Datevalue in excel vba

VBA DateValue Function

While working in VBA we work with dates. We assign dates to various variables or we can use the DATEVALUE function to do so. DATEVALUE is both worksheet and Visual Basic function. In worksheet, it gives a serial date. When we use this function in VBA it gives us a date value. As I told above the DATEVALUE function used in VBA returns a date value. The data type we used for our variables while using this function is date. It is somewhat similar to the worksheet function. How we use this function is pretty simple, it takes a date as an argument.

Syntax of DateValue in Excel VBA

The syntax for the VBA DateValue Function in excel is as follows:

What this function does that it takes a value or an argument as a string and returns it to a date. Why we use this function is because we work with lots of data and every human being is not similar so there will be a difference in entering date formats for each and every different person. If we have to do some calculations over the dates on the data then we will have to convert every different format of the dates available in the data onto one single format and then perform the calculation. Now imagine the large chunk of data with a large chunk of different types of dates.

Let us look by a few examples of how we can use this DATEVALUE function in VBA through some examples which will give us some more clear idea on how this function works.

How to Use VBA DateValue in Excel?

We will learn how to use a VBA DateValue Function with few examples in excel.

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

Example #1 – VBA DateValue

Let us begin with a very simple step. We will assign a variable a date value as a string and then print the date value for that variable.

Step 1: Now once we are inside the editor we will have a lot of options in the header, from the insert tab insert a new module in the editor where we will perform all the example demonstrations,

Step 2: Now let us start our procedure as shown below.

Code:

Sub Sample()

End Sub

Step 3: Let us declare a variable as Date data type as shown below,

Code:

Sub Sample()

Dim A As Date

End Sub

Step 4: Now let us provide variable A with some value using the DATEVALUE function as shown below.

Code:

Sub Sample()

Dim A As Date
A = DateValue("02/02/2019")

End Sub

Step 5: I have provided the date in double inverted commas to treat it as a string, now use the msgbox function to display the value stored in A.

Code:

Sub Sample()

Dim A As Date
A = DateValue("02/02/2019")
MsgBox A

End Sub

Step 6: Execute the above code and see the result.

We know that in VBA date is provided in # symbols and a string is provided in “ double quotes. But DATEVALUE changes the value to date.

Example #2 – VBA DateValue

Now let us take an input from a user in date because a user can provide a date in any format. We will convert the value given by the user in the date using the DATEVALUE function.

Step 1: From the Insert, select a new module in the editor.

Step 2: Now let us start another subprocedure as follows.

Code:

Sub Sample1()

End Sub

Step 3: Declare two variables as dates as we will take value from input from user in one variable while in another we will use the DATEVALUE function to convert it to a date.

Code:

Sub Sample1()

Dim InputDate As Date, OutputDate As Date

End Sub

Step 4: In the input data variable take the input from the user using the input box function.

Code:

Sub Sample1()

Dim InputDate As Date, OutputDate As Date
InputDate = InputBox("Enter a Date")

End Sub

Step 5: In the Outputdate variable let us change the date we get as input to date using the DATEVALUE function as shown below.

Code:

Sub Sample1()

Dim InputDate As Date, OutputDate As Date
InputDate = InputBox("Enter a Date")
OutputDate = DateValue(InputDate)

End Sub

Step 6: Now let us display the value we have now using the msgbox function.

Code:

Sub Sample1()

Dim InputDate As Date, OutputDate As Date
InputDate = InputBox("Enter a Date")
OutputDate = DateValue(InputDate)
MsgBox OutputDate

End Sub

Step 7: Run the above code and give an input date as follows.

Step 8: Click on OK and see the final result as follows.

Although the date format from the user was different still we have successfully converted it into a date.

Example #3 – VBA DateValue

We can see dates in our sheet and how to use DATEVALUE function on them? I have a date in cell A1 as follows.

Let us change it to the standard date we have.

Step 1: Again in the same module start another subprocedure as shown below.

Code:

Sub Sample2()

End Sub

Step 2: Declare a variable as Date as shown below.

Code:

Sub Sample2()

Dim Dt As Date

End Sub

Step 3: Now in the Dt variable, store the value of the cell A1 which is as follows using the DATEVALUE function.

Code:

Sub Sample2()

Dim Dt As Date
Dt = DateValue(Sheet1.Range("A1").Value)

End Sub

Step 4: Now let us display the value stored in our variable.

Code:

Sub Sample2()

Dim Dt As Date
Dt = DateValue(Sheet1.Range("A1").Value)
MsgBox Dt

End Sub

Step 5: Now execute the above code and let us see the result.

Things to Remember

• DATEVALUE is a date function in VBA.
• It is somewhat similar to the worksheet function, worksheet function gives us the serial numbers of the date while in VBA it gives us the DATEVALUE.
• This function takes the argument as the date in the string and converts it in the string.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to VBA DateValue. Here we discuss how to use Excel VBA DateValue Function along with practical examples and downloadable excel template. You can also go through our other suggested articles –

1. VBA Copy Paste
2. VBA Date Format
3. VBA Subscript out of Range
4. VBA Web Scraping

What is VBA DateValue Function?

A DateValue function is a built-in function in Excel VBA under the Date/Time function category. It works as both the VBA functionVBA functions serve the primary purpose to carry out specific calculations and to return a value. Therefore, in VBA, we use syntax to specify the parameters and data type while defining the function. Such functions are called user-defined functions.read more and worksheet function in VBAThe worksheet function in VBA is used when we need to refer to a specific worksheet. When we create a module, the code runs in the currently active sheet of the workbook, but we can use the worksheet function to run the code in a particular worksheet.read more. This function returns the serial number or value of the date provided in the string representation format ignoring the information of time supplied by the date string. One can use it in two different ways in Excel. First, one may use this function as a worksheet formula entering a worksheet cell. It is used as the macro code in the VBA application, entering it through Visual Basic Editor associated with Microsoft Excel.

In this article, we will learn examples of the VBA DateValue function and how to use it with a clear explanation.

Explanation of VBA Datevalue Function

In VBA, the DateValue function uses the following syntax.

This function uses only a single argument or parameter:

• Date: It is the date represented in the string format.
• Returns: This function returns the value of the date when used as a VBA function. It returns the date value when used as a worksheet function.

The VBA DateValue function can interpret data represented in text format mentioned in a valid Excel format. However, it cannot return the date value if the string includes the text representation of weekdays.

The benefits of the VBA DateValue function are extracting date value from string and converting date with time to the only date. So, we can simplify that when we give a date with time, this function only gives the date value avoiding the time value.

How to Use Excel VBA DATEVALUE?

First, open the VBA editorThe Visual Basic for Applications Editor is a scripting interface. These scripts are primarily responsible for the creation and execution of macros in Microsoft software.read more to use the DateValue function in Excel.

The command button needs to be placed in the Excel worksheet to add the lines of the VBA program. To implement the program lines, the user must click on the Excel sheet’s “Command Button.” Valid input is given through the argument to have a valid output from the program. For example, the following code helps the creation of a macro to run the DateValue function to extract the date value from the text in VBAText is a worksheet function in excel but it can also be used in VBA while using the range property. It is similar to the worksheet function and it takes the same number of arguments. These arguments are the values which needs to be converted.read more.

VBA program: 

Sub Datebutton ()

Dim myDate As Date

myDate = DateValue (“ August 15, 1991”)

MsgBox Date (myDate)

End Sub

This code results in the date as 15 from the given input.

Examples of Excel VBA DATEVALUE

Below are the examples of DateValue in Excel VBA.

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

Example #1 – Obtain Day, Month, and Year from a Date

We must follow a few steps to create and execute the program in VBA. Those include:

Step 1: Go to the “Developer” tab.

• Place the cursor on a cell in the Excel sheet.
• Click on the “Insert” option.
• Choose “Command Button” under “ActiveX Control,” as shown in the figure.

Drag the button where you want and give the caption as “Datebutton” from the “Properties” window.

Step 2: Double click on the button. It will redirect to the VBA project and write the code between the “Private Sub-command button” and the “End sub.”

One should develop the code below to get a date, month, and year.

Code:

Private Sub Datebutton1_Click()

  Dim Exampledate As Date

  Exampledate = DateValue("April 19,2019")
  MsgBox Date
  MsgBox Year(Exampledate)
  MsgBox Month(Exampledate)

End Sub

In this code, Datebutton1_Click() is the name, and example dates are variable with Date data type and Msgbox to display the output.

Step 3: While developing code, VBA type mismatch errorsWhen we assign a value to a variable that is not of its data type, we get Type mismatch Error or Error code 13. For example, if we assign a decimal or long value to an integer data type variable, we will get this error (Error Code 13) when we run the code.read more will occur and must be taken care of.

Step 4: Run the program by clicking on the “Run” option.

Or we can check or debug the program step-by-step, selecting the “Step Into” option under the “Debug” menu. If our code is without any errors, it displays the output.

Step 5: When we execute the program, it first displays the message box with the date given in the text input. Next, click on “OK” to see the year value again, and click “OK” on the message box to see the month value.

Note: One must follow these steps clearly to have accurate results.

Example #2 – Using the DatePart to Get the Different Parts of Date

Step 1: Go to the Excel Developer TabEnabling the developer tab in excel can help the user perform various functions for VBA, Macros and Add-ins like importing and exporting XML, designing forms, etc. This tab is disabled by default on excel; thus, the user needs to enable it first from the options menu.read more, place the cursor on a cell in the Excel sheet, click on the “Insert” option, and choose “Command Button” under “ActiveX Control,” as shown in the figure.

Step 2: Drag the button and give the caption “DatePart” under “Properties.”

Double click on this button. It directs to the Visual Basic Editor sheet and displays as follows.

Step 3: Develop the code using the DatePart with DateValue, as shown in the figure.

Code:

Private Sub Datepart1_Click()

 Dim partdate As Variant
 partdate = DateValue("8/15/1991")
 MsgBox partdate
 MsgBox Datepart("yyyy", partdate)
 MsgBox Datepart("dd", partdate)
 MsgBox Datepart("mm", partdate)
 MsgBox Datepart("q", partdate)

End Sub

In this program, DatePart1 is the macro name, and partdate is the argument name with data type ‘variant.’ For displaying year, date, month, and a quarter, one must apply the format as “yyyy,” “d,” “m,” and “q.” If we make any mistake in the format, it displays the following error.

Step 4: After successfully debugging the program, run the program by clicking on the “Run” button to use excel shortcut keyAn Excel shortcut is a technique of performing a manual task in a quicker way.read more F5.

The code first displays the full date. Then, after clicking every “OK” from the msgbox, it shows the year value after that, DateValue, Month Value, Quater Value, respectively.

Things to Remember About the VBA DATEVALUE

One must remember the following things while using the DateValue function in Excel VBA:

• Run time error 13 with the message “Type Mismatch” is displayed when the date provided to the DateValue function cannot convert into a valid date. We need the date in a proper text format.
• When we try to get the only date from the string argument with code ‘msgbox date (argument name),’ it displays the type mismatch error.
• We can see the output of the DateValue function without opening the VBA editor. It is done by clicking the “Command” button and selecting the macro created for the respective program.
• When DatePart is used to get the values, we should follow the appropriate format. Otherwise, it leads to ‘run time error 5’ with a message invalid procedure call or argument.

Recommended Articles

This article has been a guide to VBA DateValue. Here, we will learn how to use the VBA DateValue function to return the serial number or value of the date provided in the string, along with practical examples and a downloadable template. Below you can find some useful Excel VBA articles: –

• VBA Save As
• VBA DatePart
• Use DateDiff Function in VBA
• VBA DateAdd

DateValue Description

Returns the serial number of a date.

Simple DateValue Examples

Here is a simple DateValue example:

Sub DateValue_Example()
    MsgBox DateValue("Feb 12, 2019")
End Sub

This code will return 02/12/2019.

Following examples will have same result.

DateValue("2 12 2019")
DateValue("2/12/2019")
DateValue("2,12,2019")
DateValue("2-12-2019")
DateValue("February 12, 2019")
DateValue("Feb/12/2019")
...

If date is a string that includes only numbers separated by valid date seperators(” “, “/”, “,”, “-“), DateValue recognizes the order for month, day, and year according to the Short Date format that you specified for your system. DateValue also recognizes unambiguous dates that contain month names, either in long or abbreviated form.

If the year part of date is omitted, DateValue uses the current year from your computer’s system date.

If the date argument includes time information, DateValue doesn’t return it. However, if date includes invalid time information (such as “37:69”), an error occurs.

DateValueAdd Syntax

In the VBA Editor, you can type  “DateValue(” to see the syntax for the DateValue Function:

The DateAdd function contains an argument:

Date: A string of text representing a date (ex. “January 1, 2021”)

Examples of Excel VBA DateValue Function

You can reference a cell containing a date:

Sub DateValue_ReferenceDates_Cell()
    
    MsgBox DateValue(Range("C2").Value)
    
End Sub

This will return 01/02/2019.

The DateValue recognizes the month, day, and year for a valid date string.

DateValue("6-15-2019")
DateValue("15-6-2019")

Result: 06/15/2019