VBA Function To Determine What Is Currently Selected On Spreadsheet
What This VBA Macro Does
This VBA function is a handy piece of code that categorizes what is currently selected on the spreadsheet into 4 categories:
- Range
- Chart
- Shape
- Other
This is a little more simplistic than what is often done in using the VBA code TypeName(Selection) as the function can output a myriad of different object names. This function categorizes the selection into groups of objects that I typically work on while coding. Enjoy!
Private Function WhatIsSelected() As String
'PURPOSE: Output A High-Level Selection Category Based On Current Selection
'SOURCE: www.TheSpreadsheetGuru.com/the-code-vault
Dim shp As Shape
Dim cht As ChartObject
Dim rng As Range
'Range
If TypeName(Selection) = "Range" Then
WhatIsSelected = "Range"
Exit Function
End If
'Chart
If Not ActiveChart Is Nothing Then
WhatIsSelected = "Chart"
Exit Function
End If
'Shape
On Error Resume Next
Set shp = ActiveSheet.Shapes(Selection.Name)
On Error GoTo 0
If Not shp Is Nothing Then
WhatIsSelected = "Shape"
Exit Function
End If
'Other
WhatIsSelected = "Other"
End FunctionUsing VBA Code Found On The Internet
Now that you’ve found some VBA code that could potentially solve your Excel automation problem, what do you do with it? If you don’t necessarily want to learn how to code VBA and are just looking for the fastest way to implement this code into your spreadsheet, I wrote an article (with video) that explains how to get the VBA code you’ve found running on your spreadsheet.
Getting Started Automating Excel
Are you new to VBA and not sure where to begin? Check out my quickstart guide to learning VBA. This article won’t overwhelm you with fancy coding jargon, as it provides you with a simplistic and straightforward approach to the basic things I wish I knew when trying to teach myself how to automate tasks in Excel with VBA Macros.
Also, if you haven’t checked out Excel’s latest automation feature called Power Query, I have put together a beginner’s guide for automating with Excel’s Power Query feature as well! This little-known built-in Excel feature allows you to merge and clean data automatically with little to no coding!
How Do I Modify This To Fit My Specific Needs?
Chances are this post did not give you the exact answer you were looking for. We all have different situations and it’s impossible to account for every particular need one might have. That’s why I want to share with you: My Guide to Getting the Solution to your Problems FAST! In this article, I explain the best strategies I have come up with over the years to get quick answers to complex problems in Excel, PowerPoint, VBA, you name it!
I highly recommend that you check this guide out before asking me or anyone else in the comments section to solve your specific problem. I can guarantee that 9 times out of 10, one of my strategies will get you the answer(s) you are needing faster than it will take me to get back to you with a possible solution. I try my best to help everyone out, but sometimes I don’t have time to fit everyone’s questions in (there never seem to be quite enough hours in the day!).
I wish you the best of luck and I hope this tutorial gets you heading in the right direction!
After 10+ years of creating macros and developing add-ins, I've compiled all the hacks I wish I had known years ago!
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Chris Newman
Chris is a finance professional and Excel MVP recognized by Microsoft since 2016. With his expertise, he founded TheSpreadsheetGuru blog to help fellow Excel users, where he shares his vast creative solutions & expertise. In addition, he has developed over 7 widely-used Excel Add-ins that have been embraced by individuals and companies worldwide.