Columns select vba excel

Excel VBA Columns Property

VBA Columns property is used to refer to columns in the worksheet. Using this property we can use any column in the specified worksheet and work with it.

When we want to refer to the cell, we use either the Range object or Cells property. Similarly, how do you refer to columns in VBA? We can refer to columns by using the “Columns” property. Look at the syntax of COLUMNS property.

We need to mention the column number or header alphabet to reference the column.

For example, if we want to refer to the second column, we can write the code in three ways.

Columns (2)

Columns(“B:B”)

Range (“B:B”)

Examples

You can download this VBA Columns Excel Template here – VBA Columns Excel Template

Example #1

If you want to select the second column in the worksheet, then first, we need to mention the column number we need to select.

Code:

Sub Columns_Example()

  Columns (2)

End Sub

Now, put a dot (.) to choose the “Select” method.

One of the problems with this property is we do not get to see the IntelliSense list of VBA.

Code:

Sub Columns_Example()

  Columns(2).Select

End Sub

So, the above VBA codeVBA code refers to a set of instructions written by the user in the Visual Basic Applications programming language on a Visual Basic Editor (VBE) to perform a specific task.read more will select the second column of the worksheet.

Instead of mentioning the column number, we can use the column header alphabet “B” to select the second column.

Code:

Sub Columns_Example()

  Columns("B").Select
  Columns("B:B").Select

End Sub

The above codes will select column B, i.e., the second column.

Example #2 – Select Column Based on Variable Value

We can also use the variable to select the column number. For example, look at the below code now.

Code:

Sub Columns_Example()

  Dim ColNum As Integer
  ColNum = 4
  Columns(ColNum).Select

End Sub

In the above, we have declared the variable as “Integer” and assigned the value of 4 to this variable.

We have supplied this variable instead of the column number for the Column’s property. Since the variable holds the value of 4, it will select the 4th column.

Example #3 – Select Column Based on Cell Value

We have seen how to select the column based on variable value now. Next, we will see how we can select the column based on the cell value number. For example, in cell A1 we have entered the number 3.

The code below will select the column based on the number in cell A1.

Code:

Sub Columns_Example()

  Dim ColNum As Integer
  ColNum = Range("A1").Value
  Columns(ColNum).Select

End Sub

The above code is the same as the previous one. Still, the only thing we have changed here is instead of assigning the direct number to the variable. Instead, we gave a variable value as “whatever the number is in cell A1.”

Since we have a value of 3 in cell A1, it will select the third column.

Example #4 – Combination of Range & Column Property

We can also use the Columns property with the Range object. Using the Range object, we can specify the specific range. For example, look at the below code.

Code:

Sub Columns_Example1()

  Range("C1:D5").Columns(2).Select

End Sub

In the above example, we have specified the range of cells as C1 to D5. Then, using the columns property, we have specified the column number as 2 to select.

Now, in general, our second column is B. So the code has to select the “B” column but see what happens when we run the code.

It has selected the cells from D1 to D5.

In our perception, it should have selected the second column, i.e., column B. But now, it has selected the cells from D1 to D5.

It has selected these cells because before using the COLUMNS property, we have specified the range using the RANGE object as C1 to D5. Now, the property thinks within this range as the columns and selects the second column in the range C1 to D5. Therefore, D is the second column, and specified cells are D1 to D5.

Example #5 – Select Multiple Columns with Range Object

Using the Range object and Columns property, we can select multiple columns. For example, look at the below code.

Code:

Sub Columns_Example1()

  Range(Columns(2), Columns(5)).Select

End Sub

The code will select the column from the second column to the fifth column, i.e., from column B to E.

We can also write the code in this way.

Code:

Sub Columns_Example1()

  Range(Columns(B), Columns(E)).Select

End Sub

The above is the same as the previous one and selects the columns from B to E.

Like this, we can use the COLUMNS property to work with the worksheet.

Recommended Articles

This article has been a guide to VBA Columns. Here, we discuss examples of the column property in Excel VBA and select multiple columns with the range object and downloadable Excel templates. Below are some useful articles related to VBA: –

• DateSerial Function in Excel VBA
• Hide Columns in VBA
• Insert Columns in VBA
• Delete Column in VBA
• VBA Variable Types

Excel VBA Columns Property

We all are well aware of the fact that an Excel Worksheet is arranged in columns and rows and each intersection of rows and columns is considered as a cell. Whenever we want to refer a cell in Excel through VBA, we can use the Range or Cells properties. What if we want to refer the columns from Excel worksheet? Is there any function which we can use to refer the same? The answer is a big YES!

Yes, there is a property in VBA called “Columns” which helps you in referring as well as returning the column from given Excel Worksheet. We can refer any column from the worksheet using this property and can manipulate the same.

Syntax of VBA Columns:

The syntax for VBA Columns property is as shown below:

Where,

• RowIndex – Represents the row number from which the cells have to be retrieved.
• ColumnIndex – Represents the column number which is in an intersection with the respective rows and cells.

Obviously, which column needs to be included/used for further proceedings is being used by these two arguments. Both are optional and if not provided by default would be considered as the first row and first column.

How to Use Columns Property in Excel VBA?

Below are the different examples to use columns property in excel using VBA code.

You can download this VBA Columns Excel Template here – VBA Columns Excel Template

Example #1 – Select Column using VBA Columns Property

We will see how a column can be selected from a worksheet using VBA Columns property. For this, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Insert a new module under Visual Basic Editor (VBE) where you can write the block of codes. Click on Insert tab and select Module in VBA pane.

Step 2: Define a new sub-procedure which can hold the macro you are about to write.

Code:

Sub Example_1()

End Sub

Step 3: Use Columns.Select property from VBA to select the first column from your worksheet. This actually has different ways, you can use Columns(1).Select initially. See the screenshot below:

Code:

Sub Example_1()

Columns(1).Select

End Sub

The Columns property in this small piece of code specifies the column number and Select property allows the VBA to select the column. Therefore in this code, Column 1 is selected based on the given inputs.

Step 4: Hit F5 or click on the Run button to run this code and see the output. You can see that column 1 will be selected in your excel sheet.

This is one way to use columns property to select a column from a worksheet. We can also use the column names instead of column numbers in the code. Below code also gives the same result.

Code:

Sub Example_1()

Columns("A").Select

End Sub

Example #2 – VBA Columns as a Worksheet Function

If we are using the Columns property without any qualifier, then it will only work on all the Active worksheets present in a workbook. However, in order to make the code more secure, we can use the worksheet qualifier with columns and make our code more secure. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Define a new sub-procedure which can hold the macro under the module.

Code:

Sub Example_2()

End Sub

Now we are going to use Worksheets.Columns property to select a column from a specified worksheet.

Step 2: Start typing the Worksheets qualifier under given macro. This qualifier needs the name of the worksheet, specify the sheet name as “Example 2” (Don’t forget to add the parentheses). This will allow the system to access the worksheet named Example 2 from the current workbook.

Code:

Sub Example_2()

Worksheets("Example 2")

End Sub

Step 3: Now use Columns property which will allow you to perform different column operations on a selected worksheet. I will choose the 4^th column. I either can choose it by writing the index as 4 or specifying the column alphabet which is “D”.

Code:

Sub Example_2()

Worksheets("Example 2").Columns("D")

End Sub

As of here, we have selected a worksheet named Example 2 and accessed the column D from it. Now, we need to perform some operations on the column accessed.

Step 4: Use Select property after Columns to select the column specified in the current worksheet.

Code:

Sub Example_2()

Worksheets("Example 2").Columns("D").Select

End Sub

Step 5: Run the code by pressing the F5 key or by clicking on Play Button.

Example #3 – VBA Columns Property to Select Range of Cells

Suppose we want to select the range of cells across different columns. We can combine the Range as well as Columns property to do so. Follow the steps below:

Suppose we have our data spread across B1 to D4 in the worksheet as shown below:

Step 1: Define a new sub-procedure to hold a macro.

Code:

Sub Example_3()

End Sub

Step 2: Use the Worksheets qualifier to be able to access the worksheet named “Example 3” where we have the data shown in the above screenshot.

Code:

Sub Example_3()

Worksheets("Example 3")

End Sub

Step 3: Use Range property to set the range for this code from B1 to D4. Use the following code Range(“B1:D4”) for the same.

Code:

Sub Example_3()

Worksheets("Example 3").Range("B1:D4")

End Sub

Step 4: Use Columns property to access the second column from the selection. Use code as Columns(2) in order to access the second column from the accessed range.

Code:

Sub Example_3()

Worksheets("Example 3").Range("B1:D4").Columns(2)

End Sub

Step 5: Now, the most important part. We have accessed the worksheet, range, and column. However, in order to select the accessed content, we need to use Select property in VBA. See the screenshot below for the code layout.

Code:

Sub Example_3()

Worksheets("Example 3").Range("B1:D4").Columns(2).Select

End Sub

Step 6: Run this code by hitting F5 or Run button and see the output.

You can see the code has selected Column C from the excel worksheet though you have put the column value as 2 (which means the second column). The reason for this is, we have chosen the range as B1:D4 in this code. Which consists of three columns B, C, D. At the time of execution column B is considered as first column, C as second and D as the third column instead of their actual positionings. The range function has reduced the scope for this function for B1:D4 only.

Things to Remember

• We can’t see the IntelliSense list of properties when we are working on VBA Columns.
• This property is categorized under Worksheet property in VBA.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to VBA Columns. Here we discuss how to use columns property in Excel by using VBA code along with practical examples and downloadable excel template. You can also go through our other suggested articles –

1. VBA Insert Column
2. Grouping Columns in Excel
3. VBA Delete Column
4. Switching Columns in Excel