Vba excel application selection

In VBA, we can select any range of cells or a group of cells and perform different operations on them. For example, the selection is a range object, so we use the Range method to select the cells as it identifies the cells and the code to select the cells is the “Select” command. The syntax to use for selection is range(A1:B2).select.

What is Excel VBA Selection Property?

Selection is the property available with VBA. Once the range of cells is selected, we must decide what to do. Using this VBA “Selection” property, we can do everything we can with selected cells. One of the problems with the Selection property is we do not get to see the IntelliSense list. So, when writing the code, we must be sure of what we are doing without the IntelliSense list.

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Examples of Selection Property in VBA

We look at the examples of selection in Excel VBA.

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

Example #1

Here is a simple example of a “selection” property with VBA. Of course, we want to first select the cells from A1 to B5 to write the 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 like this.

Range (“A1:B5”).Select

Code:

Sub Selection_Example1()

  Range("A1:B5").Select

End Sub

This code will select the VBA range of cellsThe selection range is the desired area by the user to put effects, add data, or make changes in those specific cells only. The range is defined by formulas by the addresses of two cells separated by a colon. The cell where the selection range begins is still active.read more from A1 to B5.

If we want to insert the value of “hello” to these cells, we can write the code like this.

Code:

Sub Selection_Example1()

  Range("A1:B5").Value = "hello"

End Sub

Similarly, once the cells are selected, it becomes “Selection.”

Code:

Sub Selection_Example1()

  Range("A1:B5").Select

  Selection.Value = "Hello"

End Sub

First, we have selected the range of cells from A1 to B5. So, this line will select the cells.

Once these cells are selected, we can refer to these cells by using the property “Selection” in Excel VBA. So, using the Selection property, we can insert the value of “Hello” to these cells.

It is the general overview of the “Selection” property in VBA.

Example #2

Now, we will see the VBA “Selection” property with variables. But, first, define the VBA variable as RangeRange is a property in VBA that helps specify a particular cell, a range of cells, a row, a column, or a three-dimensional range. In the context of the Excel worksheet, the VBA range object includes a single cell or multiple cells spread across various rows and columns.read more.

Code:

Sub Selection_Example2()

  Dim Rng As Range

End Sub

The range is an object variable since it is an object variable. Therefore, we need to set the range of cells using the “Set” keyword.

We will set the range as “Range(“A1:A6”).

Code:

Sub Selection_Example2()

  Dim Rng As Range
  Set Rng = Range("A1:A6")

End Sub

The variable “Rng” refers to the range of cells A1 to A6.

Now, we will write the code to insert the value of “Hello.”

Code:

Sub Selection_Example2()

  Dim Rng As Range
  Set Rng = Range("A1:A6")
  Rng.Value = "Hello"

End Sub

It will insert the value of “Hello” to the cells A1 to A6.

It does not matter where you are running the code. The active worksheet will insert the value “Hello” to cells A1 to A6.

But imagine the situation where you have to insert the word “Hello” wherever you select the cells with just a button click.

For this, we cannot set a specific range of cells. Rather we need to set the range as “Selection.”

Code:

Sub Selection_Example2()

  Dim Rng As Range
  Set Rng = Selection

End Sub

The variable “Rng” refers to the active cell or wherever we select the cells. For example, using this property (Selection) in Excel VBA, we can insert the value “Hello.”

Code:

Sub Selection_Example2()

  Dim Rng As Range
  Set Rng = Selection

  Selection.Value = "Hello"

End Sub

It will insert the word “Hello” into the cells of our selection. Now, we will select the cells from B2 to C6 and run the code. First, it will insert the “Hello” value.

Example #3

Now, we will see how we can change the interior color of the selected cells. Now, we want to change the interior color of the cells we will select. For this first, we have declared the variable as Range and set the range reference as “Selection.”

Code:

Sub Selection_Example3()

  Dim Rng As Range
  Set Rng = Selection

End Sub

Now, access the “Interior” property using the VBA Selection property.

Code:

Sub Selection_Example3()

  Dim Rng As Range
  Set Rng = Selection

  Selection.Interior

End Sub

Once the “Interior” property is selected, we need to decide what we need to do with this property. Since we need to change the color of the selected cell’s interior, select the property “Color.”

Code:

Sub Selection_Example3()

  Dim Rng As Range
  Set Rng = Selection

  Selection.Interior.Color

End Sub

Set the color property as “vbGreen.”

Code:

Sub Selection_Example3()

  Dim Rng As Range
  Set Rng = Selection
 
  Selection.Interior.Color = vbGreen

End Sub

So this will change the interior color of the selected cells to “vbGreen.”

Like this, we can use the Excel VBA “Selection” property in coding and do many more things easily.

Note: One of the biggest threats with the “Selection” property is we don’t get the IntelliSense list access while coding. As a new learner, it is almost impossible to remember all the properties and methods of the Selection property, so you need to be proficient in VBA to start using the “Selection” property.

Recommended Articles

This article is a guide to VBA Selection. Here, we discussed what Selection Property is in Excel VBA, with some practical examples and a download template. Below are some useful Excel articles related to VBA: –

• VBA Text Function Examples
• VBA Operators
• Close UserForm in VBA

Excel VBA Selection Property

VBA Selection is used for selecting the range from excel worksheet. We can do anything and whatever with the selected range. But while using VBA Selection, we will not be seeing the list of functions we want to perform from where we can choose any as per our need. For this, we need to type that thing manually and it should be correct. So while using VBA Selection, we have to make sure that we will be using the correct function to avoid any kind of error.

How to Use Selection Property in Excel VBA?

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

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

Excel VBA Selection – Example #1

In this example, we will see a very simple method of applying VBA Selection. For this follow the below steps:

Step 1: Go to the VBA window and open a new Module from the list of Insert menu as shown below.

Step 2: Now in the newly opened module write the subcategory for VBA Selection as shown below.

Code:

Sub VBASelection()

End Sub

Step 3: Select any range of cells. It can be any random or specific range of cells with the help of  Select command.

Code:

Sub VBASelection()

Range("A1:C3").Select

End Sub

Step 4: Now, we would try to insert some text in the selected range of cell. For this in the next line of code write Selection.Value. This is used for selecting the cells for putting the value in.

Code:

Sub VBASelection()

Range("A1:C3").Select
Selection.Value

End Sub

Step 5: At last, we will write any text which we would like to see in the selected range of cell. Let that text be “Excel VBA Selection”.

Code:

Sub VBASelection()

Range("A1:C3").Select
Selection.Value = "Excel VBA Selection"

End Sub

Step 6: Now run the code by clicking on the Play button which is placed below the menu bar as shown below.

We will see, from cell A1 to C3, our selected text value has been inserted and the whole is selected as well.

Excel VBA Selection – Example #2

In this example we will see, how Offset function will work along with VBA Selection. For this, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Write the subcategory of VBA Selection as shown below.

Code:

Sub VBASelection2()

End Sub

Step 2: Select the range of cell as per your need or else we can keep off using the same range of cells which we had seen in the above example.

Code:

Sub VBASelection2()

Range("A1:C3").Select

End Sub

Step 3: Now choose Offset function along with Selection as shown below. By this Offset function, we would try to offset or move the selection from the next matrix.

Code:

Sub VBASelection2()

Range("A1:C3").Select
Selection.Offset

End Sub

Step 4: After that select the offset location where we want to move the selection box from range cells A1 to C3. Let’s try to move it by 1 row and 1 column away from the current position.

Code:

Sub VBASelection2()

Range("A1:C3").Select
Selection.Offset(1, 1).Select

End Sub

Step 5: Now again run the code by pressing F5 key or by clicking on Play Button.

We will see, now our new selection will be from cell B2 to D4 as shown below. And we had used Select command so that range is in a current selected mode.

Excel VBA Selection – Example #3

In this example, we will see how could we use and change the cell’s interior color with the help of VBA Selection. For this, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Write the subcategory of VBA Selection or in any name as per your choice as shown below.

Code:

Sub VBASelection3()

End Sub

Again, we will keep on using the same range of cells as we have seen previously with the same inserted text.

Step 2: Select the range of required cell, which is from cell A1 to C3 here.

Code:

Sub VBASelection3()

Range("A1:C3").Select

End Sub

Step 3: Now for changing the interior color of any cell, we need to use Interior.Color function together along with Selection. This will allow us to use all available vb Color we have in VBA.

Code:

Sub VBASelection3()

Range("A1:C3").Select
Selection.Interior.Color

End Sub

Step 4: Here we have a variety of colors but all are BASE COLORS. To select any base color we will use vb followed by the name of the color. Let’s consider the interior color to be Green as shown below.

Code:

Sub VBASelection3()

Range("A1:C3").Select
Selection.Interior.Color = vbGreen

End Sub

Step 5: Now again run the code by pressing F5 key or by clicking on the Play Button.

We will see, our selected range of cells are colored as Green.

Excel VBA Selection – Example #4

In this example, we will insert a text in any range of cells and simultaneously we will change the font color for those cell text as well. For this, follow the below steps:

Step 1: Write the subcategory of VBA Selection as shown below.

Code:

Sub VBASelection4()

End Sub

Step 2: Again select the range of cells where we want to see all this happening. Here, we are again considering the same range.

Code:

Sub VBASelection4()

Range("A1:C3").Select

End Sub

Step 3: Again insert any text as we have seen in example-1. We will again use the same line of code here.

Code:

Sub VBASelection4()

Range("A1:C3").Select
Selection.Value = "Excel VBA Selection"

End Sub

Step 4: Now with the help of Selection use Font.Color function together as shown below. By this, we would be able to select the color which we want to give to selected cell fonts.

Code:

Sub VBASelection4()

Range("A1:C3").Select
Selection.Value = "Excel VBA Selection"
Selection.Font.Color

End Sub

Step 5: Again, we will use VBA base colors for cell font colors. Let’s use Red color this time starting with vb as shown below.

Code:

Sub VBASelection4()

Range("A1:C3").Select
Selection.Value = "Excel VBA Selection"
Selection.Font.Color = vbRed

End Sub

Step 6: Now again run the code by pressing F5 key or by clicking on Play Button.

We will see, in the selected range of cells we will have our text inserted and the color those cells are now Red from default Black.

Pros & Cons of Excel VBA Selection

• This the direct way of selecting any function.
• This is applicable to all type of functions.
• VBA Selection is a much easier way of coding as compared to other forms.
• As it does not allow the list of possible functions after it, so it becomes little complex to use VBA Selection.

Things to Remember

• Make sure you use exact function after VBA Selection, to avoid getting error.
• It is easy and possible to use complex code structure VBA Selection.
• Once implementation is done, save the file in Macro enabled excel so that you will not lose written code ever.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to VBA Selection. Here we discuss how to use selection 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 Conditional Formatting
2. VBA Get Cell Value
3. VBA Named Range
4. VBA RGB