Comments on: Named Constants

By: Krich

Krich — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:29:00 +0000

Does anyone know how to code a certain column of data under a certain variable, into another column with another variable heading similar to recoding in SPSS. I have a column which is all letters (i.e. L, L , L , E, E, E, ) and I want to make a function that says if the letter in this column is L then it is now 1.

any help would be great

By: Dutch

Dutch — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:53:00 +0000

I wanted to add some information about just the 2015 Error in junction with Application.Evaluate().

I have a similar error when trying to parse a custom function. This function receives a string parameter and uses it to retrieve, from within a sheet, another string (double quotes not consistent):

? Application.Evaluate("GetExplanationForQuery("My Query")")

After a lot of testing I have come to the conclusion that the Evaluate() fails with Error 2015 if the length of the returned string is above a determined size, which I estimate being 255 characters (the limit of an Byte data type).

In fact, each time the function returns a long string, I get Error 2015.

I have also tried using the "[...]" syntax instead of "Application.Evaluate()" without success:

? [GetExplanationForQuery("My Query")]

As a workaround, I now test for "VBA.VarType(vResult) = vbError" and take the entire cell value if true:

vResult = Application.Evaluate(sFormulaString)
If (VBA.VarType(vResult) = vbError) Then vResult = rCell.Value
rCell.Value = vResult

Continuing to work on it.

Dutch

By: Jon Peltier

Jon Peltier — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:03:00 +0000

After convertig the cell to a numeric format, you still may need to convert the contents of that cell to a number.

By: Rob van Gelder

Rob van Gelder — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:26:00 +0000

Paul
It could be that your cell is formatted as Text.
Right-click the cell, choose Format Cells, then from the Number tab, set the format to General.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:02:00 +0000

I have a constant array, at least a group of 3 columns, with constants in each cell that I want to use for lookup. I created a name, ObsInstances, for the array to include the range. I have a cell used for the lookup value, H3, and a cell with the formula “=VLOOKUP($H3,ObsInstances,2,FALSE)”. The formula didn’t produce anything, the cell always shows the formula. When I copied the cell to other cells the relative reference did not increment, second clue of trouble. I copied the spreadsheat to “play” because one is a model with no data. So in the copy I entered data and it still showed the formula instead of the search result but when I used Tool/Evaluate Formula it showed the formula correctly but said, “The cell currently being evaluated contains a constant”. I played around deleting blanks and such and the highlighting started to work then the formula worked. Trouble is I can’t figure out whats wrong because the formula does look any different but now works and I can’t get repeat the miracle in the model spreadsheet. Anybody have any ideas about what I can do here?

By: Ivan Camac

Ivan Camac — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 03:57:00 +0000

Looking at the help topic for 'Evaluate', you can also simply put the name of the constant / range in square brackets to use the value. Dick's example would therefore become:

Sub test()

Sheet1.Range("A1?).Value = 1

ThisWorkbook.Names.Add "Nm1?, Sheet1.Range("A1?)
ThisWorkbook.Names.Add "Nm2?, 1
ThisWorkbook.Names.Add "Nm3?, "String1?

Debug.Print [Nm1]
Debug.Print [Nm2]
Debug.Print [Nm3]

End Sub

By: George Gruber

George Gruber — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 13:52:00 +0000

I just spent about half an hour pulling out my hair. I used Evaluate to return the result of a constant (Insert -> Name -> Define). I was trying to determine what the result would be if the name didn't exist. If you do not have a On Error Goto within the function of the Evaluate, it hangs up something (probably VBA). I would have to close the spread sheet and open it again. I am guessing that there is an issue with the error message processing in VBA or Excel when the Evaluate failed.

This is Excel 2003.

I picked your page because of the reference of using named constants.

By: Jamie Collins

Jamie Collins — Mon, 14 Jun 2004 11:49:00 +0000

"If you Evaluate the Value property of the Name object, no error."

I think I have my answer! Thanks, Dick.

Jamie.

By: Juan Pablo

Juan Pablo — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 23:04:00 +0000

Evaluate("Nm" & i)

works too...

By: Dick

Dick — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 18:57:00 +0000

"why Application.Evaluate didn't work out..."

Just messing around with it a little. I get the same error. If you Evaluate the Value property of the Name object, no error. Evaluate always seems to return Double for numerics, which doesn't really surprise me. Try this code

Sub test()

Dim i As Long

Sheet1.Range("A1?).Value = 1

ThisWorkbook.Names.Add "Nm1?, Sheet1.Range("A1?)
ThisWorkbook.Names.Add "Nm2?, 1
ThisWorkbook.Names.Add "Nm3?, "String1?

For i = 1 To 3
    With Application
        Debug.Print Names("Nm" & i).Name, _
            .Evaluate(Names("Nm" & i).Value), _
            .Evaluate(Names("Nm" & i)), _
            TypeName(.Evaluate(Names("Nm" & i).Value))
    End With
Next i

End Sub