Sample macro code to change the case of text in Excel (291323)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel 2004 for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel X for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
This article was previously published under Q291323
For a Microsoft Excel 2000 version of this article, see 213649.
For a Microsoft Excel 98 and earlier version of this article, see 141094.

SUMMARY

Although Microsoft Excel has functions that change the case of text, there are times when you may want to change text case programmatically.

This article contains three sample Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macros (Sub procedures) that you can use to change the letters in a text string to all uppercase, all lowercase, or title case (the first letter in each word is capitalized). These actions are similar to the Excel functions, =UPPER(), =LOWER(), and =PROPER().

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.

Macro to Change All Text in a Range to Uppercase Letters

Sub Uppercase()
   ' Loop to cycle through each cell in the specified range.
   For Each x In Range("A1:A5")
      ' Change the text in the range to uppercase letters.
      x.Value = UCase(x.value)
   Next
End Sub

Macro to Change All Text in a Range to Lowercase Letters

Sub Lowercase()
   ' Loop to cycle through each cell in the specified range.
   For Each x In Range("B1:B5")
      x.Value = LCase(x.Value)
   Next
End Sub

Macro to Change All Text in a Cell Range to Initial Capital Letters

Sub Proper_Case()
   ' Loop to cycle through each cell in the specified range.
   For Each x In Range("C1:C5")
      ' There is not a Proper function in Visual Basic for Applications.
      ' So, you must use the worksheet function in the following form:
      x.Value = Application.Proper(x.Value)
   Next
End Sub

Testing the Sample Macros

To test the sample macros, follow these steps:
  1. In the same workbook that contains the macros, enter the following sample data into a new worksheet: 
        A1: toM         B1: toM        C1: toM
    A2: sUe         B2: sUe        C2: sUe
    A3: joe SMITH   B3: joe SMITH  C3: joe SMITH
    A4: mary        B4: mary       C4: mary
    A5: LORI        B5: LORI       C5: LORI
    NOTE: This sample data contains text formatted in various cases that you can use to verify how each macro works.
  2. Run each of the macros.
The text in the range specified in the macro (in the line that reads "For each x in ...") will be formatted in uppercase, lowercase, or initial capitals, as appropriate.

REFERENCES

For more information about how to use worksheet functions to change the case of text, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

263580 How to change the case of text in Excel

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

305326 List of programming resources for Visual Basic for Applications

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/11/2006
Keywords:kbdtacode kbhowto kbProgramming KB291323
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