How To Sort Data In Columns With VBA Instead Of Excel Sorting
To do this follow these steps:
STEP-1
First write any 5 random names in column A. Now you are going to write 5 random numbers to column B.
STEP-2
Note: you can skip step 2 and step 3 if the developer tab is already open
Now place a command button on your Excel sheet. To open the developer tab right click anywhere on the ribbon (the top menu) and select “Customize the Ribbon” from the drop down menu.
STEP-3
An option dialog box will open. Click on the DEVELOPER check box (it is under “Customize the Ribbon Main Tabs”) and press ok.
STEP-4
The developer tap is now visible and is present next to the view tab on the top menu bar. Now click on the DEVELOPER tab and select “Insert“.
STEP-5
Select the Command button in the ActiveX Controls.
STEP-6
Drag the command button on your Excel worksheet. Right click on the command button (make sure Design Mode is selected) go to properties. Write Rand Sort Names in the “Caption” field
Note: you can change the color of the command button, the font, font style, font color and even the name of the command button by right clicking on it and going to properties (make sure design mode is selected)
STEP-7
A new window (Visual Basic Editor) will open which will have a dialog box in the center. You will write the code in this dialog box.
STEP-8
Now declare four variables. One variable of type String we call tempString, one variable of type Integer you call tempInteger, one variable of type Integer you call a, and one variable of type Integer you call b.
Dim tempString As String, tempInteger As Integer, a As Integer, b As Integer
After this use the worksheet function RandBetween.
For a = 1 To 5 Cells (a, 2).Value = WorksheetFunction.RandBetween(0, 1000) Next a
STEP-9
You will use the numbers next to each name to sort the names. The name with the lowest number first, the name with the second lowest number, second, etc.
Now use a Double Loop.
For a = 1 To 5 For b = a + 1 To 5
Add the following line of code:
If Cells (b, 2).Value < Cells (a, 2).Value Then
Example: for a = 1 and b = 2, Sarah and Laura are compared. Because Sarah has a lower number, you swap Sarah and Laura. Sarah is at the first position now.
If the condition is true, swap the names.
tempString = Cells (a, 1).Value Cells (a, 1).Value = Cells (b, 1).Value Cells (b, 1).Value = tempString
And swap the numbers.
tempInteger = Cells (a, 2).Value Cells (a, 2).Value = Cells(b, 2).Value Cells (b, 2).Value = tempInteger
STEP-10
Close the IF statement
End If
STEP-11
Close both the FOR loops
Next b Next a
STEP-12
This is how the complete code should look like
After writing down the entire code close the window (Visual Basic Editor) by clicking on the cross(x) icon on the top right corner of the screen. Don’t worry. Excel won’t get closed.
IMPORTANT: IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU WRITE THIS CODE BEWTEEN Private Sub and End Sub. OTHERWISE IT WON’T WORK
STEP-13 Click on the command button and see the result
You have now successfully sorted data and names using VBA.
Template
Further reading: Basic concepts Getting started with Excel Cell References
