XL: Returning Multiple Values from a Custom Function

ID: Q110693

The information in this article applies to:

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

SUMMARY

In the versions of Microsoft Excel listed at the beginning of this article, there are two different methods of returning multiple values from a custom function: one for returning a variable-sized array and one for returning a fixed-size array.

This article contains sample Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications procedures that demonstrate each of these methods.

MORE INFORMATION

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 professionals 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/overview/overview.asp

Method to Return a Variable-Size Result Array

This method returns an array of values based on an argument range. The size of the resulting array fluctuates depending on the number of elements in the argument array. For example, assume that you want to create a function that multiplies each value in a range by 100. The following custom function accepts an array (a range of values) as its argument:


      Function Multiply_Range(myrange As Object) As Variant
      Dim temp As Variant
      Dim i As Integer, j As Integer
      temp = myrange.Value 'creates a copy of the values in myrange
      ' if more than one element then loop through both dimensions of
      ' the array and multiply each element by 100.
      ' if not more than one element then temp is multiplied by 100.
      If IsArray(temp) Then
         For i = 1 To UBound(temp, 1)
            For j = 1 To UBound(temp, 2)
               temp(i, j) = temp(i, j) * 100
            Next j
         Next i
      Else
         temp = temp * 100
      End If
      Multiply_Range = temp
   End Function

To use the custom function, enter the following data in cells A1:A4:

A1: 5
A2: 3
A3: 1
A4: 2

Select the range B1:B4 and enter the following formula as an array:

=Multiply_Range(A1:A4)

NOTE: The above formula must be entered as an array formula. To enter a formula as an array formula in Microsoft Excel for Windows, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. In Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, press COMMAND+ENTER.

The result will be:


   A1:     5       B1:     500
   A2:     3       B2:     300
   A3:     1       B3:     100
   A4:     2       B4:     200

Method to Return Array Result of a Fixed Size

This method for returning multiple values from a custom function assumes that you have a fixed number of elements in the resulting array.

The following custom function accepts a starting time and an ending time and returns the number of hours, minutes, and seconds between them in a 3- row by 1-column array. >


   Function Elapsed_Time(start, finish As Date) As Variant
      Dim hours, minutes, seconds As Integer
      hours = Hour(finish - start)
      minutes = Minute(finish - start)
      seconds = Second(finish - start)
      Elapsed_Time = Application.Transpose(Array(hours, minutes, seconds))
   End Function

To use this custom function, enter a starting time and a finish time in two cells (for example, A1 and A2 below).

A1: 1:00:00
A2: 6:49:34

Then, highlight three cells in a column (for example, A3 through A5) and enter the following as an array formula:

=Elapsed_Time(A1,A2)


   A1:     1:00:00
   A2:     6:49:34
   A3:     5
   A4:     49
   A5:     34

If you prefer to enter the function horizontally into a range of cells instead of vertically, change the Elapsed_Time line to read:

Elapsed_Time = Array(hours, minutes, seconds)

REFERENCES

For more information about Arrays, from the Visual Basic Editor in Excel 97, click the Office Assistant, type array, click Search, and then click to view "Using Arrays."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q176476 OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

"Visual Basic User's Guide," version 5.0, Chapter 3

For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q163435 VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Additional query words: 5.00a 5.00c 8.00 97 udf

Keywords : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode PgmHowto KbVBA
Version : MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a; WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0; winnt:5.0
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbhowto