XL: How to Select Ranges Using Visual Basic for Applications (Novice Examples)

ID: Q148355

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 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

To manually select all the data in a column, select the first cell, and press CTRL+SHIFT+DOWN ARROW.

Likewise, to manually select a row and all columns attached to the row, press CTRL+SHIFT+DOWN ARROW+RIGHT ARROW. 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:

On the Edit menu, click Go To.

In the Go To dialog box, click Special.

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

You can also select this range by using simple Visual Basic for Applications code.

NOTE: If you try to record this procedure by using the macro recorder, you do 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 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 a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Solution Providers, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/mcsp/

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

The following Visual Basic code samples show you how to select varying ranges.

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

NOTE: The SelectRangeDown macro assumes your data is contiguous. Otherwise, if there are blank cells in the column of data you are selecting, this macro may not select all of your cells in the column.

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

In Microsoft Excel 97 and Microsoft Excel 98, this macro will be slightly different because there are more rows in a worksheet in this version of Microsoft Excel:


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

If you want to select from the active cell down and all columns to the right (assuming contiguous data in all rows and columns), use the following code:


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

If you know the starting cell (in this sample code, the starting cell is D1), and you want to select down the column and to the right, try using the following code:


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

To select all data in the current region, use the following code:


   Sub CurrentArea()
      Selection.CurrentRegion.Select
   End Sub

The examples included in this article show you how to select varying ranges on the active worksheet of your current workbook.

For additional information about selecting ranges with Visual Basic for Applications (and for more advanced examples), please click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q120198 XL: How to Select Cells/Ranges Using Visual Basic Procedures

REFERENCES

For more information about selecting ranges with the End property:

Type end on a blank line on a module sheet.

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

Press F1.

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

Additional query words: 5.00c 8.00 ranges select adjacent

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Version : MACINTOSH:5.0,98; WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97; winnt:5.0
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbhowto