how to use vba function in excel

 

how to use vba function in excel

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is a programming language that is built into Microsoft Excel, and it enables users to create their own custom functions, automate tasks, and perform other advanced operations that cannot be achieved using the built-in Excel functions. In this blog post, we will cover the basics of how to use VBA functions in Excel, including how to create, edit, and run VBA functions.

Part 1: Introduction to VBA Functions in Excel

Before we get started, let’s define what a VBA function is and how it differs from a regular Excel function. A VBA function is a custom function that you create using the VBA programming language, which can then be used in the same way as any other Excel function. VBA functions can be used to perform complex calculations, manipulate data, and automate repetitive tasks that would be difficult or time-consuming to do manually.

One key difference between VBA functions and regular Excel functions is that VBA functions can be written to take arguments, which are the values that are passed into the function when it is called. This allows you to create functions that are more flexible and can be used to perform different calculations based on the input values.

Another important difference between VBA functions and regular Excel functions is that VBA functions are not built-in to Excel by default. This means that you need to create them yourself using the VBA programming language.

Part 2: Creating a VBA Function

To create a VBA function, you need to open the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) in Excel. To do this, press Alt+F11 or click on “Visual Basic” in the Developer tab of the Excel ribbon.

Once you have opened the VBE, you can create a new module by right-clicking on the Project window and selecting “Insert” > “Module”. In the new module window, you can write your VBA function using the following syntax:

Let’s break this down:

Function is a keyword that tells Excel that you are creating a new function.

functionName is the name of the function that you are creating. You can choose any name you like, but it must be unique and not already used by a built-in Excel function.

argument1, argument2, and so on are the names of the arguments that your function will take. You can specify as many arguments as you need, separated by commas.

As DataType tells Excel what data type the argument and return value of the function should be. You can specify any valid Excel data type, such as String, Integer, or Double.

Your code goes here is where you write the VBA code that will perform the desired calculation or task.

End Function is a keyword that tells Excel that you have finished defining the function.

Here is an example of a simple VBA function that adds two numbers together:

In this example, the function takes two arguments (number1 and number2) of type Double, adds them together using the + operator, and returns the result using the function name (AddNumbers) and the assignment operator (=).

Part 3: Using a VBA Function in Excel

Once you have created a VBA function, you can use it in any Excel worksheet just like any other Excel function. To use a VBA function, you simply need to type its name into a cell and provide the necessary arguments in parentheses.

For example, if