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: Filling a Range of Cells with Values.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 16, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Jonathan is creating a macro and needs to fill a range of cells with values. For instance, if he needs to fill the range A1:C1, it currently takes three statements to fill that range:
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:
Range("A1") = "Test1"
Range("B1") = "Test2"
Range("C1") = "Test3"
He wonders if there is a way to fill them in a single statement, similar to the following:
Range("A1:C1") = ("Test1","Test2","Test3")
Jonathan's desired syntax is close, but it won't work. Here's how it will work:
Range("A1:C1") = Array("Test1","Test2","Test3")
Note the use of the Array statement, which tells VBA that what follows should be considered a sequence of values to be used in the sequence of cells at the left of the operator. Interestingly enough, you could stuff values into variables and also use the Array statement, as shown here:
sOne = "Apples"
sTwo = "Oranges"
sThree = "Artichokes"
Range("A1:C1") = Array(sOne, sTwo, sThree)
You can also work with straight variables, if you prefer:
Dim sMyStrings(2) As String
sMyStrings(0) = "Apples"
sMyStrings(1) = "Oranges"
sMyStrings(2) = "Artichokes"
Range("A1:C1") = sMyStrings
The above code could also be rewritten, as follows:
Dim sMyStrings(2) As String
sMyStrings = Array("Apples", "Oranges", "Artichokes")
Range("A1:C1") = sMyStrings
Finally, if you wanted to have the values placed into a single column rather than in a row, you would need to use the Transpose function, in this manner:
Range("A1:A3") = Application.Transpose(Array("Test1","Test2","Test3"))
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (11701) 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: Filling a Range of Cells with Values.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2019 For Dummies today!
You can create macros that run whenever Excel detects a certain event happening within an entire workbook. This tip ...
Discover MoreExcel doesn't provide an easy way to grab the worksheet name for use within a worksheet. Here are some ideas on ways you ...
Discover MoreWhen creating a macro, one of the ways you can communicate with users is through the use of a message box. This tip ...
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.
Comments