Select non-blank rows in spreadsheet - excel

Question

I am going to try and keep this as short as I can and still explain adequately, here goes :)
I have searched forums, my VBA literature, and cannot find a way to do what I'm trying.
I have a spreadsheet with rowTotal >= 60 rows. The rows either have text data in cells of each column, or the rows are blank with a pattern and colorindex set.
I need a macro to select all non-blank rows.
I first tried looping through the cells of column A (if a cell in column A has text data, then its row should be selected), checking if activecell.value <> empty.
Here's the jist (mix of pseudocode & code):
Range("A1").Select
loop to end
if activeCell.value <> empty then
stringVar = stringVar + cstr(activeCell.row) + ":" + cstr(activeCell.row) + ","
end if
end loop
stringVar = Left(stringVar, (Len(stringVar) - 1))
Range(stringVar).Select
If I have total 10 rows with rows 2 and 8 having data, stringVar would resolve to this: "2:2, 8:8".
Range(stringVar).Select would have same result as writing Range("2:2, 8:8").Select.
If the number of rows to be in the range is <= 45, this works no problem. However, as soon as the number of rows with data in them exceeds 45, the code fails on Range(stringVar).Select.
I tried the macro recorder and it gets around this by using the Union method. And so I thought, "self, you can get this done with Union(). hooray MacroRecorder." But alas, my joy was remiss.
I was thinking I could split the one large string into 1 or more strings; each of these smaller strings would be under the 45 limit mentioned above. Then I can use Union() to group all the ranges (these smaller strings) together into the one desired range.
However, I would have to "build" my Union() code in real time during code execution, after I knew how many of these 45> strings I had.
Anyone know how to take a worksheet and select just rows that contain data; which amounts to having a range of non-contiguous rows where more than a count of 45 rows are selected.

Answer 1

No need for loops - use SpecialCells
For column A only use:
Set rng1 = Columns("A").SpecialCells(xlCellTypeConstants).EntireRow
instead.
Sub QuickSet()
Dim rng1 As Range
On Error Resume Next
Set rng1 = Cells.SpecialCells(xlCellTypeConstants).EntireRow
On Error GoTo 0
If Not rng1 Is Nothing Then
MsgBox "Your working range is " & rng1.Address(0, 0)
Else
MsgBox "No constants found"
End If
End Sub

Answer 2

I first suggest you try using Autofilter. If you're using Excel 2010 (and prob 2007, but I can't check) this is as simple as selecting your data, choosing the "Data" tab, then clicking Filter. Using the drop-down box in your first column, deselect "blanks".
The exact same functionality exists in Excel 2003, under the Data/Filter menu option. I can't really remember it all that well, though; you'll have to experiment, or Google it.
If that doesn't work:
Sub it()
Dim cell As Range
Dim selectRange As Range
For Each cell In ActiveSheet.Range("A:A")
If (cell.Value <> "") Then
If selectRange Is Nothing Then
Set selectRange = cell
Else
Set selectRange = Union(cell, selectRange)
End If
End If
Next cell
selectRange.Select
' selectRange.EntireRow.Select 'If you want to select entire rows
End Sub

Answer 3

Just used this code and it worked a treat - been tracking all other excel forums but couldn't find anything that was as simplified.
I also added that the selected rows were copied and pasted to the next blank row in another sheet, if anyone finds this useful.
Sub copypaste1()
'Find rows that contain any value in column A and copy them
Dim cell As Range
Dim selectRange As Range
For Each cell In ActiveSheet.Range("A:A")
If (cell.Value <> "") Then
If selectRange Is Nothing Then
Set selectRange = cell
Else
Set selectRange = Union(cell, selectRange)
End If
End If
Next cell
selectRange.EntireRow.Select
selectRange.EntireRow.Copy
'Paste copied selection to the worksheet 'mega' on the next blank row
Sheets("mega").Range("A65536").End(xlUp).Offset(1, 0).PasteSpecial _
Paste:=xlPasteValues
End Sub