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VBA Replace Function

Excel VBA Replace Function

As in Excel, we have a function where we can find and replace any word or character or sentence with any letter. But by that process, we can only replace one kind of sentence or letter at a time. With the help of VBA Replace Function, we can replace as many words or letters or sentences in a single shot. This saves huge time and effort doing single activity multiple times. For this, we will use the Replace function which is in the built-in VBA function list.

Below the syntax and argument of Replace function in VBA.

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Syntax of Replace

How to Use Excel VBA Replace Function?

We will learn how to use a VBA Replace Excel function with few examples.

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

VBA Replace Function – Example #1

We have a sample data of some sentences where we will replace one word and paste that updated sentence in Sentence B Column.

Example 1-1

Follow the below steps to use the Replace function in Excel VBA.

Step 1: Go to VBA and in Insert menu tab, select Module.

VBA Replace Example 1-2

Step 2: Now write sub-category in the name of a performed function or in any name as per your choice as shown below.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace2()

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 1-3

Step 3: Now define a dimension as Long, as we will be selecting a complete sentence. Here we have taken it as X.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace2()

    Dim X As Long

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 1-4

Step 4: Now in that Long X, select the maximum range till where our data could go up. Here we have taken as A1000 cell range and for going up till our data starts use End(xlUp) followed by a dot(.)Row. Which means we will be moving up in the same column till that row which has the data. This process in life Ctrl + Up arrow key in excel.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace2()

    Dim X As Long
    X = Range("A1000").End(xlUp).Row

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 1-5

Note: We can select from End(xlDown) but it may not add any break or blank cell in between the data if data has.

Step 5: Now again define one more dimension Y as Long as shown below.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace2()

    Dim X As Long
    X = Range("A1000").End(xlUp).Row

    Dim Y As Long

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 1-6

Step 6: Now start a For Next loop for second defined dimension Y from cell position 2 to till X range (last filled cell)

Note: Selecting cell 2 means that we are not considering the header here for replace.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace2()

    Dim X As Long
    X = Range("A1000").End(xlUp).Row

    Dim Y As Long

For Y = 2 To X

Next Y

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 1-7

Step 7: Now select the Value of Column B as Range as Y followed by a dot(.) this is like inserting a function in excel.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace2()

    Dim X As Long
    X = Range("A1000").End(xlUp).Row

    Dim Y As Long

For Y = 2 To X

    Range("B" & Y).Value =
  
Next Y

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 1-8

Step 8: Now as we have seen in VBA syntax of Replace function above now type Replace and select Column A and Y as the first expression of string followed by the words which we need to replace from the table.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace2()

    Dim X As Long
    X = Range("A1000").End(xlUp).Row

    Dim Y As Long

For Y = 2 To X

    Range("B" & Y).Value = Replace(Range("A" & Y), "Delhi", "New Delhi")

Next Y

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 1-9

Step 9: Now compile the complete code and run. Once we do that we will the word “Delhi” from Sentence A is now replaced with work “New Delhi” and the whole sentence is copied to Sentence B.

Result of Example 1

We can select a string of words or a sentence and replace that with any required letters or sentence.

VBA Replace Function – Example #2

There is another way to replace words or sentences with the help of VBA coding. For this, we have a list of 7 subjects which are getting repeated. And we need to replace those subject names with adding serial numbers before each subject name as shown below.

Example 2-1

As we can see in the above screenshot, column E has unique names of those subjects which are there in column B and column F has the subject names with a serial number at the start of it.

Follow below steps to use Replace function in VBA.

Step 1: Now, go to VBA and from the Insert menu add new Module. Once we get it, start writing the Sub-category in the name of a function which is being performed as shown below.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace()

End Sub

Sub-category Example 2-2

Step 2: Now consider a dimension Rng as Range, InputRng as Range and ReplaceRng as Range. You can choose any other letters or words for defining ranges.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace()

Dim Rng As Range
Dim InputRng As Range, ReplaceRng As Range

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 2-3

Step 3: Now use xTitleId as dialog box and give it a name. Here we have named it “VBA_Replace“.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace()

Dim Rng As Range
Dim InputRng As Range, ReplaceRng As Range

    xTitleId = "VBA_Replace"

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 2-4

Step 4: Now assign Application.Selection with InputRng, this will enable the selected application to be used in VBA.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace()

Dim Rng As Range
Dim InputRng As Range, ReplaceRng As Range

    xTitleId = "VBA_Replace"
  Set InputRng = Application.Selection

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 2-5

Step 5: Now in next line insert an InputBox of 3 types, Original range, xTitleId, and InputRng. Original Range is a list of those subject which are needed to get replaced, listed in column B. xTitledId is the dialog box names in the performed function. And InputRng is a range of data table in column E and F.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace()

Dim Rng As Range
Dim InputRng As Range, ReplaceRng As Range

    xTitleId = "VBA_Replace"
    Set InputRng = Application.Selection 
    Set InputRng = Application.InputBox("Original Range ", xTitleId, InputRng.Address, Type:=8)

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 2-6

Step 6: Now in next line assign an Input for ReplaceRng and for this select Replace Range column. Rest of it as same.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace()

Dim Rng As Range
Dim InputRng As Range, ReplaceRng As Range

    xTitleId = "VBA_Replace"
    Set InputRng = Application.Selection
    Set InputRng = Application.InputBox("Original Range ", xTitleId, InputRng.Address, Type:=8)
    Set ReplaceRng = Application.InputBox("Replace Range :", xTitleId, Type:=8)

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 2-7

Step 7: Now we will use Application.Screenupdating function, as the name says it is used for updating if it is FALSE.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace()

Dim Rng As Range
Dim InputRng As Range, ReplaceRng As Range

    xTitleId = "VBA_Replace"
    Set InputRng = Application.Selection
    Set InputRng = Application.InputBox("Original Range ", xTitleId, InputRng.Address, Type:=8)
    Set ReplaceRng = Application.InputBox("Replace Range :", xTitleId, Type:=8)
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False

End Sub

VBA Replace Example 2-8

Step 8: Now insert a For-Next loop. And for each Rng range, replace the values from ReplaceRng column.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace()

Dim Rng As Range
Dim InputRng As Range, ReplaceRng As Range

    xTitleId = "VBA_Replace"
    Set InputRng = Application.Selection
    Set InputRng = Application.InputBox("Original Range ", xTitleId, InputRng.Address, Type:=8)
    Set ReplaceRng = Application.InputBox("Replace Range :", xTitleId, Type:=8)
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False

For Each Rng In ReplaceRng.Columns(1).Cells

    Next

End Sub

Example 2-9

Step 9: At last replace InputRng with the values present in Rng from the whole sheet.

Code:

Sub VBA_Replace()

Dim Rng As Range
Dim InputRng As Range, ReplaceRng As Range

    xTitleId = "VBA_Replace"
    Set InputRng = Application.Selection
    Set InputRng = Application.InputBox("Original Range ", xTitleId, InputRng.Address, Type:=8)
    Set ReplaceRng = Application.InputBox("Replace Range :", xTitleId, Type:=8)
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False

For Each Rng In ReplaceRng.Columns(1).Cells 
    InputRng.Replace what:=Rng.Value, replacement:=Rng.Offset(0, 1).Value, Lookat:=xlWhole

  Next

End Sub

Example 2-10

Step 10: Once done, now compile and run the code. We will get and dialog box in the name of VBA_Replace. From here select the list of subjects which we need to replace as Original Range and click on OK. Then we will get another box from there select the Replace range from E2 to F8. This table has the data which need to get replaced and click on OK.

VBA Replace Example 2-11

We will get Data in column B which will get replaced from the data in column F with serial number.

Result of Example 2

To an overview, column E has unique subject names. And column F has subject names with serial numbers. So by this data in column B is replaced with data in column F.

Pros of VBA Replace Function

  • We can replace multiple words or sentences in a single shot.
  • There is no limit of words or text what we cannot replace with.
  • Syntax of Replace in VBA is as easy as using SumIf function in excel.
  • VBA Replace as shown in example-1 is the easiest way to apply.

Things to Remember

  • Save as Marco Enabled Excel to avoid losing written code in VBA.
  • Always consider the dimensions in such a way that it will create a value-added while we select those in code.
  • Make sure you select the whole range of sheet as shown in example-2 if it is limited to get the result. Or else you can define and select limited cell range which would be used under Replace function.

Recommended Articles

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

  1. VBA Loops
  2. VBA Do While Loop
  3. VBA Number Format
  4. VBA MsgBox
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