Excel VBA Programming For Dummies

Chapter 5

VBA Sub and Function Procedures

In This Chapter

Understanding the difference between Sub procedures and Function procedures

Executing Sub procedures (many ways)

Executing Function procedures (two ways)

Several times in preceding chapters, I mention Sub procedures and allude to the fact that Function procedures also play a role in VBA. In this chapter, the secrets are revealed, and I clear up any confusion about these concepts.

Understanding Subs versus Functions

The VBA code that you write in the Visual Basic Editor is known as a procedure. The two most common types of procedures are Sub procedures and Function procedures.

• A Sub procedure is a group of VBA statements that performs an action (or actions) with Excel.
• A Function procedure is a group of VBA statements that performs a calculation and returns a single value (or, sometimes, an array).

Most of the macros you write in VBA are Sub procedures. You can think of a Sub procedure as being like a command: Execute the Sub procedure, and something happens. (Of course, exactly what happens depends on the Sub procedure’s VBA code.)

A Function is also a procedure, but it’s quite different from a Sub. You’re already familiar ...