Solving the VBA Function vs Procedure Dilemma in Excel

Discover why your `VBA code` runs as a procedure but not as a function, and learn how to efficiently calculate averages using the `AVERAGEIFS` function in Excel.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/73446795/ asked by the user 'Christian Prieto' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/19222916/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/73530044/ provided by the user 'Christian Prieto' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/19222916/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: VBA code will successfully run as a procedure but not as a function

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Understanding the Issue: VBA Function vs. Procedure in Excel

If you’re working with VBA in Excel, you may occasionally find yourself in a frustrating situation where your code runs perfectly as a procedure, but fails as a function. This can lead to doubts about what’s going wrong and how to resolve the discrepancies. In this post, we’ll explore a real-world scenario to understand this issue and provide solutions to streamline your data analysis processes.

The Problem

A user attempted to create a function that calculates the average of a numerical value (in this case, phosphorus levels) based on data from previous years, filtered by specific criteria. Although the procedure version of the code worked successfully after some troubleshooting, the function version failed to produce the desired results. The code in question was relatively straightforward, yet the user was left wondering what could be going wrong.

Here’s a breakdown of the original VBA procedure that worked:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

And the function that was supposed to replicate this behavior:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Despite the minor differences, the function faced issues that hindered its execution.

The Solution: Leveraging AVERAGEIFS Function in Excel

To simplify the task and overcome the limitations faced with the VBA function, the AVERAGEIFS function in Excel can be utilized effectively. The AVERAGEIFS function allows you to average values based on multiple criteria without the complexity of writing VBA functions.

Introducing AVERAGEIFS

The AVERAGEIFS function is built directly into Excel and can be used as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Breakdown of the AVERAGEIFS Function:

Phos: This is the range containing the values to average.

SiteNum: The first criteria range representing the site names.

$A7: The specific site to filter by.

CollectionDate: The range of dates to apply the criteria.

" =" & C$6: This ensures the dates are less than or equal to the end date.

" " & C$5: Ensures the dates are greater than the start date.

Advantages of Using AVERAGEIFS

Simplicity: No complex coding is required, just a simple formula.

Flexibility: Easily adjustable to include more criteria if needed.

Dynamic Updates: The function updates automatically as data changes in your Excel sheets.

Tips for Using AVERAGEIFS

Ensure ranges for criteria and the average range are the same size.

Remember that all criteria arguments can be customized to fit your data needs.

Conclusion

When you're faced with the challenge of writing a VBA function to calculate averages but it seems to break down, don’t hesitate to explore Excel’s built-in functions like AVERAGEIFS. Not only does it save time, but it can also lead to more efficient data management. With these insights and tools at your disposal, you can enhance your data analysis capabilities in Excel and make your workflows smoother.

Taking advantage of such Excel functionalities will save you the hassle of debugging your VBA code and pave the way for a more efficient analysis process. Happy coding!