Find column based on column header - excel

Question

I have this code and it only works if the header I'm looking for is in column B or "higher".
Lets say I have this table and need to find what column "Name" and "score" is in.
Name score
John 1
Joe 5
If "Name" is in B1 and "score" is in C1 the following code will work:
NameColumn = Split(Cells(1, Cells(1, 1).EntireRow.Find(What:="Name", LookIn:=xlValues, LookAt:=xlWhole, SearchOrder:=xlByColumns, searchdirection:=xlNext, MatchCase:=True).Column).Address(True, False), "$")(0)
ScoreColumn = Split(Cells(1, Cells(1, 1).EntireRow.Find(What:="score", LookIn:=xlValues, LookAt:=xlWhole, SearchOrder:=xlByColumns, searchdirection:=xlNext, MatchCase:=True).Column).Address(True, False), "$")(0)
^^ <- search value
The above code would in the case return
NameColumn = "B"
ScoreColumn = "C"
But suppose the columns are A & B then it will not find "Name" because it starts searching after cell 1,1 (A1) which is where the header is.
What can I change to make this work, or what alternatives are there to returning "A" and "B" in the example above?

Answer 1

Here is a quick UDF function that i have used in the past.
This may not be the best way to do it, but this is one I have used for many years.
Function ColumnHeaderLocation(entry As String, Optional ColumnNumber As Boolean)
Dim x, y As Long
y = ActiveSheet.Columns.Count
x = 1
Do Until x > y
If ActiveSheet.Cells(1, x).Value = entry Then
ColumnHeaderLocation = Split(ActiveSheet.Cells(1, x).Address(True, False), "$")(0)
If ColumnNumber = True Then ColumnHeaderLocation = x
Exit Function
Else
x = x + 1
End If
Loop
End Function
Simply use the name of the column header (see example)...
NameColumn = ColumnHeaderLocation("Name") ' returns Column Location as a letter
Or
NameColumn = ColumnHeaderLocation("Name", True) ' Returns column Location as a Number

Answer 2

Header Column Letter Calculation
You will have to add the After argument to the Find method pointing to the last cell .Cells(.Cells.Count) to start the search from the first cell .Cells(1). But as chris neilsen in the comments pointed out, this is not the reason your code would fail, because it would find Name at the end of the search.
Since you haven't defined what 'not working' actually means, and it is highly unlikely that you have misspelled Name in A1, I would assume that NameColumn returns an undesired result (<>A) meaning that you have used Name somewhere else in the first row and you really need to start the search from the first cell .Cells(1).
Short Version
Sub FindAfterShort()
Dim NameColumn As String ' Name Column Letter
Dim ScoreColumn As String ' Score Column Letter
With Rows(1)
NameColumn = Split(.Find("Name", .Cells(.Cells.Count), xlValues, _
xlWhole).Address, "$")(1)
ScoreColumn = Split(.Find("Score", .Cells(.Cells.Count), xlValues, _
xlWhole).Address, "$")(1)
End With
Debug.Print "Column Letters '" & NameColumn & "' and '" & ScoreColumn & "'."
End Sub
Preferable Version
Sub FindAfterPref()
Const cSheet As String = "Sheet1" ' Worksheet Name
Dim strName As String ' Name Column Letter
Dim strScore As String ' Score Column Letter
With ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(cSheet).Rows(1)
strName = Split(.Find("Name", .Cells(.Cells.Count), xlValues, _
xlWhole).Address, "$")(1)
strScore = Split(.Find("Score", .Cells(.Cells.Count), xlValues, _
xlWhole).Address, "$")(1)
End With
Debug.Print "Column Letters '" & strName & "' and '" & strScore & "'."
End Sub
A Small Study
Sub FindAfter()
Const cSheet As String = "Sheet1" ' Worksheet Name
Const cFR As Long = 2 ' First Row
' The column where the Last Row Number will be calculated.
Const cLRColumn As Variant = "A" ' Last-Row Column Letter/Number
Dim rngName As Range ' Name Column Range, Name Range
Dim rngScore As Range ' Score Column Range, Score Range
Dim lngName As Long ' Name Column Number
Dim lngScore As Long ' Score Column Number
Dim strName As String ' Name Column Letter
Dim strScore As String ' Score Column Letter
Dim lngLR As Long ' Last Row Number (Calculated in Last-Row Column)
With ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(cSheet).Rows(1)
' Find Method Arguments
' 2. After: If you want to start the search from the first cell, you
' have to set the After parameter to the last cell. If you
' have the matching data in the first cell and you set the
' parameter to the first cell (default), it will still be
' found, but a little later (not mili, but micro seconds
' later) so it could be omitted.
' 5. SearchOrder: Whenever a range is a one-row or a one-column range,
' this argument can be omitted. Since you're searching
' in a one-row range, "xlByRows" would have been the
' more 'correct' way in this case.
' 6. SearchDirection: This argument's parameter is by default "xlNext"
' and can therefore be omitted
' 7. MatchCase: This argument's parameter is by default "False". Since
' I don't see the reason why you would have headers with
' the same name, especially the ones you don't need
' before the ones you need, it is omitted. If you really
' need it, use "... xlWhole, , , True".
Set rngName = .Find("Name", .Cells(.Cells.Count), xlValues, xlWhole)
Set rngScore = .Find("Score", .Cells(.Cells.Count), xlValues, xlWhole)
' Address Arguments
' If the Address arguments are omitted, Range.Address returns the
' address as an absolute reference e.g. $A$1. When you split
' $A$1 you will get the following
' INDEX STRING
' 0 - Empty string ("").
' 1 A - Use this i.e. index 1 for the split array index.
' 2 1
If Not rngName Is Nothing Then ' When "Name" was found.
' Calculate Name Column Number.
lngName = rngName.Column
' Calculate Name Column Letter.
strName = Split(rngName.Address, "$")(1)
End If
If Not rngScore Is Nothing Then ' When "Score" was found.
' Calculate Score Column Number.
lngScore = rngScore.Column
' Calculate Score Column Letter.
strScore = Split(rngScore.Address, "$")(1)
End If
Debug.Print "Column Numbers '" & lngName & "' and '" & lngScore & "'."
Debug.Print "Column Letters '" & strName & "' and '" & strScore & "'."
Debug.Print "Name Column Header Address '" & rngName.Address & "'."
Debug.Print "Score Column Header Address '" & rngScore.Address & "'."
With .Parent ' instead of "ThisWorkbook.Worksheets(cSheet)".
'*******************************************************************
' This should demonstrate a case where you don't need the column
' letter (mostly you don't). You should use ".Cells", ".Range" is
' not an option.
'*******************************************************************
' Column Number (lngName)
' Last Row Number calculated using Cells and lngName.
If lngName <> 0 Then
' Calculate last row in Name Column.
lngLR = .Cells(.Rows.Count, lngName).End(xlUp).Row
' Create a reference to the range from First Row to Last Row in
' Name Column.
Set rngName = .Range(.Cells(cFR, lngName), _
.Cells(lngLR, lngName))
End If
'*******************************************************************
' This is the same as the previous and should demonstrate that
' when you already know the column letter, you have two choices:
' you can use ".Cells" or ".Range".
'*******************************************************************
' Column Letter (strName)
' Last Row Number calculated using Cells and strName.
If strName <> "" Then
' Calculate last row in Name Column.
lngLR = .Cells(.Rows.Count, strName).End(xlUp).Row
' Create a reference to the range First Row to Last Row in
' Name Column.
Set rngName = .Range(.Cells(cFR, strName), _
.Cells(lngLR, strName))
End If
' Last Row Number calculated using Range and strName.
If strName <> "" Then
' Calculate last row in Name Column.
lngLR = .Range(strName & .Rows.Count).End(xlUp).Row
' Create a reference to the range from First Row to Last Row in
' Name Column.
Set rngName = .Range(strName & cFR & ":" & strName & lngLR)
End If
'*******************************************************************
' Since the column letter is more user-friendly, the only use
' I can imagine where you might need it, is to inform the user e.g.
MsgBox "Column '" & strName & "' contains the names and column '" _
& strScore & "' contains the scores.", vbInformation, _
"User Information"
End With
Debug.Print "Last (used) Row in Name Column '" & lngLR & "'."
Debug.Print "Name Range Address '" & rngName.Address & "'."
Debug.Print "Column '" & strName & "' contains the Names and column'" _
& strScore & "' contains the scores."
End With
End Sub