VB Macro to Change Between Relative/Absolute References (116028)

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements. The following sample Visual Basic procedure uses the ConvertFormula method to convert A1 relative references to R1C1 absolute references or A1 absolute references to R1C1 relative references for a selected range.

You can also use this procedure to convert cell references between A1 and R1C1 reference style by changing the appropriate constants for "fromReferenceStyle" and "toReferenceStyle" for the ConvertFormula method.

Macro Example

Before running the macro, select one or more cells containing formulas to convert.

'Convert_Reference Type Macro
'A Visual Basic module to convert absolute references to relative
'references or relative references to absolute references.

   Sub Conv_RefType()

       Dim Conv As String

       'Prompt user to change to relative or absolute references
       Conv = Application.InputBox _
           ("Type A to convert to Absolute, R to Relative Reference(s)", _
           "Change Cell Reference Type")

       'If changing relative to absolute references
       If UCase(Conv) = "A" Then

           'Loop through each cell selected
           For Each Mycell In Selection

               If Len(Mycell.Formula) > 0 Then

                   'Stores cell's formula as variable
                   MyFormula = Mycell.Formula

                   'Converts formula to absolute reference style
                   NewFormula = Application.ConvertFormula _
                       (Formula:=MyFormula, _
                       fromReferenceStyle:=xlA1, _
                       toReferenceStyle:=xlA1, _
                       toAbsolute:=xlAbsolute)

                   'Replaces old formula with new absolute formula
                   Mycell.Formula = NewFormula

               End If

           Next

       'If changing absolute to relative references
       ElseIf UCase(Conv) = "R" Then

           'Loop through each cell selected
           For Each Mycell In Selection

               If Len(Mycell.Formula) > 0 Then

                   'Stores cell's formula as variable
                   MyFormula = Mycell.Formula

                   'Converts formula to relative reference style
                   NewFormula = Application.ConvertFormula _
                       (Formula:=MyFormula, _
                       fromReferenceStyle:=xlA1, _
                       toReferenceStyle:=xlA1, _
                       toAbsolute:=xlRelative)

                   'Replaces old formula with new relative formula
                   Mycell.Formula = NewFormula

               End If

           Next

       'Display Error message if choice entered is invalid
       ElseIf UCase(Conv) <> "FALSE" Then

           MyMsg = "Enter A for Absolute, R for Relative Reference(s)"
           MyTitle = "Option Not Valid"
           MyBox = MsgBox(MyMsg, 0, MyTitle)

       End If

   End Sub