Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Relative VBA Selections.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 17, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
It is a common thing to need to select cells in a macro. What if you want to select a range of cells relative to your current location, however? It so happens that there are several ways you can accomplish this task. For instance, if you want to select a single cell, relative to your current location, you can use the Offset method. As an example, if you want to select the cell that is two rows down and one column to the right of your current location, you could use the following:
ActiveCell.Offset(2, 1).Select
If you want to select a larger range than just a single cell, you can combine the Offset method with the Address Method to find actual cell addresses, and then use your findings to actually select the range itself. For instance, you might want to select the range that begins two rows down and one column to the right, but then extends for four rows and three columns. You can accomplish this in the following manner:
StartCell = ActiveCell.Offset(2, 1).Address EndCell = ActiveCell.Offset(5, 3).Address Range(StartCell, EndCell).Select
An alternative method of accomplishing the same task is to use the Resize method. In this technique, you would first select the upper-right cell of the desired range (as was done in the first use of Offset, above), and then use Resize to change the size of the selection. This is how it is done:
ActiveCell.Offset(2, 1).Select Selection.Resize(4, 3).Select
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2298) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Relative VBA Selections.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
Do you need to find cells that are formatted with a particular color? How you accomplish this task depends on your ...
Discover MoreSometimes it may be helpful for a macro to know exactly where it is being executed. This tip provides a way that you can ...
Discover MoreWhen creating macros, it is helpful to know what is going on within the macro itself in case an error crops up. Here's ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Comments