Some very basic questions that are driving me crazy. Pls help

**jamie392** · 05-11-2005, 06:45 PM

Here are some of my basic questions:
First off, what is the difference between going range(x).select and range(x).activate, they both become the activecell.

Second,
activeCell.FormulaR1C1= 45 or something, why do we need this formula R1C1 and what does it really mean or do. Without it the program still works?

Third question,
range(activeCell, activeCell.end(x1down)).select
what does x1 down mean, I am assuming that this code selects all code that is present in this block like what you do by pressing shift end and errors. Is that correct.

last question, what does the := do?

Thanks a ton
Jamie

**Leith Ross** · 05-12-2005, 03:38 AM

Hello Jamie,

Question #1:
What is the difference between Range(X).Select and Range(X).Activate?

Answer #1:
When the Range is a single cell then you can use either Select or Activate. If the Range is 2 or more cells like Range("A1:A10") then use Select.

Question #2:
What does ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1= 45 mean?

Answer #2:
Excel has 2 referencing methods Relative (R1C1 style) and Absolute ($A$1 style). Relative is used to move a set number of rows or columns away from the active cell. Absolute style references the cell row(s) and column(s) given. FormulaR1C1 requires the Formula references be in R1C1 or Relative addressing syle, while Formula requires Absoulte addressing or $A$1 style references.

Question #3:
In the expression Range(ActiveCell, ActiveCell.End(x1Down)).Select, what does xlDown mean?

Answer #3:
xlDown (Short for Excel Down) is one of four directional constants used with the End Range property. The direction constants are: xlUp, xlDown, xlToLeft, xlToRight.
This moves the cursor in the specified direction from the selected cell. This is the same as using pressing one of the Arrows keys + End key to move through the Range.

Question #4:
WTF is ":=" ?

Answer #4:
This is known as the named argument equivalence operator. Function and Sub procedures can pass variables (arguments) into their procedures. You can either place the values in order or use their value name. Using the value name allows you to enter the arguments in order you wish. This very useful when certain arguments have default values. You can assign values to only the arguments you need to change.

Hope this clears a few things up for you.

Sincerely,
Leith Ross

**grkchakri** · 07-14-2013, 08:16 AM

was just going through some of the old questions. Thank you very much for such a crisp and clear explanation. Thanx for jamie also for asking such good questions