XL: How to Select Ranges Using VB for Apps (Novice Examples)

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

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel, you can select cells in a range either manually or by using some simple Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications code. This article provides examples you can use to select a range of cells.

MORE INFORMATION

Examples of How To Select Cells Manually

In Microsoft Excel, to manually select all the data in a column, select the first cell, hold down the CTRL+SHIFT keys, and then press the DOWN ARROW key.

Likewise, to manually select a row and all columns attached to the row, hold down the CTRL+SHIFT keys, and then press the DOWN ARROW+RIGHT ARROW keys. However, all data must be contiguous (that is, you cannot have blank rows or columns). Also, you can select the current region of data (contiguous data, with no blank rows or columns) by doing the following:

1. On the Edit menu, click Go To.

2. In the Go To dialog box, click Special.

3. In the Go To Special dialog box, click Current Region, and then click OK.

NOTE: If you try to record this procedure by using the macro recorder, you will not receive the same results.

Examples of How to Use Visual Basic Code to Select Cells in a Range

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

If you know the beginning cell (in this example, the beginning cell is cell C1), and you want to select down to the last cell (in the same column) that has data but do not know that address, use the following code:

   Sub SelectRangeDown()
      Range("c1", Range("c1").End(xlDown)).Select
   End Sub

If your data begins in cell C1, but is not contiguous in that column, use the following macro:

   Sub SelectRangeDown_Discontiguous()
      Range("c1", Range("c16384").End(xlUp)).Select
   End Sub

   Sub SelectRangeDown_Discontiguous97()
      Range("c1", Range("c65536").End(xlUp)).Select
   End Sub

   Sub myrangearea()
      Range(ActiveCell, ActiveCell.End(xlDown).End(xlToRight)).Select
   End Sub

   Sub RangeFromStart()
      Range("d1", Range("d1").End(xlDown).End(xlToRight)).Select
   End Sub

   Sub CurrentArea()
      Selection.CurrentRegion.Select
   End Sub

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120198
   TITLE     : XL: How to Select Cells/Ranges Using Visual Basic
               Procedures

REFERENCES

For more information about Select Ranges with the End Property, do the following:

1. Type "end" (without the quotation marks) on a blank line on a module sheet.

2. Select the word "end" that you typed in step 1.

3. Press F1.

4. In the Context Help dialog box click the item for the "Excel" library, and then click Help (click OK in Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and 7.0).