Replace text in a cell - excel

Question

I have a sheet that has names, SSNs and 4 columns filled with the following values: S, MB, B.
For said columns I wish to replace S with the number 4, MB with the number 3 and B with the number 2.
Sub replace()
Dim str1, str2, str3, filename, pathname As String
Dim i As Integer
str1 = "MB"
str2 = "B"
str3 = "S"
filename = "p"
pathname = ActiveWorkbook.Path
i = 1
Do While filename <> ""
Set wb = Workbooks.Open(pathname & filename + i)
DoWork wb
wb.Close SaveChanges:=True
filename = Dir()
Loop
End Sub
Sub DoWork(wb As Workbook)
With wb
End With
End Sub
In the function DoWork, how do I create a loop to replace each of the values?

Answer 1

I mostly agree with Michael--to learn the most, you should get started on your own, and come back with more specific questions. However, I am looking to reach 50 rep so I will pander to you. But do please try to go through the code and understand it.
Your name suggests you are a programmer, so the concepts we make use of should be familiar. I like to work from the inside out, so here goes:
here are my variables:
Dim sFileName As String
Dim sFilePath As String
Dim wbBook As Excel.Workbook
Dim i As Double
Dim wsSheet As Excel.Worksheet
Dim rRange As Range
Dim c As Range
Dim dReplace As Double
At the core, you'll want a select case statement to read each cell and decide what the new value should be. Then you will assign the new value to the cell:
Select Case c.value 'c being the cell we are currently examining
Case "S"
dReplace = 4
Case "M"
dReplace = 3
Case "B"
dReplace = 2
Case Else
'Assuming you should only encounter the above values,
'then anything else is an error
'.assert false will stop the code, or you can replace
'with more refined error handling
Debug.Assert False
End Select
c.value = dReplace
Around that you'll want a for each loop to define the current cell and iterate through all the cells in the range you specify for that particular worksheet:
set rRange = wsSheet.Range("C2:E5000") 'Customize to your range
for each c in rRange.Cells
'...
next
Next level up is the for next loop to iterate through all the worksheets in the current file:
For i = 1 To 30
If wbBook.Sheets(i).Name = "" Then
GoTo NextOne
End If
Set wsSheet = wbBook.Sheets(i)
'...
NextOne:
Next i
The if then statement at the top prevents an error if there are fewer than 30 worksheets in a workbook. If the number of sheets per file varies then this will be useful, if the number is fixed, just adjust the loop to stop and the right spot. Of course, this assumes your workbooks have information on multiple sheets. If not skip the loop altogether.
I'm sure many will criticize my use of goto, but since VBA loops lack a continue command, this is the workaround I employ.
Around that you'll want another iterator to loop through your multiple files. Assuming they are all in the same folder, you can use the Dir() function to grab the file names one-by-one. You give it the file path and (optionally) the file type, and it will return the first file name it finds that meets your cirteria. Run it again and it returns the second file name, etc. Assign that to a string variable, then use the file path plus the file name to open the workbook. Use a do loop to keep going until runs out of files:
sFilePath = "C:\Your File Path Here\"
sFileName = Dir(sFilePath & "*.xlsx")
Do Until sFileName = ""
Set wbBook = Workbooks.Open(sFilePath & sFileName)
'...
wbBook.Save
wbBook.Close
sFileName = Dir()
Loop
Now Put it all together:
Sub ReplaceLetterCodewithNumberCode()
Dim sFileName As String
Dim sFilePath As String
Dim wbBook As Excel.Workbook
Dim i As Double
Dim wsSheet As Excel.Worksheet
Dim rRange As Range
Dim c As Range
Dim dReplace As Double
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
sFilePath = "C:\Your File Path Here\"
sFileName = Dir(sFilePath & "*.xlsx")
Do Until sFileName = ""
Set wbBook = Workbooks.Open(sFilePath & sFileName)
For i = 1 To 30
If wbBook.Sheets(i).Name = "" Then
GoTo NextOne
End If
Set wsSheet = wbBook.Sheets(i)
Set rRange = wsSheet.Cells("C2:E5000") 'Customize to your range. Assumes the range will be the same
For Each c In rRange.Cells
Select Case c.value 'c being the cell we are currently examining
Case "S"
dReplace = 4
Case "M"
dReplace = 3
Case "B"
dReplace = 2
Case Else
'Assuming you should only encounter the above values,
'then anything else is an error
'.assert false will stop the code, or you can replace
'with more refined error handling
Debug.Assert False
End Select
c.value = dReplace
Next
NextOne:
Next i
wbBook.Save
wbBook.Close
sFileName = Dir()
Loop
'Clean up
Set wbBook = Nothing
Set wsSheet = Nothing
Set rRange = Nothing
Set c = Nothing
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

Answer 2

I'll provide a high level explanation of this; implementation will be up to you. You'll start with a crawler to open all of these files one by one (a google search should help you with this).
I'm not exactly sure how your sheets are organized but the general idea is to open each sheet and perform the action, so you'll need a list of filenames/paths or do it sequentially. Then once inside the file assuming the structure is the same of each you'll grab the column and input the appropriate value then save and close the file.
If you're looking for how to open the VBA editor go to options and enable the Developer tab.
This is a good beginner project and while you may struggle you'll learn a lot in the process.