like this:
I have googled my problem and using the Match function as an array formula works for this (worked when I used it in Excel, not VBA), but I can't figure out how to make it an array formula in VBA. Different solutions, be it using "[]" or .Evaluate didn't work for me (maybe that was my mistake, though). So how would I modify this code to get the result I want:
Sub Test1()
Dim rowDB As Long
Dim wsDB As Worksheet
Set wsDB = ActiveSheet
rowDB = WorksheetFunction.Match(CDate("30.06.2020") & "EX0500-0001", wsDB.Range("C7:C366") & wsDB.Range("E7:E366"))
End Sub
The error I get is "error 13: type mismatch", so I'm not sure if there's another issue here or just the lack of an array formula.
I played with this for a bit and found several problems:
It seems that CDate() doesn't like "30.06.2020" as input and gets a type error. It seems to be happy with "30-06-2020" so maybe use that format instead or just search for string "30.06.2020" instead? This should be ok as long as all of the date formats are consistent.
The WorksheetFunction.Match() second parameter must be a contiguous range and yours is not. Also I don't think the expression wsDB.Range("C7:C366") & wsDB.Range("E7:E366") makes sense; if you want to combine ranges use the Union() function. But this will not work here because as mentioned the range is not contigous.
I don't think it is possible to use WorksheetFunction.Match() to search for multiple values, so you might have to search for the date in coulmn C and the string in column E separately.
Here is some vba I got working for just searching for one value:
Sub Test4()
Dim rowDB As Long
Dim wsDB As Worksheet
Set wsDB = ActiveSheet
rowDB = WorksheetFunction.Match("30.06.2020", wsDB.Range("C7:C366"))
Debug.Print rowDB
End Sub
Also, If a match is not found, it will get a "Application-defined or object-defined error" so you will need to implement some error handling.

Convert range (non-continuous) to values

I have a very large range of complicated formulas that use an external data source. My users don't have access to this data source, therefore I want to convert the range to values before sending the sheet.
Range=
=VALs!$A$1,VALs!$D$1:$D$45,VALs!$F$1:$G$45,VALs!$I$1:$J$45,VALs!$N$1:$N$45,VALs!$R$1:$T$45,VALs!$V$1:$V$45,VALs!$X$1:$Y$45,VALs!$AB$1:$AB$45,VALs!$AE$1:$AE$45,VALs!$AT$1:$AT$45,VALs!$AW$1:$BB$45,VALs!$BD$1:$BD$45,VALs!$BG$1:$BG$45,VALs!$BK$1:$BK$45,VALs!$BQ$1:$BQ$45,VALs!$BT$1:$BT$45,VALs!$CC$1:$CD$45,VALs!$CJ$1:$CJ$45,VALs!$CN$1:$CN$45,VALs!$CP$1:$CQ$45,VALs!$CU$1:$CW$45,VALs!$DA$1:$DC$45,VALs!$DH$1:$DH$45,VALs!$DJ$1:$DJ$45,VALs!$DL$1:$DL$45,VALs!$DO$1:$DO$45,VALs!$DR$1:$DS$45,VALs!$DV$1:$DV$45,VALs!$DZ$1:$EA$45,VALs!$EV$1:$EV$45,VALs!$EY$1:$EY$45,VALs!$FB$1:$FC$45,VALs!$FE$1:$FL$45
Now:
Copy & paste as values does not work on multiple selections
With Sheets("VALs").Range("values").CurrentRegion
.Value = .Value Does not work, I end up with empty cells in place of the range
The range is dynamic and will change often, that's why it's named, there is a separate sub to create the range
Would anyone be able to help out?
Do you mean something as simple as this? (In this case, the Named Range is named "RNG".)
Sub RangeToValues()
For Each cel In Range("RNG").Cells
cel.Value = cel.Value
Next cel
End Sub
Or is the problem more complex and I didn't understand?

How to avoid default property gotchas in VBA?

I only use VBA occasionally, and every time I come back to it I get caught out by some variation of the following:
I have a Range object, currentCell, that I use to keep track of what cell I'm working with in the spreadsheet. When I update this to point to a different cell, I write:
currentCell = currentCell.Offset(ColumnOffset:=1)
The problem is that I've forgotten the Set keyword, so what the above line actually does is use the default property of the Range objects:
currentCell.Value = currentCell.Offset(ColumnOffset:=1).Value
So the contents of the current cell are overwritten by what's in the new cell, and my currentCell variable hasn't changed to point to a new cell, and I get filled with rage as I realize I've made the same mistake for the hundredth time.
There probably isn't a better answer than to put a post-it on my monitor saying "Have you remembered to use Set today?", but if anyone has any suggestions to help me, I'd appreciate hearing them. In particular:
Is there any way to turn on warnings when you implicitly use default properties? I have never used them like this on purpose, I'd always call Range.Value if that's what I meant.
Is there any good practice for marking variables as "this should only be used to read from the spreadsheet"? In most code I write, almost all my variables are for gathering data, and it would be handy to get a warning if something starts inadvertently editing cells like this.
It took me a while to understand how you are running into problem since I do not think I have ever had this problem in spite of using range objects for years. After thinking about things, I realized I do the following 100% of the time when working with cells - I use the offset or cells functions constantly - I rarely use Set to redefine a current variable.
If I have a loop I am iterating through to go through the spreadsheet, I may do something like
Dim startRng as Range
Set startRng = range("A1")
for i = 1 to 100
startRng.offset(i,0).value = i
startRng.offset(i,1).value = startRng.offset(i,0).value
next i
or
for i = 1 to 100
cells(i,0).value = i
cells(i,1).value = cells(i,0).value
next i
Either of these notations means I almost rarely have to use Set with a range object - almost always this happens once (if at all) and indicates the first cell in a range I will iterate over or reference.
It is also really clear what the offset is - since you specify a row/column - which makes it really straightforward what is happening in the code and easier to track since it references a single cell. You don't have to track down and trace backwards to the last 3 places you update a currentCell Range object.
Adopting a style of coding using these sorts of styles should eliminate nearly all these errors you are making. I am quite serious when I say I cannot remember ever having made a similar error in all my years coding VBA - I use the offset and cells functions continuously in my code (loops in these examples, but I use similar methods with all other examples in code) rather than setting ranges to new ranges. The side effect is that when you are setting a range in your code, it is almost ALWAYS immediately following a Dim statement and much more clear.
Whatever you choose to do, you'll need the post-it note, I'm afraid. After all, setting a range object's value to the value in another cell is a perfectly valid and common thing to do. The code has no way of knowing that you want it to do anything other than what you ask it to.
You could try checking your range object's address before and after you update it to make sure it's different, but if you remember to do that, you would be better off simply using the set keyword to update the object the way you intended.
Now that this issue has enraged you to the point of posting your question, I imagine that you'll never forget it again, regardless of how much time goes by before your next visit to VBA. So maybe you won't need the post-it note after all.
Is there any way to turn on warnings when you implicitly use default properties?
No.
Is there any good practice for marking variables as "this should only be used to read from the spreadsheet"?
Well, you could make your own variable naming convention, à la Making Wrong Code Look Wrong, but you'll still have to check your own code visually and the compiler won't help you do that. So I wouldn't rely on this too much.
A better option is to circumvent the need for repeatedly redifining currentCell using .Offset altogether.
Instead, read the entire range of interest to a Variant array, do your work on that array, and then slap it back onto the sheet when you're done modifying it.
Dim i As Long
Dim j As Long
Dim v As Variant
Dim r As Range
Set r = Range("A1:D5") 'or whatever
v = r.Value 'pull from sheet
For i = 1 To UBound(v, 1)
For j = 1 To UBound(v, 2)
'code to modify or utilise element v(i,j) goes here
Next j
Next i
r.Value = v 'slap v back onto sheet (if you modified it)
Voilà. No use of default properties or anything that could be confused as such. As a bonus, this will speed up your code execution.
There probably isn't a better answer than to put a post-it on my monitor saying "Have you remembered to use Set today?", but if anyone has any suggestions to help me, I'd appreciate hearing them. In particular:
I would slightly change the wording on the Post It
"Are you sure you have not forgotten using Option Explicit and Error Handling?"
Otherwise trust me there is no better way! Having said that, I would like to confirm that "Using Set" is the least of your worries. What should be on the top of your main worries is "Writing Good Code" and this doesn't come overnight. It all comes by practice.
My advice to all beginners. Never assume! For example, .Value is the default property of the range so
Range("A1") = "Blah"
is correct. But still avoid using that.
Always Fully qualify your variables
Always Use Option Explicit
Always Use Error handling
For example, This works.
Option Explicit
Sub Sample()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim rng As Range
On Error GoTo Whoa
Set ws = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet1")
Set rng = ws.Range("A1")
rng.Value = "Blah"
Exit Sub
Whoa:
MsgBox Err.Description
End Sub
Now let's try the above code without using the Set command. Try the below code. What happens?
Option Explicit
Sub Sample()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim rng As Range
On Error GoTo Whoa
ws = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet1")
rng = ws.Range("A1")
rng.Value = "Blah"
Exit Sub
Whoa:
MsgBox Err.Description
End Sub
Recommended Read.
Topic: To ‘Err’ is Human
Link: http://siddharthrout.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/to-err-is-human/
I think enderland has highlighted the basic solution, which is to handle processing multiple cells in a loop. To take it further, I'd suggest using a For Next loop for cycling through cells. Probably on of the most common bits of code I write is something like:
Dim cell as Excel.Range
Dim rngCellsToProcess as Excel.Range
Set rngCellsToProcess = 'whatever you set it to
For each cell in rngCellsToProcess
'do something
Next cell
This won't eliminate the need for Set, but may help remind you to use it, while making it clearer what's going on.
Maybe write your own custom function and use it instead ?
Sub offset_rng(ByRef my_rng As Range, _
Optional row As Integer, Optional col As Integer)
Set my_rng = my_rng.Offset(row, col)
End Sub
Can be used like this:
Sub test()
Dim rng As Range
Set rng = Range("A1")
offset_rng my_rng:=rng, col:=1
rng.Value = "test1"
offset_rng my_rng:=rng, col:=1
rng.Value = "test2"
offset_rng my_rng:=rng, col:=1
rng.Value = "test3"
offset_rng my_rng:=rng, col:=1
rng.Value = "test4"
End Sub

Referring to Dynamic Named Ranges in VBA

I'm having troubling referring to a Dynamic Name Range in VBA.
My ranges are defined as
=OFFSET(Sheet!$B$2,0,0,COUNTA(Sheet!$B:$B)-1,1)
My code should search one range for all entries in another range, the intention being that any missing entries will be added. So far I have
Sub UpdateSummary()
Dim Cell As Range
Dim rngF As Range
Set rngF = Nothing
' Step through each cell in data range
For Each Cell In Worksheets("Aspect").Range("A_Date")
' search Summary range for current cell value
Set rngF = Worksheets("Summary").Range("Sum_Date").Find(Cell.Value) // Does not work
If rngF Is Nothing Then
' Add date to Summary
End If
Set rngF = Nothing
Next Cell
End Sub
The For loop seems to work ok. However, using the .Find method is giving me an error message.
Application-defined or object-defined error
It does work if I replace the named range with a specific range ($B$2:$B$5000), so it seems to be down to how the named range is being passed.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks.
The error is almost definitely because Excel can't find a named range Sum_Date that refers to a range on a worksheet named Summary. The most common causes are
Sum_Date refers to a sheet other than Summary. Check the RefersTo property of Sum_Date and make sure nothing is misspelled.
There is not a named range Sum_Date, that is, it's misspelled in the VBA code. Check the spelling of the named range in the Name Manager.
There is an error in the RefersTo formula of Sum_Date. It sounds like you already verified that this isn't the case.
I've had the a similar if not the same problem & here's how I solved it:
I first realized that the method I used to create my named range, using the Name Manager, my named range had a scope of Workbook. This is important because, it doesn't belong to the worksheet, & therefore will not be found there.
So, Worksheets("Summary").Range("Sum_Date") would not work for me.
Since my range belonged to the workbook, the way I was able to find is to use ActiveWorkbook.Names("Sum_Date")
For me I used it to remove the formula from named range that I am using in many places. The huge advantage is that named range is updated only once instead of the formula being called for every cell location that ranged is called. Huge time delay difference!
Public last_Selection As String
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
'excel data change detection
If Range(last_Selection).Column = 2 Then
'Disable events, so this only executes once
Application.EnableEvents = False
'This can be done with a complex formula in a cell,
'but this is easily understood
Range("B1").End(xlDown).Select
ActiveWorkbook.Names("last_Entry").Value = ActiveCell.Row
'Re-enable so this routine will execute on the next change
Application.EnableEvents = True
End If
End Sub
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
'constantly store the last cell to know which one was previously edited
last_Selection = Target.Address
End Sub
I know this is a very old thread, but I had the same issue today and I was looking for solution for quite a long time. So maybe this will help someone.
The named "range" defined by the =OFFSET(...) formula is actually a named FORMULA, so in VBA you have to evaluate it first to get the range. E.g.:
Set rgNamedRange = Worksheets("Summary").Evaluate("Sum_Date")
Credits to a guy named "shg" from mrexcel.com, who got me on right track. :)
I have been experimenting with this for a few days and eventually I came up with the following. It may not be the most efficient but it did work for me!
The named range of "OhDear" was set up in the normal way
Dim vItem As Variant
Set vItem = Names("OhDear")
Debug.Print vItem.Name
Worth a try don't you think!
This does not work if instead of using a variant you use something like: Dim Nm as Name: Set Nm = Names("OhDear"). Any variations using 'Nm' failed!!!

Using VBA for Word, how do I create a range of table cells?

I'm trying to learn how to handle Range objects in Word VBA with regards to MS Word tables.
Using the Range object help, it would seem I can create a range of cells as long as the cells are contiguous, however I cannot seem to get the syntax for specifying the Start and End points of the range using cells.
For example:
Set rngCells = myTable.Range(Start:=<cell>, End:=<cell>)
I'm not sure what to put in for to indicate the cell to start or the cell to end with. Can someone give me a clue? :)
Edit: I've already created the table from scratch -- I'm trying to use a range of cells for some of the rows in the middle to apply formatting to them. In particular, I'm trying to see if this can be done without using Selection.
I found the answer I was looking for:
Set myCells = ActiveDocument.Range(Start:=ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Cell(1, 1).Range.Start, _
End:=ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Cell(1, 1).Range.End)
I did not realize the Range object was from the Document object, not the Table object.