XL: VB Macro to Change Between Relative/Absolute References

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can use the ConvertFormula method in a Visual Basic, Applications Edition, procedure to convert cell references from A1 reference style to R1C1 reference style. This method will also allow you to change from an absolute to a relative reference and vice versa.

MORE INFORMATION

The following sample Visual Basic procedure uses the ConvertFormula method to convert A1 relative references to R1C1 absolute references or A1 absolute references to R1C1 relative references for a selected range.

You can also use this procedure to convert cell references between A1 and R1C1 reference style by changing the appropriate constants for "fromReferenceStyle" and "toReferenceStyle" for the ConvertFormula method.

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Macro Example

'Convert_Reference Type Macro
'A Visual Basic module to convert absolute references to relative
'references or relative references to absolute references.

   Sub Conv_RefType()

       Dim Conv As String

       'Prompt user to change to relative or absolute references
       Conv = Application.InputBox _
           ("Type A to convert to Absolute, R to Relative Reference(s)", _
           "Change Cell Reference Type")

       'If changing relative to absolute references
       If UCase(Conv) = "A" Then

           'Loop through each cell selected
           For Each Mycell In Selection

               If Len(Mycell.Formula) > 0 Then

                   'Stores cell's formula as variable
                   MyFormula = Mycell.Formula

                   'Converts formula to absolute reference style
                   NewFormula = Application.ConvertFormula _
                       (Formula:=MyFormula, _
                       fromReferenceStyle:=xlA1, _
                       toReferenceStyle:=xlA1, _
                       toAbsolute:=xlAbsolute)

                   'Replaces old formula with new absolute formula
                   Mycell.Formula = NewFormula

               End If

           Next

       'If changing absolute to relative references
       ElseIf UCase(Conv) = "R" Then

           'Loop through each cell selected
           For Each Mycell In Selection

               If Len(Mycell.Formula) > 0 Then

                   'Stores cell's formula as variable
                   MyFormula = Mycell.Formula

                   'Converts formula to relative reference style
                   NewFormula = Application.ConvertFormula _
                       (Formula:=MyFormula, _
                       fromReferenceStyle:=xlA1, _
                       toReferenceStyle:=xlA1, _
                       toAbsolute:=xlRelative)

                   'Replaces old formula with new relative formula
                   Mycell.Formula = NewFormula

               End If

           Next

       'Display Error message if choice entered is invalid
       ElseIf UCase(Conv) <> "FALSE" Then

           MyMsg = "Enter A for Absolute, R for Relative Reference(s)"
           MyTitle = "Option Not Valid"
           MyBox = MsgBox(MyMsg, 0, MyTitle)

       End If

   End Sub

REFERENCES

For more information about ConvertFormula, choose Search from the Visual Basic Help menu and type:

   ConvertFormula