The VBA TypeName function is a built-in function in Microsoft Excel that is used to return the data type of a given variable or expression. This function is useful for testing the type of data that is being used in a VBA code, and can help in handling exceptions or errors when working with different data types.
VBA TypeName Function – Purpose, Syntax and Arguments
Purpose:
The purpose of the TypeName function is to return a string value representing the data type of the given variable or expression. This information can be used to handle data type specific operations, or to validate data input in a VBA code.
Syntax:
TypeName(varname)
Where
varname is the variable or expression for which the data type is to be returned.
Arguments:
- varname: This is a required argument and can be any valid variable or expression for which the data type is to be returned.
Example:
Suppose we have a variable myNum
containing the integer value 50, and we want to check its data type using the TypeName function. The code for achieving this would be:
Sub testTypeName()
Dim myNum As Integer
myNum = 50
MsgBox TypeName(myNum)
End Sub
Upon execution, the MsgBox will display the string
Integer, which is the data type of the variable myNum
Remarks:
- The TypeName function is not case-sensitive, i.e. it will return the same data type regardless of the case used in the argument.
- The return value of the TypeName function can be used as an input for the VarType function, which returns the unique numeric representation of the data type.
- The TypeName function can be used on any variable or expression, including objects, arrays, and user-defined data types.
- The return value of the TypeName function can be used in conditional statements for handling data type-specific operations in a VBA code.
- If the value of the argument passed to the TypeName function is a null value, the function will return an empty string.
Important Notes:
- The TypeName function is not compatible with non-VBA data types, such as those used in other programming languages or web applications.
- The return value of the TypeName function may differ in different versions of Microsoft Excel, and the compatibility should be checked before using the function in a code.
Understanding VBA TypeName Function with Examples
One of the essential functions in VBA is the TypeName function, which helps in identifying the data type of a variable or an object. In this blog post, we will explore the TypeName function and see how it is used with some examples.
Example 1: Using TypeName Function to Print Data Type of a Variable
In this example, we will declare a variable and use the TypeName function to print its data type.
Dim x As Integer Debug.Print TypeName(x)
The above code declares an integer variable ‘x’ and then uses the TypeName function to print its data type. When we execute this code, the output will be “Integer,” which is the data type of the variable ‘x.’ This example shows that the TypeName function is helpful in determining the data type of a variable, especially when working with variables of different types.
Example 2: Using TypeName Function to Print Data Type of an Object
Apart from variables, the TypeName function can also be used to identify the data type of an object. In this example, we will use the TypeName function to determine the data type of an Excel worksheet.
Dim ws As Worksheet
Set ws = ThisWorkbook.Worksheets("Sheet1")
Debug.Print TypeName(ws)
In the above code, we declare a variable ‘ws’ of type Worksheet and then assign it to the worksheet named “Sheet1” in the current workbook. Next, we use the TypeName function to print the data type of the variable ‘ws.’ The output of this code will be “Worksheet,” confirming that the variable ‘ws’ is an object of type Worksheet. This example illustrates how the TypeName function can be used to identify the data type of an object in VBA.
Example 3: Using TypeName Function to Identify Data Type of a Range Object
We can also use the TypeName function to determine the data type of a specific object within an Excel worksheet, such as a Range object. In this example, we will use the TypeName function to identify the data type of a Range object that contains a cell address.
Dim rng As Range
Set rng = Range("A1")
Debug.Print TypeName(rng)
The above code first declares a variable ‘rng’ of type Range and then assigns it to the cell address “A1.” Next, we use the TypeName function to determine the data type of the variable ‘rng.’ The output of this code will be “Range,” showing that the object assigned to ‘rng’ is of type Range. This example demonstrates how the TypeName function is helpful when working with specific objects within a worksheet.
Example 4: Using TypeName Function with the ‘Object’ Data Type
In VBA, the ‘Object’ data type can hold any type of data, making it a versatile data type. In cases where we are unsure about the data type of a variable or object, we can use the ‘Object’ data type. Let’s see how the TypeName function can be used with the ‘Object’ data type in the following code.
Dim obj As Object
Set obj = Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("A1")
Debug.Print TypeName(obj)
In the above code, we declare a variable ‘obj’ of type Object and then assign it to the Range object from the worksheet “Sheet1” in the current workbook. Next, we use the TypeName function to determine the data type of the variable ‘obj.’ The output of this code will be “Range,” showing that the object assigned to ‘obj’ is of type Range. This example highlights that the ‘Object’ data type allows us to store and use any type of data.
Example 5: Using TypeName Function to Determine the Data Type of an Array
Arrays are useful in VBA to store and manipulate large amounts of data. In this example, we will use the TypeName function to determine the data type of an array.
Dim arr() As Variant
arr = Range("A1:A5")
Debug.Print TypeName(arr)
The above code declares an array ‘arr’ of type Variant and then assigns it to a range of cells in an Excel worksheet. Next, we use the TypeName function to determine the data type of the variable ‘arr.’ The output of this code will be “Variant(),” showing that the object assigned to ‘arr’ is an array of type Variant. This example emphasizes that the TypeName function can help recognize the data type of arrays in VBA.
Conclusion:
In summary, the TypeName function is a powerful tool in VBA that helps identify the data type of a variable or object. It is particularly useful when working with different data types and objects in Excel, Word, or PowerPoint. Knowing how to use the TypeName function effectively can help enhance the performance and functionality of VBA code.
