#REF! pasted as value, but not seen as such when looping - vba

Question

I just released an Excel Add-In in my department today that I've been working on for the last 2+ months that checks for about 30 validation errors. I have the error trapping handled in all situations (as it appears right now), but I received a horrible wake-up call today as I received automatic emails (a feature I built into the error handling) for two vital bugs. I already posted a question about the first bug here and figured I'd start a fresh question for the second bug as it's about something unrelated to the first.
My code is as follows
Private Sub symbolCheck()
On Error GoTo ErrHandler
Application.StatusBar = "(3/16) Checking for invalid symbols"
Dim MyArray As Variant
Dim replacementsMade As Boolean
replacementsMade = False
MyArray = ActiveSheet.UsedRange
For i = LBound(MyArray) To UBound(MyArray)
For j = LBound(MyArray, 2) To UBound(MyArray, 2)
If MyArray(i, j) <> "" Then
'Apostrophe/Closing Single Quote
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "’") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "’", Chr(39))
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Apostrophe
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "`") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "`", Chr(39))
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Opening Single Quote
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "‘") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "‘", Chr(39))
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Double Open Quotes
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "“") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "“", """")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Double Closing Quotes
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "”") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "”", """")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Dash
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "–") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "–", "-")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Registered Trademark (R)
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "®") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "®", "(R)")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Trademark (TM)
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "™") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "™", "(TM)")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Degree Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "°") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "°", " degrees")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Multiplication/x Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "×") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "×", "x")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Upside-Down Question Mark Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "¿") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "¿", "")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Solid Bullet Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "•") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "•", "")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Triple Dots Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "…") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "…", "...")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Euro Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "€") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "€", "")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Linebreak Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "|") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "|", ",")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
' 'Less Than Symbol
' If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "<") > 0 Then
' MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "<", "<")
' End If
' 'Greater Than Symbol
' If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), ">") > 0 Then
' MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), ">", ">")
' End If
'Half Fraction
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "½") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "½", " 1/2")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Three Quarter Fraction
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "¾") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "¾", " 3/4")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'One Quarter Fraction
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "¼") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "¼", " 1/4")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
End If
Next j
Next i
If replacementsMade Then
ActiveSheet.UsedRange = MyArray
End If
Set MyArray = Nothing
Exit Sub
ErrHandler:
Err.Raise Err.Number, "symbolCheck", Err.Description
End Sub
This bug occurs on the line
If MyArray(i, j) <> "" Then
When i = 209 and j = 60, so I did some poking around and looked inside the array to see what value was at that location. The value just says Error 2023 when I looked at the Watchlist values for the array slot. So, I looked at the cell that corresponded with those i and j values and alas I finally saw why the error was raised. The value in the cell was originally a formula with reference errors and since I copy/pasted as values prior to running this sub I thought I'd be fine. I had no idea that #REF! wasn't seen as plaintext?
Which leads me to my question
How can I handle this situation? More precisely, how would I be able to get rid of the #REF! values in a spreadsheet (without using Find/Replace) if #REF! isn't seen as plaintext even after being Copy/Pasted as a value?

Answer 1

Solution to Clear #REF! Values in Spreadsheet
You can use SpecialCells to clear the errors.
ActiveSheet.UsedRange.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeFormulas, xlErrors).ClearContents 'Or change .Value to another value, delete cells, etc. as desired
Solution to handle #REF! Errors in Array
You can use the ISERROR() VBA function to capture each #REF! and then handle as desired.
Modify your code as follows:
Private Sub symbolCheck()
On Error GoTo ErrHandler
Application.StatusBar = "(3/16) Checking for invalid symbols"
Dim MyArray As Variant
Dim replacementsMade As Boolean
replacementsMade = False
MyArray = ActiveSheet.UsedRange
For i = LBound(MyArray) To UBound(MyArray)
For j = LBound(MyArray, 2) To UBound(MyArray, 2)
If IsError(MyArray(i, j)) Then
'Handle the #REF! here
ElseIf MyArray(i, j) <> "" Then
'Apostrophe/Closing Single Quote
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "’") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "’", Chr(39))
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Apostrophe
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "`") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "`", Chr(39))
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Opening Single Quote
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "‘") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "‘", Chr(39))
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Double Open Quotes
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "“") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "“", """")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Double Closing Quotes
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "”") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "”", """")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Dash
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "–") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "–", "-")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Registered Trademark (R)
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "®") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "®", "(R)")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Trademark (TM)
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "™") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "™", "(TM)")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Degree Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "°") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "°", " degrees")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Multiplication/x Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "×") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "×", "x")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Upside-Down Question Mark Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "¿") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "¿", "")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Solid Bullet Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "•") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "•", "")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Triple Dots Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "…") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "…", "...")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Euro Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "€") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "€", "")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Linebreak Symbol
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "|") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "|", ",")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
' 'Less Than Symbol
' If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "<") > 0 Then
' MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "<", "<")
' End If
' 'Greater Than Symbol
' If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), ">") > 0 Then
' MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), ">", ">")
' End If
'Half Fraction
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "½") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "½", " 1/2")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'Three Quarter Fraction
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "¾") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "¾", " 3/4")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
'One Quarter Fraction
If InStr(1, MyArray(i, j), "¼") > 0 Then
MyArray(i, j) = WorksheetFunction.Substitute(MyArray(i, j), "¼", " 1/4")
If replacementsMade = False Then
replacementsMade = True
End If
End If
End If
Next j
Next i
If replacementsMade Then
ActiveSheet.UsedRange = MyArray
End If
Set MyArray = Nothing
Exit Sub
ErrHandler:
Err.Raise Err.Number, "symbolCheck", Err.Description
End Sub