XL98: Range Command in Macro Selects Cells from Entire Range

ID: Q186106

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

If you use a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro to work with a filtered list, the range commands select cells from all of the current range, not just from the visible cells.

MORE INFORMATION

The following are two examples of Visual Basic code. The first example selects all the visible cells in a filtered list and treats them as a selection. The second example selects specific visible cells for cell manipulation.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

Macro 1: Select All the Visible Cells in a Filtered List

NOTE: While this method is acceptable for modifying or copying all of the cells in a selection, it does not provide a way to address specific cells in a filtered list.

1. To set up a filtered list on a worksheet, follow these steps:

    a. In a new worksheet, enter the following values:

        A1: Value A  B1: Value B  C1: Value C
        A2: A-2      B2: B-2      C2: C-2
        A3: A-3      B3: B-3      C3: C-3
        A4: A-4      B4: B-4      C4: C-4
        A5: A-5      B5: B-5      C5: C-5
        A6: A-6      B6: B-6      C6: C-6
        A7: A-7      B7: B-7      C7: C-7
        A8: A-8      B8: B-8      C8: C-8
        A9: A-9      B9: B-9      C9: C-9
       A10: A-10    B10: B-10    C10: C-10

    b. Press the COMMAND key and click to select rows 3,
       4, 6, 7, 8, and 10.

    c. On the Format menu, click Row, and then click Hide.

   NOTE: Only the Header row and rows 2, 5, and 9 should be visible.

2. Press OPTION+F11 to start the Visual Basic Editor.

3. On the Insert menu, click Module.

4. Enter the following Visual Basic for Applications code in the module:

    ' The following Visual Basic for Applications code provides the ability
    ' to select all of the visible cells in the current region based on a
    ' single cell (similar to the way sort works); it allows you to copy
    ' only the visible cells to another worksheet.

    Sub Select_All_Visible_Cells()
       'Select all cells that have a "visible" property.
       Range("A1").CurrentRegion.SpecialCells(xlVisible).Select
       'Copy the visible cells to worksheet named "Sheet2".
       Selection.Copy Worksheets("Sheet2").Range("A1")
    End Sub

5. Press OPTION+F11 to return to Microsoft Excel.

6. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and click Macros.

7. Click Select_All_Visible_Cells, and click Run.

Rows 2, 5, and 9 (the visible cells) are selected.

Macro 2: Select Specific Cells in a Filtered List

The first step in selecting a specific cell in a filtered list is to determine the visible rows and the hidden rows. You can then select specific cells in the visible row.

1. To create a list, follow steps 1 through 3 in the "Macro 1: Select All

   the Visible Cells In a Filtered List" section.

2. Enter the following Visual Basic code in a module:

    Sub Select_Specific_Visible_Cells()
       '   Area is set as an object that defines the Current Region.
       '   Current Region contains all the cells starting at the cell
       '   defined in the Range Method and bounded by blank rows and blank
       '   columns (or the edges of the worksheet).
       Set area = Range("A1").CurrentRegion
       '   LastColumn is the column number for the last column in the
       '   Current Region.
       lastcolumn = area.Columns.Count
       '   EndRow is set as an object that contains all the cells in the
       '   last row (the last record) in Current Region.
       Set endrow = area.Offset(area.Rows.Count - 1).Resize(1, lastcolumn)
       '   SearchRow is set as an object that contains the first row in the
       '   current region.
       Set searchrow = area.Resize(1, lastcolumn)
       '   The outside "Do Until" loop allows us to look at each row, one
       '   row at a time until we reach the end of the Current Region.
       Do Until searchrow.Row >= endrow.Row
       '   The inside "Do" loop locates the next visible.(not hidden) row.
          Do
       '   Verify we didn't select past the end of the Current Region.
             If searchrow.Row < endrow.Row Then
       '   If OK then select the next row to be checked.
                Set searchrow = searchrow.Offset(1)
             Else
       '   If the selection goes past the end of Current Region, exit the
       '   sub.
                Exit Sub
             End If
       '   Continue to look until a row is found that's not hidden.
          Loop Until searchrow.EntireRow.Hidden = False
       '   Select the visible row.
       searchrow.Select
       '   The "For Each" loop allows you to look at, copy, modify, and so
       '   on, each cell in the visible row. "MsgBox" then displays each
       '   value of the cell.
          For Each Cell In Selection
             MsgBox Cell.Value
          Next
       '   Once we process a visible row, loop back and look for another.
       Loop
    End Sub

3. Press OPTION+F11 to return to Microsoft Excel.

4. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and click Macros.

5. Click Select_Specific_Visible_Cells, and click Run.

In this example, the Message Box displays the contents of each of the three cells in each of the visible rows 2, 5, and 9. The "For Each Cell In Selection" could be replaced with the Range Cells method to select specific cells from the selected visible rows.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Office 97 Visual Basic Programmer's Guide," Chapter 4, "Working with the Range Object," pages 81-87.

For more information about the Range object, click the Office Assistant, type "Range object," click Search, and then click to view "Range object."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q179216
   TITLE     : OFF98: How to Use the Microsoft Office Installer Program

Additional query words: XL97 XL98
Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999