It is very common to find the .Select methods in saved macro recorder code, next to a Range object.
.Select is used to select one or more elements of Excel (as can be done by using the mouse) allowing further manipulation of them.
Selecting cells with the mouse:
Selecting cells with VBA:
'Range([cell1],[cell2])
Range(Cells(1, 1), Cells(9, 5)).Select
Range("A1", "E9").Select
Range("A1:E9").Select
Each of the above lines select the range from "A1" to "E9".
If a region is populated by data with no empty cells, an option for an automatic selection is the CurrentRegion property alongside the .Select method.
CurrentRegion.Select will select, starting from a Range, all the area populated with data.
Range("A1").CurrentRegion.Select
Make sure there are no gaps between values, as CurrentRegion will map the region through adjoining cells (horizontal, vertical and diagonal).
Range("A1").CurrentRegion.SelectWith all the adjacent data
Not all adjacent data
"C4" is not selected because it is not immediately adjacent to any filled cells.
The ActiveCell property brings up the active cell of the worksheet.
In the case of a selection, it is the only cell that stays white.
A worksheet has only one active cell.
Range("B2:C4").Select
ActiveCell.Value = "Active"
Usually the ActiveCell property is assigned to the first cell (top left) of a Range, although it can be different when the selection is made manually by the user (without macros).
The AtiveCell property can be used with other commands, such as Resize.
After selecting the desired cells, we can use Selection to refer to it and thus make changes:
Range("A1:D7").Select
Selection = 7
Selection also accepts methods and properties (which vary according to what was selected).
Selection.ClearContents 'Deletes only the contents of the selection
Selection.Interior.Color = RGB(255, 255, 0) 'Adds background color to the selection
As in this case a cell range has been selected, the Selection will behave similarly to a Range. Therefore, Selection should also accept the .Interior.Color property.
RGB (Red Green Blue) is a color system used in a number of applications and languages. The input values for each color, in the example case, ranges from 0 to 255.
If there is a need to replicate a formula to an entire selection, you can use the .FillDown method
Selection.FillDown
Before the FillDown
After the FillDown
.FillDown is a method applicable to Range. Since the Selection was done in a range of cells (equivalent to a Range), the method will be accepted.
.FillDown replicates the Range/Selection formula of the first line, regardless of which ActiveCell is selected.
.FillDown can be used at intervals greater than one column (E.g. Range("B1:C2").FillDown will replicate the formulas of B1 and C1 to B2 and C2 respectively).
You can select one or multiple rows or columns with VBA.
Range("B2").EntireRow.Select
Range("C3:D3").EntireColumn.Select
The selection will always refer to the last command executed with Select.
To insert a row use the Insert method.
Range("A7").EntireRow.Insert
'In this case, the content of the seventh row will be shifted downward
To delete a row use the Delete method.
Range("A7").EntireRow.Delete
'In this case, the content of the eighth row will be moved to the seventh
Just like with the EntireRow and EntireColumn property, you can use Rows and Columns to select a row or column.
Columns(5).Select
Rows(3).Select
To hide rows:
Range("A1:C3").Rows.Hidden = True
In the above example, rows 1 to 3 of the worksheet were hidden.
Row and Column are properties that are often used to obtain the numerical address of the first row or first column of a selection or a specific cell.
Range("A3:H30").Row 'Referring to the row; returns 3
Range("B3").Column 'Referring to the column; returns 2
The results of Row and Column are often used in loops or resizing.
Suggested Exercise
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