Excel VBA; Referencing Variable Ranges

Question

I'm trying to automate a process that takes a monthly report and generates an exception report based on the data. Since the volume of the data in the report varies from month to month, i need to account for that. What methodology is best for referencing a variable range?

For example, instead of referencing the range A1:F7087, i want to reference the entire range that includes any data. For as simple as this appears to be, I haven't been able to find any guidance on it. Appreciate any input. Thanks

Answer 1

Dim rng As Range
Set rng = Range(Range("A1"), Range("A1").SpecialCells(xlLastCell))

This will set rng to contain all cells up to last filled, it will also contain all empty rows and columns. You should also read this , important part from this article about xlLastCell :

Depending on what you are trying to accomplish, this cell may not be the cell that you are actually looking for. This is because, for example, if you type a value into cells A1,A2, and B1, Excel considers the last cell to be B2, which could have a value or not...

Answer 2

There are pros and cons with just about any method you choose to reference the dynamic block of data you wish to include with your report.

The caveat that comes with .SpecialCells(xlLastCell) is that it may encompass a cell that was previously used but is no longer within the scope of the data. This could occur if your data shrinks from one month to the next although recent service packs and updates provided for Excel 2010/2013 will shrink the rogue last cell through saving the workbook. I'm sure many of us have at one time or another mistyped a value into AZ1048576 and had to jump through hoops getting Excel to internally resize the extents of the actual data. As mentioned, with later versions of Excel, this problem is all but a footnote in history.

One last thing to note is that cells formatted as anything but plain-Jane General will halt the shrink so if last month's report had a formatted Subtotal line 50 rows below where it is this month, the .SpecialCells(xlLastCell) will be referencing an area 50 rows too long.

If you have a contiguous block of data with some blank cells possible but no fully blank rows or columns that segregate your data into islands then I prefer the following approach.

With sheets("Sheet1") Set rng = .Cells(1, 1).CurrentRegion End With

The area referenced by the above code can be demonstrated by selecting A1 and tapping Ctrl+A once (twice is A1:XFD1048576). The cells selected will be a rectangle encompassing the last column with data and the last row with data as the extents. Previously used cells and cells that have retained formatting from previous reports have no effect; only cell values and formulas. However, it must be emphasized that the island of data stops at the first fully blank row or column.

The last method I will mention is to position in (aka .Select or otherwise start at) A1 and use .Find with a wildcard searching backwards so that it ends up starting at XFD1048576 and searching toward A1 for the first value or formula it can find first by row then repeated by column.

Dim lr As Long, lc As Long, rng As Range
With Sheets("Sheet3")
    lr = .Cells.Find(What:=Chr(42), After:=.Cells(1, 1), LookIn:=xlFormulas, LookAt:= _
        xlPart, SearchOrder:=xlByRows, SearchDirection:=xlPrevious).Row
    lc = .Cells.Find(What:=Chr(42), After:=.Cells(1, 1), LookIn:=xlFormulas, LookAt:= _
        xlPart, SearchOrder:=xlByColumns, SearchDirection:=xlPrevious).Column
    Set rng = .Cells(1, 1).Resize(lr, lc)
End With

This is really the only true method of getting an accurate representation of your data block but its thoroughness is not usually necessary.

Answer 3

Sub highlight()

Dim obj As Range
For Each obj In Sheet1.UsedRange

If obj.Value = Range("A1").Value Then
obj.Interior.Color = vbYellow
Else
obj.Interior.Color = vbWhite
End If

Next obj

End Sub