VBA Arrays Function in Excel

Excel VBA Array Function

The Excel, VBA array function is a collection of values in a single variable. We can supply an array to a Sub Procedure, Functions, and Properties. VBA Arrays are one of the often used techniques to store more than one value in the variable.

Examples of Excel VBA Array Function

Instead of declaring many variables and store the values, we can use the Excel VBA array to store the value in a single variable itself. For example, look at the below example

Code:

Sub Array_Ex()
   
  Dim x As Integer
  Dim y As Integer
  x = 1
  y = 2
  Range("A1").Value = x
  Range("A2").Value = y
End Sub

In the above example, I have declared two variables called x & y.  X holds 1 as the value and Y holds 2 as the value.

Now, look at the excel VBA array function example with a single variable.

Code:

Sub Array_Ex()

  Dim x(1 To 2) As Integer
  Range("A1").Value = x(1)
  Range("A2").Value = x(2)

End Sub

Now if you run this VBA code we would have values in cell A1 & A2.

Array variables returned the result as zero. This is because we have just declared variables as two but we have not assigned any values to those variables. So we need to assign values to these variables.

Code:

Sub Array_Ex()

  Dim x(1 To 2) As Integer
  x(1) = 10
  x(2) = 20
  Range("A1").Value = x(1)
  Range("A2").Value = x(2)

End Sub

Now run the code to get results.

Before we enter the values of array variables to cells we need to assign the value to those declared array variables like we assigned the variables x(1) = 10 & x(2) = 20.

Example #1 – Insert Serial Numbers Using Static Array

Let’s look at the example of using a static array to insert serial numbers. This is much like the previous one.

Code:

Sub StaticArray_Ex()

 Dim x(1 To 5) As Integer

 x(1) = 10
 x(2) = 20
 x(3) = 30
 x(4) = 40
 x(5) = 50

 Range("A1").Value = x(1)
 Range("A2").Value = x(2)
 Range("A3").Value = x(3)
 Range("A4").Value = x(4)
 Range("A5").Value = x(5)

End Sub

Now run this code to insert serial numbers.

Example #2 – Insert Serial Numbers Using Dynamic Array

Now we will see the second type of array i.e. dynamic array

Code:

Sub DynamicArray_Ex()

 Dim x() As Integer
 ReDim x(5)
 x(1) = 10
 x(2) = 20
 x(3) = 30
 x(4) = 40
 x(5) = 50
 Range("A1").Value = x(1)
 Range("A2").Value = x(2)
 Range("A3").Value = x(3)
 Range("A4").Value = x(4)
 Range("A5").Value = x(5)

End Sub

Now run this code to get the result of serial numbers. We get the same result as the previous one.

If you notice we have not supplied the length of the array while declaring the variable instead we have assigned the last value of the VBA array using Redim function. Redim holds the last value of the array to be passed.

Example #3 – Create a Function Insert Month Names Using Array

We have seen how to work with arrays in VBA. Now we will see how to work with an array to create a VBA function in Excel. The function is nothing but a user-defined function in VBA. Apart from using built-in functions excel VBA allows us to create our own functions as well.

Code:

Function List_Of_Months()

 List_Of_Months = Array("Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May", "Jun",

 "Jul", "Aug", "Sep", "Oct", "Nov", "Dec")

End Function

The below code will create a function that can insert months to our excel sheet.

Copy and paste the below code to your module.

Now save this code and close the VBA Editor. After closing the VBA editor go to the worksheet and type the formula we have just created and you should see the formula called List_Of_Months in your worksheet.

Open the formula and hit enter. We will get the first-month name i.e. Jan

If you insert the formula one more time still we would get Jan only not the next month Feb.  So first select 12 columns in one row.

Now open the formula in D1 cell.

Since we have created the formula with the array we need to close the formulas as array formula only. So hold Ctrl + Shift + Enter. We would have all 12-month names.

Things to Remember

• There are two more array types are available i.e. two-dimensional array & multi-dimensional array.
• Arrays start from 0 not from 1. Zero means the first row and the first column.
• The array is a big topic you need to understand it to advance to the next level.
• Array variable will be one that holds much data each time it advances to the next level.
• Redim is the function used to store the last length of the array in dynamic array type.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to VBA Array Function in Excel. Here we Insert serial numbers using with static array and dynamic array in Excel VBA along with examples and download template. Below are some useful excel articles related to VBA –

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• What is VBA FileDialog?
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• Find and Replace using VBA code
• VBA StrComp Function
• Assign Data Types in VBA