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Sample Data
To use the macro in this article, type the following sample data in a
worksheet:
A1: a B1: 1
A2: b B2: 2
A3: x B3: 3
A4: x B4: 4
A5: c B5: 5
A6: x B6: 6
A7: d B7: 7
A8: x B8: 8
A9: x B9: 9
A10: e B10: 10
Sample Macro
In a new macro module, type the following macro:
Sub DeleteCells()
'Loop through cells A1:A10 and delete cells that contain an "x."
For Each c in Range("A1:A10")
If c = "x" Then c.EntireRow.Delete
Next
End Sub
Behavior of the Sample Macro in Microsoft Excel 97
When you run the DeleteCells macro in Microsoft Excel 97, only rows 3, 6
and 8 are deleted. Although rows 4 and 9 contain an "x" in column A, the
macro does not delete the rows. The results of the macro in Microsoft
Excel 97 are as follows:
A1: a B1: 1
A2: b B2: 2
A3: x B3: 4
A4: c B4: 5
A5: d B5: 7
A6: x B6: 9
A7: e B7: 10
When Microsoft Excel deletes row 3, all cells move up one row. For
example, cell A3 assumes the contents of cell A4, cell A4 assumes the
contents of cell A5, and so forth. After the For Each...Next loop evaluates
a cell, it evaluates the next cell; therefore, when cells are shifted, they may
be skipped by the loop.
Behavior of the Sample Macro in Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0
When you run the DeleteCells macro in Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0, the
macro deletes all rows that contain an "x." The results of the macro in
Microsoft Excel 5.0 or 7.0 are as follows:
A1: a B1: 1
A2: b B2: 2
A3: c B3: 5
A4: d B4: 7
A5: e B5: 10
When row 3 is deleted, all cells move up one row; and cell A3 assumes the
contents of cell A4, cell A4 assumes the contents of cell A5, and so
forth.
However, unlike the behavior of the loop in Microsoft Excel 97, when the
For Each...Next loop evaluates a cell in Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0, it
reevaluates the cell if it is deleted in the loop; therefore, the cells are not
skipped.
Recommended Method for Using a Loop to Delete Cells
Use the following macro when you want to use a loop to delete cells:
Sub DeleteCells2()
Dim rng As Range
Dim i As Integer, counter As Integer
'Set the range to evaluate to rng.
Set rng = Range("A1:A10")
'initialize i to 1
i = 1
'Loop for a count of 1 to the number of rows
'in the range that you want to evaluate.
For counter = 1 To rng.Rows.Count
'If cell i in the range contains an "x",
'delete the row.
'Else increment i
If rng.Cells(i) = "x" Then
rng.Cells(i).EntireRow.Delete
Else
i = i + 1
End If
Next
End Sub
The results of this macro in Microsoft Excel 97 and earlier versions are
as follows:
A1: a B1: 1
A2: b B2: 2
A3: c B3: 5
A4: d B4: 7
A5: e B5: 10
Additional Method for Using a Loop to Delete Cells
This is an alternate method to the method shown above. It produces the
same results.
Sub DeleteCells3()
Dim rng As Range, i As Integer
'Set the range to evaluate to rng.
Set rng = Range("A1:A10")
'Loop backwards through the rows
'in the range that you want to evaluate.
For i = rng.Rows.Count To 1 Step -1
'If cell i in the range contains an "x", delete the entire row.
If rng.Cells(i).Value = "x" Then rng.Cells(i).EntireRow.Delete
Next
End Sub