VBA: I keep getting an error related to object variable not set properly - excel

Question

I am trying to set this simple code but no matter what I do, I always get an error 'object required' on the line:
Set foundCell = searchRange.Find(What:=searchValue, LookIn:=xlValues)
My source code is as follows:
Option Explicit
'I'm going to let the program search for the date in the pre-filled date -> select the entire row & column below -> move it down by 1 row -> insert the date above the moved pre-filled date -> fill other details
Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim submittedDate As Date
Dim searchValue As Variant
Dim searchRange As Variant
Dim foundCell As Range
Set ws = Sheet1 'setting it up so that I'm dealing with Sheet1
ws.Range("A7:A37").NumberFormat = "dd-mmm" 'setting the number format of the values in A7:A37 as dd-mmm
submittedDate = Me.TextBox1.Value 'setting the input value as a variable
searchValue = submittedDate
searchRange = ws.Range("A7:A37")
Set foundCell = searchRange.Find(What:=searchValue, LookIn:=xlValues)
If Not foundCell Is Nothing Then
MsgBox "Value found!"
Else
MsgBox "Value not found..."
End If
End Sub
Any thoughts/help would be appreciated and thank you in advance!
I can't seem to think of anything as a solution, as all the variables are declared ...

Answer 1

The Find() method of the Range class needs a Range object to be called on, while
searchRange = ws.Range("A7:A37")
would result in a searchRange as an array storing the values of the cells "A7:A37", since the default property of the Range object is the Value one (it's as if you had coded searchRange.Value = ws.Range("A7:A37").
While in order to have a Range object you have to use the Set keyword
Set searchRange = ws.Range("A7:A37")
That said, you'd also better declare searchRange as of Range type
Dim searchRange As Range
which would have originated an error for Set searchRange = ws.Range("A7:A37") in the compiling phase, instead of the one you experienced in the runtime one
Finally, you can omit the declaration and use of submittedDate variable and go direct with the searchValue one only
Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim searchValue As Variant
Dim searchRange As Range
Dim foundCell As Range
Set ws = Sheet1 'setting it up so that I'm dealing with Sheet1
ws.Range("A7:A37").NumberFormat = "dd-mmm" 'setting the number format of the values in A7:A37 as dd-mmm
searchValue = Me.TextBox1.Value 'setting the input value as a variable
Set searchRange = ws.Range("A7:A37")
Set foundCell = searchRange.Find(What:=searchValue, LookIn:=xlValues)
If Not foundCell Is Nothing Then
MsgBox "Value found!"
Else
MsgBox "Value not found..."
End If
End Sub
A more condensed version of which is the following one:
Private Sub CommandButton1_Click()
Dim foundCell As Range
With Sheet1.Range("A7:A37") ' reference the needed range
.NumberFormat = "dd-mmm" 'setting the number format of the values in referenced range as dd-mmm
Set foundCell = .Find(What:=Me.TextBox1.Value, LookIn:=xlValues) 'search for the TextBox1 value in the referenced range values
End With
If Not foundCell Is Nothing Then
MsgBox "Value found!"
Else
MsgBox "Value not found..."
End If
End Sub