Chapter 9: Using VBA and Worksheet Functions 129

Discovering VBA functions

How do you find out which functions VBA provides? Good question. The best
source is the Excel Visual Basic Help system. I compiled a partial list of func-
tions, which I share with you in Table 9-2. I omitted some of the more special-
ized or obscure functions.

For complete details on a particular function, type the function name into a
VBA module, move the cursor anywhere in the text, and press F1.

Table 9-2 VBA’s Most Useful Built-in Functions

Function What It Does
Abs Returns a number’s absolute value
Array Returns a variant containing an array
Asc Converts the first character of a string to its ASCII value
Atn Returns the arctangent of a number
Choose Returns a value from a list of items
Chr Converts an ANSI value to a string
Cos Returns a number’s cosine
CurDir Returns the current path
Date Returns the current system date
DateAdd Returns a date to which a specified time interval has been
added — for example, one month from a particular date
DateDiff Returns an integer showing the number of specified time
intervals between two dates, — for example, the number
of months between now and your birthday
DatePart Returns an integer containing the specified part of a given
date — for example, a date’s day of the year
DateSerial Converts a date to a serial number
DateValue Converts a string to a date
Day Returns the day of the month from a date value
Dir Returns the name of a file or directory that matches
a pattern
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Table 9-2 (continued)

Function What It Does
Erl Returns the line number that caused an error
Err Returns the error number of an error condition
Error Returns the error message that corresponds to an
error number
Exp Returns the base of the natural logarithm (e) raised to
a power
FileLen Returns the number of bytes in a file
Fix Returns a number’s integer portion
Format Displays an expression in a particular format
GetSetting Returns a value from the Windows registry
Hex Converts from decimal to hexadecimal
Hour Returns the hours portion of a time
InputBox Displays a box to prompt a user for input
InStr Returns the position of a string within another string
Int Returns the integer portion of a number
IPmt Returns the interest payment for an annuity or loan
IsArray Returns True if a variable is an array
IsDate Returns True if an expression is a date
IsEmpty Returns True if a variable has not been initialized
IsError Returns True if an expression is an error value
IsMissing Returns True if an optional argument was not passed to
a procedure
IsNull Returns True if an expression contains no valid data
IsNumeric Returns True if an expression can be evaluated as
a number
IsObject Returns True if an expression references an OLE
Automation object
LBound Returns the smallest subscript for a dimension of an array
LCase Returns a string converted to lowercase

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 Chapter 9: Using VBA and Worksheet Functions 131
Function What It Does
Left Returns a specified number of characters from the left of
a string
Len Returns the number of characters in a string
Log Returns the natural logarithm of a number to base e
LTrim Returns a copy of a string, with any leading spaces
removed
Mid Returns a specified number of characters from a string
Minute Returns the minutes portion of a time value
Month Returns the month from a date value
MsgBox Displays a message box and (optionally) returns a value
Now Returns the current system date and time
RGB Returns a numeric RGB value representing a color
Replace Replaces a substring in a string with another substring
Right Returns a specified number of characters from the right of
a string
Rnd Returns a random number between 0 and 1
RTrim Returns a copy of a string, with any trailing spaces
removed
Second Returns the seconds portion of a time value
Sgn Returns an integer that indicates a number’s sign
Shell Runs an executable program
Sin Returns a number’s sine
Space Returns a string with a specified number of spaces
Split Splits a string into parts, using a delimiting character
Sqr Returns a number’s square root
Str Returns a string representation of a number
StrComp Returns a value indicating the result of a string
comparison
String Returns a repeating character or string
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Table 9-2 (continued)

Function What It Does
Tan Returns a number’s tangent
Time Returns the current system time
Timer Returns the number of seconds since midnight
TimeSerial Returns the time for a specified hour, minute, and second
TimeValue Converts a string to a time serial number
Trim Returns a string without leading or trailing spaces
TypeName Returns a string that describes a variable’s data type
UBound Returns the largest available subscript for an array’s
dimension
UCase Converts a string to uppercase
Val Returns the numbers contained in a string
VarType Returns a value indicating a variable’s subtype
Weekday Returns a number representing a day of the week
Year Returns the year from a date value

Using Worksheet Functions in VBA

Although VBA offers a decent assortment of built-in functions, you might not
always find exactly what you need. Fortunately, you can also use most of Excel’s
worksheet functions in your VBA procedures. The only worksheet functions
that you cannot use are those that have an equivalent VBA function.

VBA makes Excel’s worksheet functions available through the

WorksheetFunction object, which is contained in the Application object.
(Remember, the Application object is Excel.) Therefore, any statement that
uses a worksheet function must use the Application.WorksheetFunction qual-
ifier. In other words, you must precede the function name with Application.
WorksheetFunction (with a dot separating the two). The following is an
example:

Total = Application.WorksheetFunction.Sum(Range(“A1:A12”))

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