Import variable range into Array/Collection? - excel

Question

Is there any way to import a range that looks like this:
I'm trying to import a range with an undetermined number of rows and columns. As the 5th row indicates, the range that I wish to import has in the first column business names and in their subsequent columns, different iterations of the same business.
I've been thinking of using arrays but I can't see it being possible as I would have varying dimensions per element (eg. 3 dimensions for canadian tire and 2 dimensions for mercedes).
I've also thought of using collections/dictionaries but I stumble at using and understanding them.
Ultimately, my intentions are to loop the iterations from this range in a column and, if any of these iterations match a cell in my column, to write in an offset cell the first iteration (business name in bold).
Now, I know, I could do a two dimensional array from a range like this, with repeated first iterations (business name):
However, it's quite cumbersome to rewrite business names.
My code below for what I was using for the two dimensional array:
Option Explicit
Sub VendorFinder()
'variable declaration
Dim msg As String
Dim ans As Integer
Dim rng As Range
Dim DescRng As Range
Dim DescCol As Range
Dim VendorCol As Range
Dim j As Long
Dim Vendor As Variant
Dim wb As Workbook
Dim sFile As String
Dim myVendor As Variant
Dim FirstRow As Range
Dim VendorRng As Range
'import vendors
sFile = "Z:\Vendor List.xlsx"
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Set wb = Application.Workbooks.Open(sFile)
Vendor = wb.Sheets(1).Range(Cells(1, 1), Cells(Cells(Rows.Count, 2).End(xlUp).Row, 2)).Value2
wb.Close False
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
On Error GoTo BadEntry
TryAgain:
'set columns
Set DescCol = Application.InputBox("Select Description Column", "Obtain Object Range", Type:=8)
Set VendorCol = Application.InputBox("Select Vendor Column", "Obtain Object Range", Type:=8)
Set FirstRow = Application.InputBox("Select First Row with Data", "Obtain Object Range", Type:=8)
'set ranges
Set DescRng = Range(Cells(FirstRow.Row, DescCol.Column), Cells(Cells(Rows.Count, DescCol.Column).End(xlUp).Row, DescCol.Column))
Set VendorRng = Range(Cells(FirstRow.Row, VendorCol.Column), Cells(Cells(Rows.Count, DescCol.Column).End(xlUp).Row, VendorCol.Column))
myVendor = VendorRng.Value2
For Each rng In DescRng
If Cells(rng.Row, VendorCol.Column).Value = "" Then
For j = LBound(Vendor) To UBound(Vendor)
If InStr(1, rng.Value, Vendor(j, 2), vbTextCompare) > 0 Then
myVendor(rng.Row - FirstRow.Row + 1, 1) = Vendor(j, 1)
Exit For
End If
Next j
End If
Next rng
VendorRng.Resize(UBound(myVendor) - LBound(myVendor) + 1, 1) = myVendor
Exit Sub
BadEntry:
msg = "You have clicked on cancel for one of the prompts."
msg = msg & vbNewLine
msg = msg & "Do you wish to try again?"
ans = MsgBox(msg, vbRetryCancel + vbExclamation)
If ans = vbRetry Then Resume TryAgain
End Sub
Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

I think I might have something simpler
Dim arr As New Collection, a
Dim var() As Variant
Dim i As Long
Dim lRows As Long, lCols As Long
Dim lRowCurrent As Long
Dim lCounter As Long
'Get the active range
Set rng = ActiveSheet.UsedRange
lRows = rng.Rows.Count
lCols = rng.Columns.Count
lRowCurrent = 0
'Loop thru every row
For i = 1 To lRows
' Read each line into an array
var() = Range(Cells(i, 1), Cells(i, lCols))
' Create a list of unique names only
On Error Resume Next
For Each a In var
arr.Add a, a
Next
'List all names
lCounter = arr.Count
For b = 1 To lCounter
Cells(lRowCurrent + b, 7) = arr(1)
Cells(lRowCurrent + b, 8) = arr(b)
Next
Set arr = Nothing
lRowCurrent = lRowCurrent + lCounter
Next

Answer 2

Try this:
Sub DoTranspose()
Dim r&, cnt&
Dim rng As Range, rngRow As Range, cell As Range
Set rng = Sheets("Source").Range("A1").CurrentRegion
r = 1
For Each rngRow In rng.Rows
cnt = WorksheetFunction.CountA(rngRow.Cells)
With Sheets("output").Cells(r, 1).Resize(cnt)
.Value = rngRow.Cells(1).Value
.Offset(, 1).Value = Application.Transpose(rngRow.Resize(, cnt).Value)
End With
r = r + cnt
Next
End Sub
Sample workbook.

Answer 3

This seems to be a simple un-pivot operation.
If you have Excel 2010+, you can use Power Query (aka Get&Transform in Excel 2016+), to do this.
Select a single cell in the table
Data / Get & Transform / From Range should select the entire table
Select the first column in the Query table.
Transform / Unpivot other columns
Delete the unwanted column
Save and Load
(Takes longer to type than to do)
This is the M Code, but you can do it all from the PQ GUI:
let
Source = Excel.CurrentWorkbook(){[Name="Table1"]}[Content],
#"Changed Type" = Table.TransformColumnTypes(Source,{{"Column1", type text}, {"Column2", type text}, {"Column3", type text}, {"Column4", type text}}),
#"Unpivoted Other Columns" = Table.UnpivotOtherColumns(#"Changed Type", {"Column1"}, "Attribute", "Value"),
#"Removed Columns" = Table.RemoveColumns(#"Unpivoted Other Columns",{"Attribute"})
in
#"Removed Columns"
Original Data
Unpivoted

Answer 4

Range Array Array Range
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
The left worksheet is the initial worksheet, and the right the resulting one.
Since cBlnColors is set to True, several ranges are being colored to better understand how this code works and to indicate the upsides of having headers.
The light yellow color represents the data range, while the yellow color represents the rest of the off limits cells.
All not colored cells can be used without affecting the results in the right worksheet.
cBlnHeadersBelow set to True means that the data is above the headers (unusual), while set to False would mean that the data will be below the headers (as usual).
Headers Below Data with Colors
Another Thousand
The following picture shows the same code used with cBlnHeadersBelow set to False.
The yellow range spans down to the last row (not visible).
Again, all not colored cells can be used without affecting the results in the right worksheet.
Headers Above Data with Colors
The Code
Option Explicit
'*******************************************************************************
' Purpose: In a specified worksheet of a specified workbook, transposes a
' range of data (vertical table!?) to a two-column range in a newly
' created worksheet.
' Arguments (As Constants):
' cStrFile
' The path of the workbook file. If "", then ActiveWorkbook is used.
' cVarWs
' It is declared as variant to be able to use both, the title
' (a string e.g. "Sheet1") or the index (a positive whole number e.g. 1)
' of the worksheet. If "", then ActiveSheet is used.
' cStrTitle
' The contents of the first cell in the headers to be searched for.
' cBlnHeaders
' If True, USE headers.
' If False, do NOT use headers i.e. cBlnHeadersBelow has no effect and the
' first data found by searching by column from "A1" is used as first cell
' and the last found data on the worksheet is used for last cell.
' cBlnHeadersBelow
' If True, the data is ABOVE the headers (Data-Then-Headers).
' If False, the data is as usual BELOW the headers (Headers-Then-Data).
' cStrPaste
' The cell address of the first cell of the resulting range in the new
' worksheet.
' cBlnColors
' If True, and cBlnHeaders is True, then colors are being used i.e. one
' color for the data range, and another for off limits ranges.
' If True, and cBlnHeaders is False, all cells are off limits,
' so only the data range is colored.
' Returns
' A new worksheet with resulting data. No threat to the initial worksheet.
' If you don't like the result, just close the workbook.
'*******************************************************************************
Sub VendorFinder()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
'***************************************
' Variables
'***************************************
Const cStrFile As String = "" ' "Z:\arrInit List.xlsx"
Const cVarWs As Variant = 1 ' "" for ActiveSheet.
Const cStrTitle As String = "Business" ' Contents of First Cell of Header
Const cBlnHeaders As Boolean = True ' True for Headers
Const cBlnHeadersBelow As Boolean = True ' True for Headers Below Data
Const cStrPaste As String = "A1" ' Resulting First Cell Address
Const cBlnColors As Boolean = True ' Activate Colors
Dim objWb As Workbook ' Workbook to be processed
Dim objWs As Worksheet ' Worksheet to be processed
Dim objTitle As Range ' First Cell of Header
Dim objFirst As Range ' First Cell of Data
Dim objLast As Range ' Last Cell of Data
Dim objResult As Range ' Resulting Range
Dim arrInit As Variant ' Array of Initial Data
Dim arrResult() As Variant ' Array of Resulting Data
Dim lngRows As Long ' Array Rows Counter
Dim iCols As Integer ' Array Columns Counter
Dim lngVendor As Long ' Array Data Counter, Array Row Counter
' ' Debug
' Const r1 As String = vbCr ' Debug Rows Separator
' Const c1 As String = "," ' Debug Columns Separator
'
' Dim str1 As String ' Debug String Builder
' Dim lng1 As Long ' Debug Rows Counter
' Dim i1 As Integer ' Debug Columns Counter
'***************************************
' Workbook
'***************************************
'On Error GoTo WorkbookErr
If cStrFile <> "" Then
Set objWb = Workbooks.Open(cStrFile)
Else
Set objWb = ActiveWorkbook
End If
'***************************************
' Worksheet
'***************************************
' On Error GoTo WorksheetErr
If cVarWs <> "" Then
Set objWs = objWb.Worksheets(cVarWs)
Else
Set objWs = objWb.ActiveSheet
End If
With objWs
' Colors
If cBlnColors = True Then
Dim lngData As Variant: lngData = RGB(255, 255, 153)
Dim lngOffLimits As Variant: lngOffLimits = RGB(255, 255, 0)
Else
.Cells.Interior.ColorIndex = xlNone
End If
' Assumptions:
' 1. Headers is a contiguous range.
' 2. The Headers Title is the first cell of Headers i.e. the first cell
' where cStrTitle is found while searching by rows starting from cell
' "A1".
' 3. The Headers Range spans from the Headers Title to the last cell,
' containing data, on the right.
' 4. All cells to the left and to the right of the Headers Range except
' for the cell adjacent to the right are free to be used i.e. no
' calculation is performed on them. If cBlnHeadersBelow is set to True,
' the cells below the Headers Range are free to be used. Similarly,
' if cBlnHeadersBelow is set to False the cells above are free to be
' used.
' 5. When cBlnHeadersBelow is set to True, the first row of data is
' calculated just using the column of the Headers Title
If cBlnHeaders = True Then ' USE Headers.
' Calculate Headers Title (using cStrTitle as criteria).
Set objTitle = .Cells _
.Find(What:=cStrTitle, After:=.Cells(.Rows.Count, .Columns.Count), _
LookIn:=xlFormulas, Lookat:=xlWhole, _
SearchOrder:=xlByRows, SearchDirection:=xlNext)
' Calculate initial first and last cells of data.
If cBlnHeadersBelow Then ' Headers are below data.
' Search for data in column of Headers Title starting from the first
' worksheet's row forwards to the row of Headers Title.
' When first data is found, the first cell is determined.
Set objFirst = .Range(.Cells(1, objTitle.Column), objTitle) _
.Find(What:="*", After:=.Cells(objTitle.Row, objTitle.Column), _
LookIn:=xlFormulas, Lookat:=xlWhole, _
SearchOrder:=xlByRows, SearchDirection:=xlNext)
' xlToRight, indicating that Headers Range is contiguous, uses the
' last cell of Headers Range while -1 sets the cells' row, one row above
' the Headers Title, resulting in the last cell range.
Set objLast = objTitle.End(xlToRight).Offset(-1, 0)
' Colors
If cBlnColors = True Then
.Cells.Interior.ColorIndex = xlNone
If objFirst.Row > 1 Then
.Range(.Cells(1, objFirst.Column), _
.Cells(objFirst.Row - 1, objLast.Column)) _
.Interior.color = lngOffLimits
End If
If objLast.Column < .Columns.Count Then
.Range(objTitle, .Cells(objTitle.Row, objLast.Column + 1)) _
.Interior.color = lngOffLimits
Else
.Range(objTitle, .Cells(objTitle.Row, objLast.Column)) _
.Interior.color = lngOffLimits
End If
.Range(objFirst, objLast).Interior.color = lngData
End If
Else ' Headers are above data (usually).
' 1 sets the cells' row, one row below the Headers Title
' resulting in the first cell range.
Set objFirst = objTitle.Offset(1, 0)
' Search for data in column of Headers Title starting from the last
' worksheet's row backwards to the row of Headers Title.
' When first data is found, the last row is determined and combined
' with the last column results in the last cell range.
Set objLast = .Cells( _
.Range(objTitle, .Cells(.Rows.Count, _
objTitle.End(xlToRight).Column)) _
.Find(What:="*", After:=objTitle, _
LookIn:=xlFormulas, Lookat:=xlWhole, _
SearchOrder:=xlByRows, SearchDirection:=xlPrevious) _
.Row, _
_
objTitle.End(xlToRight) _
.Column)
'Colors
If cBlnColors = True Then
.Cells.Interior.ColorIndex = xlNone
If objLast.Row < .Rows.Count Then
.Range(.Cells(objLast.Row + 1, objFirst.Column), _
.Cells(.Rows.Count, objLast.Column)) _
.Interior.color = lngOffLimits
End If
If objLast.Column < .Columns.Count Then
.Range(objTitle, .Cells(objTitle.Row, objLast.Column + 1)) _
.Interior.color = lngOffLimits
Else
.Range(objTitle, .Cells(objTitle.Row, objLast.Column)) _
.Interior.color = lngOffLimits
End If
.Range(objFirst, objLast).Interior.color = lngData
End If
End If
Else ' Do NOT use headers.
' Search for data in any cell from "A1" by column. When first data is
' found, the first cell is determined.
Set objFirst = _
.Cells _
.Find(What:="*", After:=.Cells(.Rows.Count, .Columns.Count), _
LookIn:=xlFormulas, Lookat:=xlWhole, _
SearchOrder:=xlByColumns, SearchDirection:=xlNext)
' Last cell with data on the worksheet.
Set objLast = .Cells( _
_
.Cells _
.Find(What:="*", After:=.Cells(1, 1), _
LookIn:=xlFormulas, Lookat:=xlWhole, _
SearchOrder:=xlByRows, SearchDirection:=xlPrevious) _
.Row, _
_
.Cells _
.Find(What:="*", After:=.Cells(1, 1), _
LookIn:=xlFormulas, Lookat:=xlWhole, _
SearchOrder:=xlByColumns, SearchDirection:=xlPrevious) _
.Column)
' Colors
If cBlnColors = True Then
.Cells.Interior.ColorIndex = xlNone
Range(objFirst, objLast).Interior.color = lngData
End If
End If
End With
'***************************************
' arrInit
'***************************************
' On Error GoTo arrInitErr
' Paste the values (Value2) of initial range into initial array (arrInit).
arrInit = Range(objFirst, objLast).Value2
' ' Debug
' str1 = r1 & "Initial Array (arrInit)" & r1
' For lng1 = LBound(arrInit) To UBound(arrInit)
' str1 = str1 & r1
' For i1 = LBound(arrInit, 2) To UBound(arrInit, 2)
' If i1 <> 1 Then
' str1 = str1 & c1
' End If
' str1 = str1 & arrInit(lng1, i1)
' Next
' Next
' Debug.Print str1
' Count data in arrInit.
For lngRows = LBound(arrInit) To UBound(arrInit)
For iCols = LBound(arrInit, 2) To UBound(arrInit, 2)
If arrInit(lngRows, iCols) <> "" Then
lngVendor = lngVendor + 1
End If
Next
Next
'***************************************
' arrResult
'***************************************
' On Error GoTo arrResultErr
ReDim arrResult(1 To lngVendor, 1 To 2) ' Resize resulting array (arrResult).
lngVendor = 0 ' Reset array data counter to be used as array row counter.
' Loop through arrInit and write to arrResult.
For lngRows = LBound(arrInit) To UBound(arrInit)
For iCols = LBound(arrInit, 2) To UBound(arrInit, 2)
If arrInit(lngRows, iCols) <> "" Then
lngVendor = lngVendor + 1
If iCols = 1 Then
arrResult(lngVendor, 1) = arrInit(lngRows, iCols)
Else
arrResult(lngVendor, 1) = arrResult(lngVendor - 1, 1)
End If
arrResult(lngVendor, 2) = arrInit(lngRows, iCols)
End If
Next
Next
Erase arrInit ' Data is in arrResult.
' ' Debug
' str1 = r1 & "Resulting Array (arrResult)" & r1
' For lng1 = LBound(arrResult) To UBound(arrResult)
' str1 = str1 & r1
' For i1 = LBound(arrResult, 2) To UBound(arrResult, 2)
' If i1 <> 1 Then
' str1 = str1 & c1
' End If
' str1 = str1 & arrResult(lng1, i1)
' Next
' Next
' Debug.Print str1
' Since there is only an infinite number of possibilities what to do with the
' resulting array, pasting it into a new worksheet has been chosen to be able
' to apply the bold formatting of the "Business Names" requested.
'***************************************
' New Worksheet
'***************************************
On Error GoTo NewWorksheetErr
Worksheets.Add After:=objWs
Set objResult = ActiveSheet.Range(Range(cStrPaste), _
Range(cStrPaste).Offset(UBound(arrResult) - 1, _
UBound(arrResult, 2) - 1))
With objResult
' Paste arrResult into resulting range (objResult).
.Value2 = arrResult
' Apply some formatting.
For lngRows = LBound(arrResult) To UBound(arrResult)
' If .Cells(lngRows, 1) = .Cells(lngRows, 2) Then ' Too slow!
If arrResult(lngRows, 1) = arrResult(lngRows, 2) Then
.Cells(lngRows, 1).Font.Bold = True
End If
Next
Erase arrResult ' Data is in objResult.
.Columns.AutoFit
End With
' To suppress the "Do you want to save changes you made to ... ?" - Alert:
objWb.Saved = True
'***************************************
' Clean Up
'***************************************
NewWorksheetExit:
Set objResult = Nothing
WorksheetExit:
Set objLast = Nothing
Set objFirst = Nothing
Set objTitle = Nothing
Set objWs = Nothing
WorkbookExit:
Set objWb = Nothing
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
Exit Sub
'***************************************
' Errors
'***************************************
WorkbookErr:
MsgBox "Workbook Error" & " (Error: '" & Err.Number & "')"
GoTo WorkbookExit
WorksheetErr:
MsgBox "Worksheet Error" & " (Error: '" & Err.Number & "')"
GoTo WorksheetExit
arrInitErr:
MsgBox "arrInit Error" & " (Error: '" & Err.Number & "')"
GoTo WorksheetExit
arrResultErr:
MsgBox "arrResult Error" & " (Error: '" & Err.Number & "')"
GoTo WorksheetExit
NewWorksheetErr:
MsgBox "New Worksheet Error" & " (Error: '" & Err.Number & "')"
GoTo NewWorksheetExit
End Sub
'*******************************************************************************
Extras
While testing the code, there were a little too many many worksheets in the workbook so I wrote this:
'*******************************************************************************
' Purpose: Deletes all Worksheets in the ActiveWorkbook except one.
' Danger: This code doesn't ask anything, it just does. In the end you will
' end up with just one worksheet (cStrWsExcept) in the workbook
' (cStrWbPath). If you have executed this code and the result is not
' satisfactory, just close the workbook and try again or don't. There
' will be no alert like "Do you want to save ..." because of the line:
' ".Saved = True" i.e. "objWb.Saved = True".
' Arguments (As Constants):
' cStrWbPath
' The path of the workbook to be processed. If "", then ActiveWorkbook is
' used.
' cStrWsExcept
' The worksheet not to be deleted. If "", then the Activesheet is used.
'*******************************************************************************
Sub DeleteWorksheetsExceptOne()
Const cStrWbPath = "" ' if "" then ActiveWorkbook
Const cStrWsExcept = "Sheet1" ' if "" then ActiveSheet
Dim objWb As Workbook
Dim objWsExcept As Worksheet
Dim objWsDelete As Worksheet
If cStrWbPath = "" Then
Set objWb = ActiveWorkbook
Else
Set objWb = Workbooks(cStrWbPath)
End If
With objWb
If cStrWsExcept = "" Then
Set objWsExcept = .ActiveSheet
Else
Set objWsExcept = .Worksheets(cStrWsExcept)
End If
' To suppress the "Data may exist in the sheet(s) selected for deletion.
' To permanently delete the data, press Delete." - Alert:
Application.DisplayAlerts = False
For Each objWsDelete In .Worksheets
If objWsDelete.Name <> objWsExcept.Name Then
objWsDelete.Delete
End If
Next
' To suppress the "Do you want to save changes you made to ... ?" - Alert:
.Saved = True
Application.DisplayAlerts = True
End With
End Sub
'*******************************************************************************