Creating dynamic range for VBA Combobox - excel

Currently I am making user form on Excel VBA and using combobox.
I have range(A2:A61) named "Division" in which was included divisions of company.
When I add this data into combo row source, I put named range - Division.
But on the other hand divisions are dynamic, I mean new divisions are created during the year.
The problem is when I created new division I can see its name on Cell A62 but it doesn't include range - named division. As the result I can't see updated combobox list.
Firstly I tried to choose range as (A:A) and called it division. In this case I can see updated combobox list but the blank cells within range makes other problems for me.
Secondly I had this code and I tried to use it as Row Source for combobox but came out error.
Set Division = Worksheets("DataCMB").Range(Range("E2"), Range("E1048576").End(xlUp))
Please, help to find out the issue.

You can insert your A2:A61 as table and define as "Division" name. So when you add new data, new data will auto include into "Division"name.

The first problem you have, and some of the other answers here have, is that you are not telling your 2nd and 3rd Range calls which sheet they should reference, so in the line below you can see I have added Worksheets("DataCMB") in front of them. Without that it will use the ActiveSheet which may not be set to DataCMB, so it will be looking for a range that is on a different sheet, and not find it.
The other problem was that your .End(xlUp) was working from a single cell and not a range, so I have changed it to look at the whole column and to look down instead of up. So the line below will give you the whole range of whatever is in that column, but will not include any blanks at the bottom, nor the header.
Set Division = Worksheets("DataCMB").Range(Worksheets("DataCMB").Range("E2"), Worksheets("DataCMB").Range("E2:E1048576").End(xlDown))

Private Sub UserForm_Initialize()
Division = Range(Range("A2"), Range("A2").End(xlDown)).Address
Me.ComboBox1.RowSource = Division
End Sub

Related

Automatically expand row heights in Excel when referenced from another sheet

Suppose I am having two sheets where on sheet 1 is this kind of data (different length of information within one row):
It might be lot of text that is "wrapped" to fit in a row (decently)
But, when I try to reference the same text, or try to use some formula for instance INDEX/MATCH to get me the same text, I am failing to get proper ROW Height...so I must adjust manually sheet 2 rows to fit nicely from heights...
Is there a way in Excel to automatically make these row expansions? Without taking a manual action every time because I won't be always sure how long it will be my original text...
You could add something into the Worksheet_Change event
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Target.WrapText = True
Target.EntireRow.AutoFit
End Sub
It might get annoying if it runs after every change for every cell, so you should add more if statements to limit which cells trigger the code.

How to look through a sheet and find a value, get the column, and then count how many times a value appears in that column

I am working with data that is sent to me. The sheets always contain the same headers though they aren't really headers because it doesn't come in table form, but the columns change every pull so it is never in the same column so I can't do the Index Match like I'm used to. I need to get this to work without converting the data to a table because others that use this don't know how to do that. Is there a way to search the sheet to find the cell containing the value, capture that column address, and then count how many times the column contains a letter?
I have a front excel page that keeps account of how many times something happens. Currently I use this formula =COUNTIF('UDO '!AJ:AJ,"Y"). It works the only thing is that I can't set it up as an array because the column isn't always AJ, so I'm always having to change it manually and I'd like to automate it. So I want to be able to search the sheet that contains the information for the text value example: "Review Required FY*" and get the column that contains this (it should be a unique value) then I want to look down that column and countif it has a "Y" or "y" marked in the cell. The sheets are always varying in length and column numbers. I thought about using an HLookUp but I can't get it to work. I also could not get Index Match to work, because I never know how much data or the column order the Audit tab will be in or have.
So on the Main tab I have a cell that counts how many files I have to audit I want to go to Audit tab, look for "Review Required FY*", capture that column and count how many times "Y" or "y" are there. I'd like to be able to set this up to do it all by itself.
I currently do not have any code because I can't find anything that works.
Using VBA
Option Explicit
Sub Looper()
Dim ws As Worksheet, Found As Range, LR As Long
For Each ws In Worksheets
Set Found = ws.Cells.Find("Review Required FY*")
If Not Found Is Nothing Then
LR = ws.Cells(ws.Rows.Count, Found.Column).End(xlUp).Row
MsgBox Application.WorksheetFunction.CountIf(ws.Range(ws.Cells(1, Found.Column), ws.Cells(LR, Found.Column)), "Y")
End If
Set Found = Nothing
Next ws
End Sub
Assuming the header only appears once, you can find out what row your header is in you can use an array formula like this (apply using Ctrl+Shift+Enter):
=MAX(ROW(A1:A10)*COUNTIF(OFFSET(A1:Z1,ROW(A1:A10)-1,0),"Review Required FY*"))
(looks in the first 10 rows across A:Z)
You can feed the result of that into a lookup to find the column number.
EDIT - something like this:
The first formula needs to be entered using Ctrl+Shift+Enter but the other 2 do not.
The 1000 in the last formula is a best guess at how much data there might be below your header - no problem setting that much larger to be on the safe side, as long as you don't try to count past the end of the sheet.

How to use relative names in Excel VBA

Many "advanced" (aka: VBA) excel tutorials on the web or even excel's vba help encurage us to use the
Range("B2:B10")
method (to be precise: object) for selecting cells or getting values. In the same place they often add it's totally ok to use predefined names as well:
Range("valuesabove")
On the other hand I fell in love with the incredible power of relatively defined cell names. They make it so much easier to write and handle big composite formulas, and basically to refer to nearly anything.
However, relative names don't work in the Range("valuesabove") method the way we are used to it.
Usually (when used on the worksheet) relative names are relative to the currently selected cell or to the cell in which they are used.
In VBA's Range() object this is not true. Range is relative to a WorkSheet object, by default to the ActiveSheet. But ActiveSheet is represenetd by its leftupper cell, A1. And this is what Range turns out to be relative to. And this is why absolute names ($C$23) do work with it, and relative ones ("one column to the left, two rows up") don't.
So my question is:
How can I harness the power of relative names in VBA then?
EDIT:
Realising that my question was rather unclear (thx's go to you guys commenting tirelessly) let me try to put it in a specific form and clarify terms:
IMHO on an excel worksheet it is very comfortable to use names in order to refer to cells or define calculated values by functions based on cell values.
In excel a reference to a cell can be either relative, absolute, or mixed. This is true also when creating names. Thus we can speak about absolute, relative or mixed names (in terms of referring of course).
Here an absolute name is used a couple times (created using excel's Trace Dependents function):
Name "name" = $D$2
A relative name is used a couple times here:
Name "upright24" while, e.g. cell A7 is selected = C3 (without $ signs!). But this changes constantly according to the selected cell or region. You can check it in the name manager! (Ctrl+F3)
And this is what we can consider as a mixed name:
Name "rel_serialnumber" while, e.g. cell C6 is selected = $B6. The row of which (6) changes constantly according to the selected cell or region.
The creation of a relative or a mixed name is explicitly based on the active cell at the moment of creating the name. The creation of an absolute name naturally doesn't rely on the cursor position.
Note, that
absolute names mean a dinamic offset from the referenced cell, which is one and only
relative names mean a static offset from the referenced cell, which thus changes always corresponding to the place where the name is used
mixed names mean a mixed (or half-dynamic) offset from the referenced cell, the row or column of which thus changes always corresponding to the place where the name is used while the other remains always the same (the offset in one or the other direction remains zero).
Okay, now here is the thing. I have a database-like excel sheet where I handle the rows like records and the columns as fields for properties. The user uses this thing as follows: he "selects a record" by placing the cursor in any cell of the row of the desired record. Then he presses a big command button which starts my VBA macro. This intends to open a prepared skeleton file and fill some specific cells in it (which are btw defined by absolute names) with some values (which are defined by mixed names) from the selected record.
Since Range("name") is considered ok to use in VBA (see above) I thought Range("relativename") or Range("mixedname") will work just as fine while automatically relying on the active cell.
I couldn't be worse.
Only Range("absolutename") works in the way one would expect! Explanation see above.
So I'm after a function / method / object that is possibly as comfortable to use with a "relativename" or a "mixedname" as Range("absolutename") is.
It appears you are looking for Range.Offset() http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ff840060%28v=office.15%29.aspx
However you could do it as:
'Your example Range(Col_B_in_current_row) as
Range("B" & ActiveCell.Row).Select
'Your example Range("B2:B10") -> Range("valuesabove") as
Range("B2:B10").Offset(-1, 0).Select
Just seems like a relatively simple syntax already exists for this.
I think I've found a proper and compact solution. It's
Names("mixedname").RefersToRange
Not as short as Range("mixedname") would be but it is really providing the expected values.
UPDATE:
This solution is mostly unuseful if you want to copy relative-named cell values in a source workbook to relative-named cells in a dest workbook with a single codeline. This is because Names() relies on the actual position of the cursor which is depending on which workbook is currently the active one and in most cases this won't be ok for the other.
In this case the non-fixed part of the name has to be stored:
sourcerow = ActiveCell.Row
[...]
'opening a wbk, this also makes it the active one
[...]
Names("dest").RefersToRange = mysheet.Cells(sourcerow, mybook.Names("src").RefersToRange.Column)
To reference a Range relative to another Range you can use this syntax:
myRange.Range("namedRange")
Note: This only works if both the Row offset AND the Column offsets are positive. For example if the "Refers to" formula for the named range is "=Offset(A1,r,c)", then the above syntax will throw an error if Either r Or c is negative. But, it will work if both are positive.
The asymmetry is unfortunate but business as usual for VBA...
To Reference the third column in the row of the current ActiveCell:
ActiveCell.EntireRow.Range("C1")
To reference a cell offset by (for example) 1 row and 3 columns relative to the ActiveCell:
ActiveCell.Range("C2")
Obviously, you can use the same syntax with the Selection Object or any other Range value in VBA.
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target as Range)
If Not Intersect(Target.Address,ThisWorkbook.Sheets('sheetname).Range('RangeName)) Is Nothing Then _
'Do whatever you want down here.
ThisWorbook.Sheets('sheetname).Range('RangeName).Offset(0,Target.Row)
End If
End Sub
This should send you on the right path to what you want (which is super unclear). Use the worksheet change event to bring in user worksheet selections and changes into VBA modules. Put it into the relevant sheet.
I had the same problem, but I did get it to work - sort of. I don't know what is different about the simple example below, but it works. At first I thought selection mattered, but no - it works without changing the active cell.
(I still can't get it to work in my main spreadsheet.)
Named range: "TestName" = Sheet1!$H1
Values in H1:H10 = 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
Sub Test()
Dim x As Integer
For x = 0 To 10
Range("A1").Offset(x, 0).Value = Range("A1").Offset(x, 0).Range("Testname").Value
Next x
End Sub
Result: A1:A10 = 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

Dynamic chart range using INDIRECT: That function is not valid (despite range highlighted)

I'm trying to create a chart with a range built dynamically using the INDIRECT function. Excel does recognize the range I am creating using INDIRECT as it highlights the corresponding range on the sheet:
However when saving the chart, I get an error message saying the function is not valid:
Does anybody know what the problem is / how to create a dynamic chart range from a specific start to specific end point?
PS: You can download the above spreadsheet here. The formula I was using:
=INDIRECT("sheet!"&E2&":"&E3)
The way you are trying to do it is not possible. Chart data range has to have a fixed address.
There is a way around this, and that's using named ranges
Put the number of rows you want in your data in a cell (e.g., E1)
So, using your example, I put Number of Rows in D1 and 6 in E1
In name manager, define the names for your data and titles
I used xrange and yrange, and defined them as:
xrange: =OFFSET(Sheet1!$A$2,0,0,Sheet1!$E$1)
yrange: =OFFSET(Sheet1!$B$2,0,0,Sheet1!$E$1)
now, to your chart - you need to know the name of the workbook (once you have it set up, Excel's function of tracking changes will make sure the reference remains correct, regardless of any rename)
Leave the Chart data range blank
for the Legend Entries (Series), enter the title as usual, and then the name you defined for the data (note that the workbook name is required for using named ranges)
for the Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels, enter the name you defined for the labels
now, by changing the number in E1, you will see the chart change:
Mine is similar to Sean's excellent answer, but allows a start and end day. First create two named ranges that use Index/Match formulas to pick the begin and end days based on E2 and E3:
rngDay
=INDEX(Sheet1!$A:$A,MATCH(Sheet1!$E$2,Sheet1!$A:$A,0)):INDEX(Sheet1!$A:$A,MATCH(Sheet1!$E$3,Sheet1!$A:$A,0))
rngValue
=INDEX(Sheet1!$B:$B,MATCH(Sheet1!$E$2,Sheet1!$A:$A,0)):INDEX(Sheet1!$B:$B,MATCH(Sheet1!$E$3,Sheet1!$A:$A,0))
You can then click the series in the chart and modify the formula to:
=SERIES(Sheet1!$B$1,Sheet1!rngDay,Sheet1!rngValue,1)
Here's a nice Chandoo post on how to use dynamic ranges in charts.
Just another answer for bits and googles..
If you still want to refer to your start and end cells, you'll need to add a separate formula for your Day Range and your Values Range. Formulas are below and the screenshot shows the formulas used.
Day Range:
="Sheet1!"&$F$2&":"&ADDRESS(ROW(INDIRECT($F$3)),COLUMN(INDIRECT($F$2)))
Values Range:
="Sheet1!"&ADDRESS(ROW(INDIRECT($F$2)),COLUMN(INDIRECT($F$3)))&":"&$F$3
Then add two ranges referencing the INDIRECT values of those cells
Press Ctrl+F3, Click New, and add a new range with the name "chart_days", referring to =INDIRECT(Sheet1!$F$4); and a new range with the name "chart_values", referring to =INDIRECT(Sheet1!$F$5)
Finally, in your chart, add a series that refers to =nameOfYourWorkbook!chart_values
and Edit the category to refer to =nameOfYourWorkbook!chart_days
I use OFFSET to create a defined name formula so that I may define all the ranges for the data, allowing me to have a starting a ending date (or the beginning and ending position of any data set).
For a simple graph, I define the name CategoryLabels as follows:
= OFFSET($A$5; (InicitialMonth-1); 0; LastMonth - (InitialMonth-1))
and DataCars as follows:
= OFFSET($B$5; (InicitialMonth-1); 0; LastMonth - (InitialMonth-1))
You will have to define as many names as Series you want to include, following the same procedure. In this simple case, I only included Car sales.
Initial Month and Last Month are Range Names defined for single cells used to indicate which months of the graph will be included (from starting to ending months).
Remember, as explained by Sean Cheshire and others, that to use the names for the chart values, the name of the spreadsheet must be included.
According to the formula you have shown: =INDIRECT("sheet!"&E2&":"&E3)
you are not naming the sheet correctly.
I would have thought it would be Sheet1! or Sheet2! etc.
Your formula resolves to =sheet!E2:E3 which is not a valid address. The error message you are getting means Excel cannot resolve the input to INDIRECT. INDIRECT is a valid function so the argument you offer it must be invalid.
All of the above answers which state the sheet name have corrected your error but do not mention it... ;)
Named formula with Indirect functions DOES NOT WORK IN CHARTS. It works in other froms as your desired dynamic source will be highlighted, but when you it in chart, it would not be evaluated. Hope Microsoft put a fix on this.
When a line chart's range is a named variable, and the variable has INDIRECT() references through a cell to a range, then the variable must have at least 2 INDIRECT()s separated by a comma.

Modifying a Dynamic Name with VBA

I have a spreadsheet that links to several other spreadsheets to pull data that compiled into one sheet; I am tasked with modifying the sheet to graph this data. There is a row of 12 slots for each month in a person's report; if a person was working in a month then the month will be displayed in the appropriate slot. For the graph I have figured out to use a dynamic name range so that the number of months in the graph is equal the number of months present in the line; the only problem is that the start pointing changes based on what month a person started.
I am able to make a rather large nested if statement but that doesn't seem like a very good way to approach resolving my problem. Is there a way I can have a VBA script change the value of the dynamic name range or just modify the chart's value directly? If this isn't a viable option is there any other way to approach this problem other than a dynamic named range?
I can't change how this report sheet behaves as this is a spreadsheet related to work and that's how they want it to be for reporting reasons; I'm simply looking to add the graphing functionality.
EXAMPLES:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zn6yt4l6kjvwq33/Example1.xlsx
https://www.dropbox.com/s/j88tgoik68s4lhx/Example2.xlsx
In the first example you see an example of the problem when you select "Second" from the dropbox next to Agent Name. It's including pointless data in the graph.
In the 2nd example I have resolved the problem by adding an if statement to the dynamic named ranges used in the chart; but as you can see to include 2 months it's now massive and to include all 12 it would be pretty much impossible. If I were to add a 3rd person who started in March they would also not work in the 2nd example.
Is there a way I can make it so the values in the Dynamic name range are changeable through VBA? Can I modify the chart's values directly using VBA? Is there a way to bypass this problem without even using VBA?
Thanks.
(I'm not 100% certain I've understood the problem, but this might at least help to get closer...)
Try defining three names, something like this:
start_month
data
chart_data
Where start_month contains the number of the column that you want to be charted, data is all twelve columns of data, something like =OFFSET($C$1,0,0,COUNT($A:$A),12) and chart_data selects the column you want from the data, e.g. =INDEX(data, , start_month)
Now set your chart's series to WorkbookName!chart_data, using whatever your workbook's called. As the start_month value changes, so should the values displayed in the chart.
You can add or modify a Name in VBA like:
Dim nm As Name
Dim rng As Range
'Here, you could use a more complicated expression'
' to derive the proper address dynamically.'
Set rng = Sheets("Sheet1").Range("A2:A25")
'Now, add a Name to the workbook:'
Set nm = ActiveWorkbook.Names.Add("My_Name", rng)
With some string functions/variables, you could derive/caclulate the range address in VBA.

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