Nested For Next Loops: Outer loop not iterating - excel

Question

I have a range of data from A2:A34 with various names in it that I need to copy to the range E9:E14. I only need to copy and paste unique names (I don't need a double of the same name). I am pretty sure using a nested For Next loop is the way to go but I'm having trouble getting the outer loop to go to the next iteration. Right now this is only giving me the last name in the in range A2:A34 repeated in E9:14. I was looking into using Exit For but when I added that in the code, the outer loop iterated but then the inner loop started over at 2.
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Below is my code:
Sub FillTable()
Dim tableCount As Integer
Dim rowCount As Integer
For tableCount = 9 To 13
If Range("E" & tableCount).Value = "" Then
For rowCount = 2 To 34
If Range("E" & tableCount).Value = Range("A" & rowCount).Value Then
ElseIf Range("E" & tableCount).Value <> Range("A" & rowCount).Value Then
Range("E" & tableCount).Value = Range("A" & rowCount).Value
End If
Next rowCount
End If
Next tableCount
End Sub

Answer 1

I am not sure if VBA is really needed for this exact issue but hopefully the below code will help. I switched the loops so that you only iterate through the large list of names once and then you iterate through the second list checking for duplicates. I also added a variable so it would allow for more than 5 unique names (unlike when tablecount was 9 to 13).
Fair warning - this is a quick and easy solution. It is neither elegant nor optimized.
Sub FillTable()
Dim tableCount As Integer
Dim rowCount As Integer
Dim n As Integer
n = 0
For rowCount = 2 To 34
For tableCount = 9 To 9 + n
If Range("E" & tableCount).Value = Range("A" & rowCount).Value Then
' name already found, break out of loop
Exit For
ElseIf Range("E" & tableCount).Value = "" Then
Range("E" & tableCount).Value = Range("A" & rowCount).Value
n = n + 1
End If
Next tableCount
Next rowCount
End Sub

Answer 2

It seems that your description of your goal does not match the code.
You are copying from (to simplify a bit) col A to col E.
Does col E already contain data? If not, why the first "if" stmt to see if some cell is empty?
If yes, E already contains data, then you want to loop through E to see if E already contains the new name.
I'll also point out that E has room (per your spec) for 6 names, while the source has 33 names.
Without knowing your goal, I won't suggest real code, but, perhaps a way of approaching the problem:
Create functions that do only very simple little things. For example, perhaps simplest, a function to see if name already in list. Note that I assume a value for highest used row, be sure to define it, whether as 14, or as some counter.
Function Is_Name_Already_Present_in_E( Name-to-check as String ) As Bool
Is_Name_Already_Present_in_E = False ; Default we'll return if don't find name.
for r = 9 to highest-so-far-used
if Name-to-check = Range( "E" & r ).value then ; If found name in list,
Is_Name_Already_Present_in_E = true ; then return true.
exit function
end if
next r
end function ; If scan whole list, and not found,false.
I'm sure there are a few syntax errors, but they should be easy to resolve.
Then, create a simple function to add your new name to E. Perhaps something like (Beware the assumptions!):
Function Add_New_Name_To_List( Name as string ) as bool
if highest_used_so_far >= 14 then
Error "No room to insert name:" & Name & ". Rejected."
Add_New_Name_To_List = false
exit function
end if
highest_used_so_far = highest_used_so_far + 1
range( A & h_u_s_r ).value = Name
Add_New_Name_To_List = true
exit function
Then, your main becomes a very simple (fake code example because I don't know your intent):
for r = 2 to 34
if not Is_Name_Already_Present_in_E( range( "A" & r ).value ) then
if not Add_Name_to_E( range( "A" & r ).value ) then
... what to do if add fails. ...
end if
end if
next name
Break your problem into pieces and it should be clear how to write each piece. Good luck.