How to read a special character (arrow) from one cell in a macro and store it in another

[JenniferMurphy]

I am trying to write a macro that will read in a column of special characters (up arrow, down arrow, etc.) that indicate whether a value is over or under some range. It will then scan another set of numbers, store the appropriate character in the cell to the left, and apply a color to both cells.

This code works as long as the characters are from the normal character set. But it fails if I select any special characters.

Here's the mini-sheet:

Book2
	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J
1
2
3
4					Ratings	Values	Expected	Unrated
5		60	Max			84	↑	84
6		40	Min			39	↓	39
7						91	↑	91
8		↑	Too high			7	↓	7
9		→	Goldilocks			55	→	55
10		↓	Too low			40	→	40
11						61	↑	61
12						60	→	60
Sheet1

And here's the macro code. It is invoked by a Button control which is not included in the mini-sheet even though I selected a range that includes it.

Sub RateEm()

Const rnCodes As String = "Codes"     'Column of code characters & colors
Const rnValues As String = "Values"   'Column of values to be rated
Const rnRatings As String = "Ratings" 'Column to put ratings
Dim Values() As Variant               'Values array
Dim NumValues As Long                 'Number of values

Dim Codes() As Variant    'Code characters
Dim NumCodes As Long      'Number of codes
Dim Colors() As Long      'Category colors

Dim Min As Long     'Minimum good value
Dim Max As Long     'Maximum good value
Dim iRtg As Long    'Rating index
Dim i As Long       'Loop index

Codes = Range(rnCodes).Value  'Read in the character codes & colors
NumCodes = UBound(Codes, 1)   'Number of codes
ReDim Colors(1 To NumCodes)   'Make colors array the same size
For i = 1 To NumCodes         'Get the code colors
  Colors(i) = Range(rnCodes).Cells(i, 1).Interior.Color
Next i

Min = Range("Min").Value        'Get the minimum value
Max = Range("Max").Value        'Get the maximum value
Values = Range(rnValues).Value  'Read in the character codes
NumValues = UBound(Values, 1)   'Get the number of values

For i = 1 To NumValues
  Select Case Range(rnValues).Cells(i, 1)
    Case Is > Max: iRtg = 1
    Case Is < Min: iRtg = 3
    Case Else: iRtg = 2
  End Select
  Range(rnValues).Cells(i, 1).Interior.Color = Colors(iRtg)
  Range(rnRatings).Cells(i, 1).Interior.Color = Colors(iRtg)
  Range(rnRatings).Cells(i, 1).Value = Codes(iRtg, 1)
Next i

End Sub

If I use characters from the normal text character set, it works.

But if I use special characters from another character set, I get this:

Is there a way I can use any character and make it work?

Thanks

 

[JenniferMurphy]

More at beginner level so easier to understand like this :​

Sub Demo1ez()
        Dim V, R&
        Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    With [F4].CurrentRegion
            V = Evaluate(Replace("(#<=C5)+(#<C6)", "#", .Columns(2).Address))
        For R = 2 To UBound(V)
            Cells(8 + V(R, 1), 3).Copy .Cells(R, 1)
        Next
    End With
        Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

I'll take a look at that when I get some time, but the lead you gave me gives me what I need to get this dang thing done.

 

[Marc L]

​

Take your time. Following my sample you can lighten your code …​

 

[JenniferMurphy]

More at beginner level so easier to understand like this :​

I have changed my objectives slightly. I need to add a code character as a prefix in addition to formatting the numerical ratings.

Here's the minisheet before the macro runs. Column G has the values to be rated. Column F is where the ratings are to go. Column H shows what I would like the ratings to look like. Column J contains the unrated values so I can restore them to their unrated state for testing. C5:C6 have the Max and Min values. And C8:C10 have the colors and the characters I would like to use in place of the "+", "-", & "=".

ZTest Color Macro.xlsm
	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K
1
2
3
4					Ratings	Values	Expected		Unrated
5		60	Max			84	+24		84
6		40	Min			39	-1		39
7						91	+31		91
8		é	Too high			7	-33		7
9		è	Goldilocks			55	=75%		55
10		ê	Too low			40	=0%		40
11						61	+1		61
12						60	=100%		60
13
Sheet1

Cell Formulas
Range	Formula
H5:H12	H5	=IF(Values>Max,TEXT(Values-Max,"+0"),IF(Values<Min,TEXT(Min-Values,"-0"),(TEXT((Values-Min)/(Max-Min),"=0%"))))

Named Ranges
Name	Refers To	Cells
Max	=Sheet1!$C$5	H5:H12
Min	=Sheet1!$C$6	H5:H12
Values	=Sheet1!$G$5:$G$12	H5

And this is how it looks after the macro code runs:

And here's the code:

Sub RateEm()

Const rnCodes As String = "Codes"     'Column of code characters & colors
Const rnValues As String = "Values"   'Column of values to be rated
Const rnRatings As String = "Ratings" 'Column to put ratings
Dim Values() As Variant               'Values array
Dim NumValues As Long                 'Number of values

Dim Codes() As Variant    'Code characters
Dim NumCodes As Long      'Number of codes

Dim Min As Long     'Minimum good value
Dim Max As Long     'Maximum good value
Dim i As Long       'Loop index

Codes = Range(rnCodes).Value  'Read in the character codes & colors
NumCodes = UBound(Codes, 1)   'Number of codes

Min = Range("Min").Value        'Get the minimum value
Max = Range("Max").Value        'Get the maximum value
Values = Range(rnValues).Value  'Read in the character codes
NumValues = UBound(Values, 1)   'Get the number of values
Dim iValue As Variant           'The numeric value
Dim sValue As String            'The formatted value
Dim iCode As Long               'The code index

For i = 1 To NumValues
  iValue = Range(rnValues).Cells(i, 1)
  Select Case iValue
    Case Is > Max: iCode = 1: sValue = "+" & Format(iValue - Max, "0")
    Case Is < Min: iCode = 3: sValue = "-" & Format(Min - iValue, "0")
    Case Else:     iCode = 2: sValue = "=" & Format((iValue - Min) / (Max - Min), "0%")
  End Select
  Range(rnRatings).Cells(i, 1).Value = sValue
  Range(rnRatings).Cells(i, 1).Interior.Color = _
        Range(rnCodes).Cells(iCode, 1).Interior.Color
  Range(rnValues).Cells(i, 1).Interior.Color = _
        Range(rnCodes).Cells(iCode, 1).Interior.Color
Next i

End Sub

Can you tell me how I can change the three sValue = statements so I can replace the "+", "-", & "=" with any characters in C8:C10? The three arrows in C8:C10 have, I believe, these hex values: x'00E9', x'00E8;, and '00EA'. I probably need to be able to specify the font, as well.

I don't have time to study your more efficient and compact code. I just need to get this blasted project out. So if you can just tell me how to modify those 3 statements, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[Marc L]

To work with your code I need your workbook link on a files host website like Dropbox 'cause too many errors, waste time …​

​

Anyway according to your previous post try this :​

Sub Demo2()
        Dim V, W, R&
        Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    With Range("F5", [G4].End(xlDown)(1, 0)).Columns
           .Item(1).NumberFormat = "@"
            V = Evaluate(Replace("8+(#<=C5)+(#<C6)", "#", .Item(2).Address))
            W = Evaluate(Replace("IF(#>$C$5,#-$C$5,IF(#<$C$6,$C$6-#,(#-$C$6)/($C$5-$C$6)*100&""%""))", "#", .Item(2).Address))
        For R = 1 To UBound(V)
            With .Cells(R, 1)
                 .Interior.Color = Cells(V(R, 1), 3).Interior.Color
                 .Value2 = Cells(V(R, 1), 3).Text & W(R, 1)
            End With
        Next
    End With
        Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

 

[Marc L]

Maybe with this mod in your code :​

For i = 1 To NumValues
        iValue = Range(rnValues)(i)
    Select Case iValue
           Case Is > Max:   iCode = 1:  sValue = iValue - Max
           Case Is < Min:   iCode = 3:  sValue = Min - iValue
           Case Else:       iCode = 2:  sValue = Format((iValue - Min) / (Max - Min), "0%")
    End Select
    With Range(rnRatings)(i)
        .Interior.Color = Range(rnCodes)(iCode).Interior.Color
         Range(rnValues)(i).Interior.Color = .Interior.Color
        .Value2 = Range(rnCodes)(iCode).Text & sValue
    End With
Next

 

[Marc L]

​

As I have amended several times the previous post so take care if you get the ultimate one …​

 

[Marc L]

Demo2 revamped for a little optimization :​

Sub Demo2r()
        Dim V, W, R&
        Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    With Range("F5", [G4].End(xlDown)(1, 0)).Columns
           .Item(1).NumberFormat = "@"
            V = Evaluate(Replace("8+(#<=C5)+(#<C6)", "#", .Item(2).Address))
            W = Evaluate(Replace("IF(#>$C$5,#-$C$5,IF(#<$C$6,$C$6-#,(#-$C$6)/($C$5-$C$6)*100&""%""))", "#", .Item(2).Address))
        For R = 1 To UBound(V)
           .Cells(R, 1).Interior.Color = Cells(V(R, 1), 3).Interior.Color
            V(R, 1) = Cells(V(R, 1), 3).Text & W(R, 1)
        Next
           .Value2 = V
    End With
        Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

 

[JenniferMurphy]

​

As I have amended several times the previous post so take care if you get the ultimate one …​

OK, thanks

 

[Marc L]

Removing the useless to lighten your procedure this is its revamped version :​

Sub RateEmR2D2()
    Dim M&, N&, R&, C%, S$
        M = [Max].Value2
        N = [Min].Value2
        Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    With [Ratings]
           .NumberFormat = "@"
        For R = 1 To .Rows.Count
            With .Cells(R, 2)
                Select Case .Value2
                       Case Is > M:     C = 1:  S = .Value2 - M
                       Case Is < N:     C = 3:  S = N - .Value2
                       Case Else:       C = 2:  S = Format$((.Value2 - N) / (M - N), "0%")
                End Select
            End With
               .Cells(R).Resize(, 2).Interior.Color = Range("Codes")(C).Interior.Color
               .Cells(R).Value2 = Range("Codes")(C).Text & S
        Next
    End With
        Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

As a reminder : Dim M& is equal to Dim M as Long … % = Integer … $ = String …​

 

[JenniferMurphy]

Removing the useless to lighten your procedure this is its revamped version :​

Sub RateEmR2D2()
    Dim M&, N&, R&, C%, S$
        M = [Max].Value2
        N = [Min].Value2
        Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    With [Ratings]
           .NumberFormat = "@"
        For R = 1 To .Rows.Count
            With .Cells(R, 2)
                Select Case .Value2
                       Case Is > M:     C = 1:  S = .Value2 - M
                       Case Is < N:     C = 3:  S = N - .Value2
                       Case Else:       C = 2:  S = Format$((.Value2 - N) / (M - N), "0%")
                End Select
            End With
               .Cells(R).Resize(, 2).Interior.Color = Range("Codes")(C).Interior.Color
               .Cells(R).Value2 = Range("Codes")(C).Text & S
        Next
    End With
        Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

As a reminder : Dim M& is equal to Dim M as Long … % = Integer … $ = String …​

Thanks. This is very helpful. I'm working on it....?