Get the cell reference of the value found by Excel INDEX function - vba

The Problem
Assume that the active cell contains a formula based on the INDEX function:
=INDEX(myrange, x,y)
I would like to build a macro that locates the value found value by INDEX and moves the focus there, that is a macro changing the active cell to:
Range("myrange").Cells(x,y)
Doing the job without macros (slow but it works)
Apart from trivially moving the selection to myrange and manually counting x rows y and columns, one can:
Copy and paste the formula in another cell as follows:
=CELL("address", INDEX(myrange, x,y))
(that shows the address of the cell matched by INDEX).
Copy the result of the formula above.
Hit F5, Ctrl-V, Enter (paste the copied address in the GoTo dialog).
You are now located on the very cell found by the INDEX function.
Now the challenge is to automate these steps (or similar ones) with a macro.
Tentative macros (not working)
Tentative 1
WorksheetFunction.CELL("address", ActiveCell.Formula)
It doesn't work since CELL for some reason is not part of the members of WorksheetFunction.
Tentative 2
This method involves parsing the INDEX-formula.
Sub GoToIndex()
Dim form As String, rng As String, row As String, col As String
form = ActiveCell.Formula
form = Split(form, "(")(1)
rng = Split(form, ",")(0)
row = Split(form, ",")(1)
col = Split(Split(form, ",")(2), ")")(0)
Range(rng).Cells(row, CInt(col)).Select
End Sub
This method actually works, but only for a simple case, where the main INDEX-formula has no nested subformulas.
Note
Obviously in a real case myrange, x and ycan be both simple values, such as =INDEX(A1:D10, 1,1), or values returned from complex expressions. Typically x, y are the results of a MATCH function.
EDIT
It was discovered that some solutions do not work when myrange is located on a sheet different from that hosting =INDEX(myrange ...).
They are common practice in financial reporting, where some sheets have the main statements whose entries are recalled from others via an INDEX+MATCH formula.
Unfortunately it is just when the found value is located on a "far" report out of sight that you need more the jump-to-the-cell function.

The task could be done in one line much simpler than any other method:
Sub GoToIndex()
Application.Evaluate(ActiveCell.Formula).Select
End Sub
Application.Evaluate(ActiveCell.Formula) returns a range object from which the CELL function gets properties when called from sheets.
EDIT
For navigating from another sheet you should first activate the target sheet:
Option Explicit
Sub GoToIndex()
Dim r As Range
Set r = Application.Evaluate(ActiveCell.Formula)
r.Worksheet.Activate
r.Select
End Sub
Add error handling for a general case:
Option Explicit
Sub GoToIndex()
Dim r As Range
On Error Resume Next ' errors off
Set r = Application.Evaluate(ActiveCell.Formula) ' will work only if the result is a range
On Error GoTo 0 ' errors on
If Not (r Is Nothing) Then
r.Worksheet.Activate
r.Select
End If
End Sub

There are several approaches to select the cell that a formula refers to...
Assume the active cell contains: =INDEX(myrange,x,y).
From the Worksheet, you could try any of these:
Copy the formula from the formula bar and paste into the name box (to the left of the formula bar)
Define the formula as a name, say A. Then type A into the Goto box or (name box)
Insert hyperlink > Existing File or Web page > Address: #INDEX(myrange,x,y)
Adapt the formula to make it a hyperlink: =HYPERLINK("#INDEX(myrange,x,y)")
Or from the VBA editor, either of these should do the trick:
Application.Goto Activecell.FormulaR1C1
Range(Activecell.Formula).Select
Additional Note:
If the cell contains a formula that refers to relative references such as =INDEX(A:A,ROW(),1) the last of these would need some tweaking. (Also see: Excel Evaluate formula error). To allow for this you could try:
Range(Evaluate("cell(""address""," & Mid(ActiveCell.Formula, 2) & ")")).Select
This problem doesn't seem to occur with R1C1 references used in Application.Goto or:
ThisWorkbook.FollowHyperlink "#" & mid(ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1,2)

You could use the MATCH() worksheet function or the VBA FIND() method.
EDIT#1
As you correctly pointed out, INDEX will return a value that may appear many times within the range, but INDEX will always return a value from some fixed spot, say
=INDEX(A1:K100,3,7)
will always give the value in cell G3 so the address is "builtin" to the formula
If, however, we have something like:
=INDEX(A1:K100,Z100,Z101)
Then we would require a macro to parse the formula and evaluate the arguments.

Both #lori_m and #V.B. gave brilliant solutions in their own way almost in parallel.
Very difficult for me to choose the closing answer, but V.B. even created Dropbox test file, so...
Here I just steal the best from parts from them.
'Move to cell found by Index()
Sub GoToIndex()
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
Application.Goto ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 ' will work only if the result is a range
Exit Sub
ErrorHandler:
MsgBox ("Active cell does not evaluate to a range")
End Sub
I associated this "jump" macro with CTRL-j and it works like a charm.
If you use balance sheet like worksheets (where INDEX-formulas, selecting entries from other sheets, are very common), I really suggest you to try it.

Related

Embedded "IF" formula breaks occasionally, VBA alternative?

I have a very large embedded IF formula that appears to occasionally break for no reason. Opening and closing the page a few times eventually gets it working again. I am wondering if there is a VBA alternative for it. Here is the IF formula I am running.
=IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("76210",E125)),"_012_00762_10",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("76220",E125)),"_012_00762_20",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("76900",E125)),"_012_00769_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("76901",E125)),"_012_00769_01",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("85702",E125)),"_012_00857_02",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("85710",E125)),"_012_00857_10",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("100800",E125)),"_012_01008_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("100900",E125)),"_012_01009_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("123100",E125)),"_012_01231_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("124600",E125)),"_012_01246_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("124601",E125)),"_012_01246_01",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("124640",E125)),"_012_01246_40",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("124641",E125)),"_012_01246_41",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("142301",E125)),"_012_01423_01",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("158801",E125)),"_012_01588_01",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("158900",E125)),"_012_01589_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("159203",E125)),"_012_01592_03",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("159303",E125)),"_012_01593_03",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("159401",E125)),"_012_01594_01",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("159410",E125)),"_012_01594_10",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("159420",E125)),"_012_01594_20",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("159501",E125)),"_012_01595_01",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("169000",E125)),"_012_01690_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("186900",E125)),"_012_01869_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("213200",E125)),"_012_02132_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("213300",E125)),"_012_02133_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("215400",E125)),"_012_02154_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("220100",E125)),"_012_02201_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("223800",E125)),"_012_02238_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("225600",E125)),"_012_02256_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("230700",E125)),"_012_02307_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("230701",E125)),"_012_02307_01",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("231800",E125)),"_012_02318_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("235000",E125)),"_012_02350_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("235020",E125)),"_012_02350_20",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("242000",E125)),"_012_02420_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("246400",E125)),"_012_02464_00",IF(ISNUMBER(SEARCH("292900",E125)),"_012_02929_00",""))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Basically it is built so a serial number is scanned and it populates a cell for the users who use this sheet with its results from the search. I am already running one macro in this sheet as well. Here is that...
Option Explicit
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim rng As Range
Set rng = Intersect(Range("A2:A500, J2:J500"), Target) ' define range of interest
If Not rng Is Nothing Then ' check it's not "nothing"
If WorksheetFunction.CountA(rng) = rng.Count Then 'check for all of its cells being not empty
On Error GoTo safe_exit 'add error control
Application.EnableEvents = False 'don't do anything until you know something has to be done
rng.Offset(, 1).Value = Date 'write Date next to all relevant changed cells
End If
End If
safe_exit:
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub
Maybe there is a better way to build this search using a formula that isn't using embedded IF statements, but i couldn't think of another way to do it. Thanks in advance.
This may be what you're looking for:
=IF(ISNA(MATCH(1,IF(ISERR(SEARCH($A$5:$A$42,$E$125)),0,1),0)),"",INDEX($B$5:$B$42,MATCH(1,IF(ISERR(SEARCH($A$5:$A$42,$E$125)),0,1),0)))
entered as an array formula (CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER).
Here $A$5:$A$42 contains 76210, 76220, ... , 292900 (entered as text, not numbers); and $B$5:$B$42 contains _012_00762_10, _012_00762_20, ... , _012_02929_00.
Hope that helps.
Any time you have to go more than 2 deep on an IF you may want to rethink the usage.
What you can do is build a table from your values. Then reference that table as part of your lookup. Assuming your list of value is in range D8:E45 you could use the formula =VLOOKUP(E125,$D$8:$E$45,2).
The beginning of your table would look like what's seen below. The input result cell is referencing your input value and pulling the match of the second column.
To get your table you can take your source formula and replace (Find and Replace - Ctrl+H) some characters with unique delimiting characters. Then use Text To Columns Alt+D+E and delimit and Copy>Paste special>Transpose to quickly have it close to the format you need.

Copy a static range on one sheet, and paste in a dynamic range in another sheet based on a single value in a cell

I have three parts to this problem. I have a single cell with a Week number in Sheet1!A1. I have a static range in Sheet1!B1:F1 that needs to be copied. Then I need to paste the value in a dynamic range in Sheet2 offset by the week number for rows. This is part of a larger macro I am writing for a sheet I use regularly, but I seem to have those parts down. I may be either oversimplifying or oversimplifying but this is what I have currently.
Sub CopyPaste()
Sheets(1).Range("B1:F1").Copy
OffsetRange = Sheets(1).Cells(1,1).Value
Sheets(2).Cells(1+OffsetRange,1).Paste
End Sub
When I run this, it either gives me a Runtime Error 9 or Runtime Error 438.
Anyone know whats causing these errors? When I paste the range, does the cells object point towards the first cell of the copied range when I paste in at the location?
Try it as,
Option Explicit
Sub CopyPasteOffset()
Dim OffsetRange As Long
OffsetRange = Worksheets(1).Cells(1, 1).Value
Worksheets(1).Range("B1:F1").Copy _
Destination:=Worksheets(2).Cells(1 + OffsetRange, 1)
End Sub
The .Paste method is a member of Worksheet, not Range or Cells. You may have it confused with .PasteSpecial which is a member of the Range object. In any event, it is unnecessary as a destination can be applied directly to the copy command.

Range SpecialCells ClearContents clears whole sheet instead

I have a sheet in Excel 2010 which is setup as a pseudo form (I didn't create it, I'm just trying to fix it) so formatting suggests that the user can only enter in certain cells. Depending on certain functionality these areas need to be reset, i.e. cleared although formulae and standard/conditional formatting need to be kept. I have defined each of these cells/ranges as named ranges so I can easily loop through them using the following code: -
Public Sub ResetDetailSheet()
Dim nm As Name
With ThisWorkbook
For Each nm In .Names
If Left(nm.Name, 9) = "nmrDetail" Then
Range(nm.Name).SpecialCells(xlCellTypeConstants).ClearContents
End If
Next
End With
End Sub
For some reason instead of clearing the constants from the specific range it is clearing constants from the entire sheet so I am losing all titles/headings. Formulae and standard/conditional formatting are staying as expected.
What am I doing wrong?!?!
As a test using the immediate window I tried clearing a specific cell, e.g.
Range("G7").SpecialCells(xlCellTypeConstants).ClearContents
But this still cleared all constants from the entire sheet.
What am I missing? I don't understand. Maybe I'm being dumb.
Sorry, I can't upload an example. This place is pretty locked down.
Range({any single cell}).SpecialCells({whatever}) seems to work off the entire sheet.
Range({more than one cell}).SpecialCells({whatever}) seems to work off the specified cells.
So, make sure your range has more than a single cell before you clear it - if the range is only a single cell, then check if it .HasFormula; if that's the case then its .Value isn't a constant:
With ThisWorkbook
For Each nm In .Names
If Left(nm.Name, 9) = "nmrDetail" Then
If nm.RefersToRange.Count > 1 Then
nm.RefersToRange.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeConstants).ClearContents
ElseIf Not nm.RefersToRange.HasFormula Then
nm.RefersToRange.ClearContents
End If
End If
Next
End With
Note that I'm using Name.RefersToRange instead of fetching the range by name off the active sheet.

Using Vlookup to copy and paste data into a separate worksheet using VBA

Alright I'm a beginner with VBA so I need some help. Assuming this is very basic, but here are the steps I am looking at for the code:
-Use Vlookup to find the value "Rec" in column C of Sheet1, and select that row's corresponding value in column D
-Then copy that value from column D in Sheet1 and paste it into the first blank cell in column B of another worksheet titled Sheet2
I've got a basic code that uses Vlookup to find Rec as well as it's corresponding value in column D, then display a msg. The code works fine, and is the following:
Sub BasicFindGSV()
Dim movement_type_code As Variant
Dim total_gsv As Variant
movement_type_code = "Rec"
total_gsv = Application.WorksheetFunction.VLookup(movement_type_code,Sheet1.Range("C2:H25"), 2, False)
MsgBox "GSV is :$" & total_gsv
End Sub
I also have another one that will find the next blank cell in column B Sheet2, it works as well:
Sub SelectFirstBlankCell()
Dim Sheet2 As Worksheet
Set Sheet2 = ActiveSheet
For Each cell In Sheet2.Columns(2).Cells
If IsEmpty(cell) = True Then cell.Select: Exit For
Next cell
End Sub
Not sure how to integrate the two, and I'm not sure how to make the code paste the Vlookup result in Sheet2. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
So for being a beginner you're off to a good start by designing two separate subroutines that you can confirm work and then integrating. That's the basic approach that will save you headache after headache when things get more complicated. So to answer your direct question on how to integrate the two, I'd recommend doing something like this
Sub BasicFindGSV()
Dim movement_type_code As Variant
Dim total_gsv As Variant
movement_type_code = "Rec"
total_gsv = Application.WorksheetFunction.VLookup(movement_type_code, Sheet1.Range("C2:H25"), 2, False)
AssignValueToBlankCell (total_gsv)
End Sub
Sub AssignValueToBlankCell(ByVal v As Variant)
Dim Sheet2 As Worksheet
Set Sheet2 = ActiveSheet
For Each cell In Sheet2.Columns(2).Cells
If IsEmpty(cell) = True Then cell.Value2 = v
Next cell
End Sub
That being said, as Macro Man points out, you can knock out the exact same functionality your asking for with a one liner. Keeping the operational steps separate (so actually a two liner now) would look like this.
Sub FindGSV()
AssignValueToBlankCell WorksheetFunction.VLookup("Rec", Sheet1.Range("C2:H25"), 2, False)
End Sub
Sub AssignValueToBlankCell(ByVal v As Variant)
Sheet3.Range("B" & Rows.Count).End(xlUp).Offset(1, 0).Value2 = v
End Sub
Like I said, if you plan to continue development with this, it's usually a good idea to design your code with independent operations the way you already have begun to. You can build off of this by passing worksheets, ranges, columns, or other useful parameters as arguments to a predefined task or subroutine.
Also, notice that I use Value2 instead of Value. I notice you're retrieving a currency value, so there's actually a small difference between the two. Value2 gives you the more accurate number behind a currency formatted value (although probably unnecessary) and is also faster (although probably negligible in this case). Just something to be aware of though.
Also, I noticed your use of worksheet objects kind of strange, so I thought it'd help to mentioned that you can select a worksheet object by it's object name, it's name property (with sheets() or worksheets()), index number (with sheets() or worksheets()), or the "Active" prefix. It's important to note that what you're doing in your one subroutine is reassigning the reference of the Sheet2 object to your active sheet, which means it may end up being any sheet. This demonstrates the issue:
Sub SheetSelectDemo()
Dim Sheet2 As Worksheet
Set Sheet2 = Sheets(1)
MsgBox "The sheet object named Sheet2 has a name property equal to " & Worksheets(Sheet2.Name).Name & " and has an index of " & Worksheets(Sheet2.Index).Index & "."
End Sub
You can view and change the name of a sheet object, as well as it's name property (which is different) here...
The name property is what you see and change in the worksheet tab in Excel, but once again this is not the same as the object name. You can also change these things programmatically.
Try this:
Sub MacroMan()
Range("B" & Rows.Count).End(xlUp).Offset(1, 0).Value = _
WorksheetFunction.VLookup("Rec", Sheet1.Range("C2:H25"), 2, False)
End Sub
The Range("B" & Rows.Count).End(xlUp) command is the equivalent of going to the last cell in column B and pressing Ctrl + ↑
We then use .Offset(1, 0) to get the cell after this (the next blank one) and write the value of your vlookup directly into this cell.
If Both work, then good, you have two working subs and you want to integrate them. You probably want to keep them so they might be useful for some other work later. Integrating them means invoking them in some third routine.
For many reasons, it is surely better and advised to avoid as much as possible to use (select, copy, paste) in VBA, and to use rather a direct copying method (range1.copy range2).
You need to make your routines as functions that return ranges objects, then in some third routine, invoke them
Function total_gsv() as range
Dim movement_type_code As Variant: movement_type_code = "Rec"
Set total_gsv = Application.WorksheetFunction.VLookup(movement_type_code,Sheet1.Range("C2:H25"), 2, False)
End Sub
Function FindFirstBlankCell() as Range
Dim Sheet2 As Worksheet: Set Sheet2 = ActiveSheet
For Each cell In Sheet2.Columns(2).Cells
If IsEmpty(cell) Then Set FindFirstBlankCell= cell: exit For
Next cell
End Sub
Sub FindAndMoveGsv()
total_gsv.copy FindFirstBlankCell
... 'some other work
End Sub

Excel macro select two ranges and compare

This is a question that was asked to me in an interview. I have a excel list. It is copied to another location and then by mistake a row in the new location gets deleted.
Now I need to write a macro to compare the old and new ranges and then provide the missing data as result.
I can perhaps perform the comparison part. But the problem is I don't know how to get the selected range as input in a macro.
For eg. as soon as I select a range, it should be sent as input to the macro, then the macro should wait for another selection. As soon as I select the new range, the macro should compare and find the missing lines in new range.
Regarding the selection per mouse click you could look at the link I sent in the comments of the other answer. Selection_Change is an event which gets triggered when you change the selection of a worksheet (not only mouseclick but move-by-keys as well). The target coming in is the cell which you have selected. You can pass this as a range on to a function.
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
showMsg Target
End Sub
Private Function showMsg(r As Range)
MsgBox r.Address
End Function
You can just as well use another event like BeforeDoubleClick or BeforeRightClick. Check out the events of Excel and choose the one you feel fits best.
If you only want the function to be triggered for a certain range you can filter it.
If target.column <> 1 then exit function
If you don't want the event to trigger your function each time you change a selection you can choose one cell to be the switch which gets triggered by the same event.
If target.address = "$A$1" Then Call toggleSearch()
with toggleSearch being the switching function.
This is a classical diff (and a simple one at that), you shouldn't select by hand or anything. Just sort the two lists in an identical way, then run a Sub which loops over the number of rows in the source sheet comparing each row with the same row in the target sheet. The first mismatch you get is the missing line.
This example assumes both sheets are in the same workbook but you can easily adapt it
Public Sub diffThem()
Dim src as Worksheet, trg as Worksheet
Dim r as Range, i as Integer
Set src = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("Source")
Set trg = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("Destination")
Set r = src.Range("A1")
For i = 1 to ThisWorkbook.Sheets("Source").UsedRange.Rows.Count
If r.EntireRow <> trg.Range("A" & r.Row).EntireRow Then
MsgBox("The missing row is " & r.Row)
Exit Sub
End if
Set r = r.Offset(1,0)
Next i
End Sub
If EntireRow cannot be run due to different layouts or whatever then loop the columns at that point.