Copy columns based on set paramaters - vba

Question

I am copying information from one workbook to another. The code I have so far works great if every column has data. It does not work when I am trying to repeatedly copy information from column A and B of worksheet(supplementary expenses) to worksheet(expenses) and column B is blank. As the next time the sub is run and Column B does have values they are placed in the next blank cell, not the cell that is correlated to column A.
Here is the code I have so far:
Sub SupplementaryExpenses()
Dim x As Workbook
Dim y As Workbook
Set y = Workbooks.Open("File Path")
Set x = Workbooks.Open("File Path")
x.Sheets("b.1 Supplementary expenses").Range("a9", Range("a9").End(xlDown)).Copy
y.Sheets("Expenses").Range("a1").End(xlDown).Offset(1, 0).PasteSpecial xlPasteValues
x.Sheets("b.1 Supplementary expenses").Range("b9", Range("b9").End(xlDown)).Copy
y.Sheets("Expenses").Range("b1").End(xlDown).Offset(1, 0).PasteSpecial xlPasteValues
x.Sheets("b.1 Supplementary expenses").Range("c9", Range("c9").End(xlDown)).Copy
y.Sheets("Expenses").Range("c1").End(xlDown).Offset(1, 0).PasteSpecial xlPasteValues
Also any time this sub is run it would be helpful if there were someway to fill column L with the flag 201601 and then change to 201602 when I bring in the next months data.

Answer 1

Try this:
Sub SupplementaryExpenses()
Dim x As Workbook
Dim y As Workbook
Dim lastrow As Long
Dim tRow as long
Set y = Workbooks.Open("File Path")
Set x = Workbooks.Open("File Path")
With x.Sheets("b.1 Supplementary expenses")
lastrow = .Range("A" & .Rows.Count).End(xlUp).Row
tRow = y.Sheets("Expenses").Range("a1").End(xlDown).Offset(1, 0).Row
y.Sheets("Expenses").Range("A" & trow).Resize(lastrow - 8, 3).Value = .Range(.Cells(9, 1), .Cells(lastrow, 3)).Value
y.Sheets("Expenses").Range("D" & trow).Resize(lastrow - 8, 1).Value = .Range(.Cells(9, 8), .Cells(lastrow, 8)).Value
End With
End Sub
It will take all of the three columns at once and assign the values to the new area. It will not care about blanks in column B or C.
This should be faster than copy/paste as you only want the values.

Answer 2

Get the last used row and change out your range statements similar to this:
Dim LastRow
LastRow = Cells.Find(What:="*", SearchOrder:=xlByRows, SearchDirection:=xlPrevious).Row
x.Sheets("b.1 Supplementary expenses").Range(Cells(9, 1), Cells(LastRow, a)).Copy 'this is R1C1 format meaning row then column
You can use this for filling a column
If you put it after the rest of your code and ensure that you have the sheet you want column L populated with active:
sDate = Format(Date, "yyyymm")
For i = 2 To LastRow' you may need to grab this anew if you added lines
If Cells(i, "L") = vbNullString Then 'ensures that there isn't anything in the cell
Cells(i, "L").value = sDate
End If
Next