Excel VBA Simulation Basic Tutorial 101
This page contains basic Excel VBA skills needed for creating simulations. Beginners who wish to learn simulation programming using Excel VBA are encouraged to go through the entire document if he or she had not already done so. This tutorial is the prerequisite of Excel VBA Simulation-Based Tutorial 201. This document contains information about the following topics.
Creating and Managing Array
Declare an Array With Dim Statement
Resize an Array With Redim Statement
Manage Dynamic Array
Create Multi-Dimensional Array
Find The Size of an Array
Decision Structures - IF and Select Case
IF ... Then
IF ... Then ... Else
IF ... Then ... ElseIf
Select Case
Loop Structures
For ... Next
For ... Next Loop With Step
Do While ... Loop
Do Until ... Loop
Do ... Loop While
Do ... Loop Until
Sorting Numbers in an Array
Find Maximum and Minimum Values in an Array
Double Sorting - The Secret of Resampling Without Replacement
Microsoft Support site or the Excel VBA Help section on your computer contains comprehensive examples on most the issues covered on this page. For more information, please refer to them.
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Creating and Managing Array Microsoft Support
Declaring an Array With Dim Statement
An array is a set of sequentially indexed elements having the same intrinsic data type. Each element of an array has a unique identifying index number. Changes made to one element of an array don't affect the other elements.
Before signing values to an array, the array needs to be created. You can declare the array by using the Dim statement.
For example, to declare a one-dimensional array with 5 elements, type the following:
Dim Arr(4)
The element’s index of the array starts from 0 unless Option Base 1 is specified in the public area (area outside of the sub procedure). If Option Base 1 is specified, the index will start from 1.
The following example assigns values to the array and displays all values in a message box :
Option Base 1
Sub assignArray( )
Dim Arr(5)
Arr(5) = “Jan”
Arr(2) = “Feb”
Arr(3) = “Mar”
Arr(4) = “Apr”
Arr(5) = “May”
Msgbox Arr(1) & "-" & Arr(2) & "-" & Arr(3) & "-" & Arr(4) & "-" & Arr(5)
End Sub
* The number inside the array, i.e. Arr(1), is the index. One (1) is the index of the first element in the
array.
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Resize an Array With Redim Statement
The ReDim statement is used to size or resize a dynamic array that has already been formally declared.
For example, if you have already declared an array with an element value of 5 and decided to change the number of the element to 6, you can do the following to resize the array:
Redim Arr(6)
We incorporate it into our last example:
Option Base 1
Sub assignArray( )
'Dim Arr(5)
Redim Arr(6)
Arr(1) = “Jan”
Arr(2) = “Feb”
Arr(3) = “Mar”
Arr(4) = “Apr”
Arr(5) = “May”
Arr(6) = “Jun”
Msgbox Arr(1) & "-" & Arr(2) & "-" & Arr(3) & "-" & Arr(4) & "-" & Arr(5)
End Sub
Note that the Dim Arr(5) statement is commoned out, because leaving this original statement in the sub will causing a compile error.
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Manage Dynamic Array
A word of caution in using the Redim Statement to resize an array - resize the array can erase the elements in it. In the following example, all the values assigned prior to resize the array are erased. Only the value assigned to the array after resize remains.
Option Base 1
Sub assignArray( )
Redim Arr(5)
Arr(1) = “Jan”
Arr(2) = “Feb”
Arr(3) = “Mar”
Arr(4) = “Apr”
Arr(5) = “May”
Redim Arr(6)
Arr(6) = “Jun”
Msgbox Arr(1) & "-" & Arr(2) & "-" & Arr(3) & "-" & Arr(4) & "-" & Arr(5) & "-" & Arr(6)
End Sub
By replace the Redim Arr(6) with Redim Preserve Arr(6), all values will remain. For example:
Option Base 1
Sub assignArray( )
Redim Arr(5)
Arr(1) = “Jan”
Arr(2) = “Feb”
Arr(3) = “Mar”
Arr(4) = “Apr”
Arr(5) = “May”
Redim Preserve Arr(6)
Arr(6) = “Jun”
Msgbox Arr(1) & "-" & Arr(2) & "-" & Arr(3) & "-" & Arr(4) & "-" & Arr(5) & "-" & Arr(6)
End Sub
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Create Multi-Dimensional Array
An array can also store multiple dimensional data. To simplify our tutorial, example on a two-dimensional array is used. Assume you have data of a local store's yearly sale in the following table and you want to store the data in a two-dimensional array:
Year 2003 Year 2004
CD Sale 1,000 1,500
DVD Sale 1,200 2,000
First we create the array as follow:
Dim Arr(2,2)
Then we assign the values into the array. We treat the first dimension as the year and the second dimension as the product sale:
arr(1,1) = 1000
arr(1,2) = 1200
arr(2,1) = 1500
arr(2,2) = 2000
We now display the values of the array with a message box:
Msgbox "Sale of CD in 2003 is " & arr(1,1) & vbCrLf & "Sale of CD in 2004 is " _
& arr(2,1) & vbCrLf & "Sale of DVD in 2003 is " & arr(1,2) & vbCrLf _
& "Sale of DVD in 2004 is " & arr(2,2)
The complete precedure is as followed:
Option Base 1
Sub multDimArray( )
Dim Arr(2,2)
arr(1,1) = 1000
arr(1,2) = 1200
arr(2,1) = 1500
arr(2,2) = 2000
Msgbox "Sale of CD in 2003 is " & arr(1,1) & vbCrLf & "Sale of CD in 2004 is " _
& arr(2,1) & vbCrLf & "Sale of DVD in 2003 is " & arr(1,2) & vbCrLf _
& "Sale of DVD in 2004 is " & arr(2,2)
End Sub
* vbCrLf stands for VB Carriage Return Line Feed. It puts a return and a new line as shown in the
message box above. The underscore "_" on the back of the first line of the message box means
"continue to the next line"
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Find The Size of an Array
The largest available subscript for the indicated dimension of an array can be obtained by using the Ubound function. In our one-dimensional array example, Ubound(arr) is 5.
In our two-dimensional array example above, there are two upper bound figures - both are 2.
UBound returns the following values for an array with these dimensions*:
Dim A(1 To 100, 0 To 3, -3 To 4)
Statement Return Value
UBound(A, 1) 100
UBound(A, 2) 3
UBound(A, 3) 4
* Example taken from Excel VBA Help section.
The UBound function is used with the LBound function to determine the size of an array. Use the LBound function to find the lower limit of an array dimension.
Statement Return Value
LBound(A, 1) 1
LBound(A, 2) 0
LBound(A, 3) -3
To get the size of an array, use the following formula:
UBound(Arr) - LBound(Arr) + 1
For example:
Ubound(A,1) - LBound(A,1) + 1
= 100 - 1 + 1
= 100
Ubound(A,2) - LBound(A,2) + 1
= 3 - 0 + 1
= 4
Ubound(A,3) - LBound(A,3) + 1
= 4 - (-3) + 1
= 8
For more information on arrays check Microsoft Support
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Decision Structures - IF and Select Case
IF ... Then Statement
The IF ... Then is a single condition and run a single statement or a block of statement.
Example, the following statement set variable Status to "Adult" if the statement is true:
If Age >= 18 Then Status = "Adult"
You can also use multiple-line block in the If statement as followed:
If Ago >= 18 Then
Status = "Adult"
Vote = "Yes"
End If
Note that in the multiple-line block case, End If statement is needed, where the single-line case does not.
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IF ... Then ... Else
The If ... Then ... Else statement is used to define two blocks of conditions - true and false.
Example:
If Age >=22 Then
Drink = "Yes"
Else
Drink = "No"
End If
Again, note that End If statement is needed in this case as well since there is more than one block of statements.
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IF ... Then ... ElseIf
The IF ... Then ... ElseIf is used to test additional conditions without using new If ... Then statements.
For Example:
If Age >= 18 and Age < 22 Then
Msgbox "You can vote"
ElseIf Age >=22 and Age < 62 Then
Msgbox "You can drink and vote"
ElseIf Age >=62 Then
Msgbox "You are eligible to apply for Social Security Benefit"
Else
Msgbox "You cannot drink or vote"
End If
Note that the last condition under Else is, implicitly, Age < 18.
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Select Case
Select Case statement is an alternative to the ElseIf statement. This method is more efficient and readable in coding the the If ... Then ... ElseIf statment.
Example:
Select Case Grade
Case Is >= 90
LetterGrade = "A"
Case Is >= 80
LetterGrade = "B"
Case Is >= 70
LetterGrade = "C"
Case Is >= 60
LetterGrade = "D"
Case Else
LetterGrade = "Sorry"
End Select
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Loop Structures
For ... Next
Use For ... Next loop if the number of loops is already defined and known. A For ... Next loop uses a counter variable that increases or decreases in value during each iteration of the loop. This loop structure is being used the most for our examples on this site.
Here is an example of the For ... Next loop:
For i = 1 to 10
Cells(i, 1) = i
Next i
In this example, i is the counter variable from 1 to 10. The looping process will send value to the first column of the active sheet and print i (which is 1 to 10) to row 1 to 10 of that column.
Note that the counter variable, by default, increases by an increment of 1.
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For ... Next Loop With Step
You can use the Step Keyword to sepcify a different increment for the counter variable.
For example:
For i = 1 to 10 Step 2
Cells(i, 1) = i
Next i
This looping process will print values with an increment of 2 on row 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 on column one.
You can also have decrement in the loop by assign a negative value afte the Step keyword.
For example:
For i = 10 to 1 Step -2
Cells(i, 1) = i
Next i
This looping process will print values with an increment of -2 starts from 10 on row 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 on column one.
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Do While ... Loop
You can use the Do While ... Loop to test a condition at the start of the loop. It will run the loop as long as the condition is ture and stops when the condition becomes false. For Example:
i = 1
Do While i =< 10
Cells(i, 1) = i
i = i + 1
Loop
This looping process yields the same result as in the For ... Next structures example.
One thing to be caution is that sometimes the loop might be a infinite loop. And it happens when the condition never beomes false. In such case, you can stop the loop by press [ESC] or [CTRL] + [BREAK].
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Do Until ... Loop
You can test the condition at the beginning of the loop and then run the loop until the test condition becomes true.
Example:
i = 1
Do Until i = 11
Cells(i, 1) = i
i = i + 1
Loop
This looping process yields the same result as in the For ... Next structures example.
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Do ... Loop While
When you want to make sure that the loop will run at least once, you can put the test at the end of loop. The loop will stop when the condition becomes false. (compare this loop structure to the Do ... While Loop.)
For Example:
i = 1
Do
Cells(i, 1) = i
i = i + 1
Loop While i < 11
This looping process yields the same result as in the For ... Next structures example.
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Do ... Loop Until
This loop structure, like the Do ... Loop While, makes sure that the loop will run at least once, you can put the test at the end of loop. The loop will stop when the condition becomes true. (compare this loop structure to the Do ... Until Loop.)
For Example:
i = 1
Do
Cells(i, 1) = i
i = i + 1
Loop Until i = 11
This looping process yields the same result as in the For ... Next structures example.
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Sorting Numbers In an Array
Sorting plays a very importance role in simulation. The sorting procedure in this example is used in many ot the tutorial on this site. The following provides an example on how to call the Sorting sub procedure, passes the array to it, and returns the array with sorted elements.
The sub getSort precedure calls the Sort sub precedure, pass arr( ) to it, and then get a sorted array back. The two message boxes are used to display the array before and after sorting.
This message box shows the array before sorting
This message box shows the array after sorting
Sub getSort( )
Dim arr(5) As Integer
Dim str As String
arr(1) = 8
arr(2) = 4
arr(3) = 3
arr(4) = 7
arr(5) = 2
str = ""
For i = 1 To 5
str = str & arr(i) & vbCrLf
Next i
MsgBox "Before Sorting" & vbCrLf & str
Call Sort(arr)
str = ""
For i = 1 To 5
str = str & arr(i) & vbCrLf
Next i
MsgBox "After Sorting" & vbCrLf & str
End Sub
Sub Sort(arr( ) As Integer)
Dim Temp As Double
Dim i As Long
Dim j As Long
For j = 2 To UBound(arr)
Temp = arr(j)
For i = j - 1 To 1 Step -1
If (arr(i) <= Temp) Then GoTo 10
arr(i + 1) = arr(i)
Next i
i = 0
10 arr(i + 1) = Temp
Next j
End Sub
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Find Maximum and Minimum Values in an Array
In order to find the maximum and the minimum values in an array, the array needs to be sorted. Once it is sorted, finding the maximum and minumum is very simple. Using the prior example to get the maminum and the minimun, you can simplely assign the upper bound index and 1, respectively to the sorted array following:
arr(UBound(arr))
arr(1)
Note that UBound(arr) will be 5 since there is 5 elements (start from index 1) in the array. We use 1 as the lowest index since we did not assign any value to index 0.
The following shows the maximum and the minimum of the array.
MsgBox "Max: " & arr(UBound(arr)) & vbCrLf & "Min: " & arr(1) & vbCrLf
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Double Sorting - The secret of Resampling Without Replacement
Double Sorting is the word I used for sorting one array based on the values of the second array. This method is used when you want to get values from of a sample without select the same value twice (i.e. the Lotto example). The following demonstrates how this is done.
Assume you want to pick 3 people out of 8 randomly. The challenge is that if you pick them randomly, one of the names might get picked twice or even 3 times. To handle this challenge, the following steps can be taken:
1. Assign random number to each of the elements in the sample (names in this case).
2. Sort the names based on the random numbers.
3. Pick the first three names from the result.
As in this case, George, Chris, and Bobby are selected since they are the first 3 names after sorting.
The following shows the example using VBA codes:
Sub Resample()
Dim i As Long
Dim Hold(8) As Single, Hold2(8) As String
Dim str As String
Hold2(1) = "Anthony"
Hold2(2) = "Bobby"
Hold2(3) = "Chris"
Hold2(4) = "Danny"
Hold2(5) = "Eton"
Hold2(6) = "Frank"
Hold2(7) = "George"
Hold2(8) = "Harry"
For i = 1 To UBound(Hold)
Hold(i) = Rnd
Cells(i, 2) = Hhold(i)
Next i
Call DoubleSort(Hold, Hold2)
str = ""
For i = 1 To 3
str = str & Hold2(i) & vbCrLf
Cells(i, 1) = Hold2(i)
Next i
MsgBox str
End Sub
Sub DoubleSort(x() As Single, y() As String)
Dim xTemp As Double
Dim yTemp As String
Dim i As Long
Dim j As Long
For j = 2 To UBound(x)
xTemp = x(j)
yTemp = y(j)
For i = j - 1 To 1 Step -1
If (x(i) <= xTemp) Then GoTo 10
x(i + 1) = x(i)
y(i + 1) = y(i)
Next i
i = 0
10 x(i + 1) = xTemp
y(i + 1) = yTemp
Next j
End Sub
The DoubleSort sub procedure sorts array y (the names) based array x (the random numbers). The Resample sub procedure retruns three unique names from the sample in a message box.
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