How to Use VBA Join Function Fast in 3 Minutes (Excel)

Written by Kasper Langmann

The VBA Join function is a powerful tool in Excel that allows you to combine multiple elements of an array into a single string. This function is particularly useful when you need to manipulate large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. In this guide, we will explore how to use the VBA Join function in just three minutes.

Understanding the VBA Join Function

The VBA Join function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a String/Text Function. It can be used as a VBA function (VBA) in Excel. As a VBA function, you can use this function in macro code that is entered through the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor.

It’s important to note that the VBA Join function is not the same as the Excel Join function. The latter is a feature in Excel that allows you to combine text from two or more cells into one cell. The VBA Join function, on the other hand, is used to combine elements of an array into a single string.

How to Use the VBA Join Function

Using the VBA Join function is quite straightforward. The syntax for the function is as follows: Join(list, delimiter). The ‘list’ parameter refers to the array that you want to combine into a single string, and the ‘delimiter’ parameter refers to the character that you want to use to separate the elements in the array.

Let’s consider an example. Suppose you have an array with the elements “Apple”, “Banana”, and “Cherry”. If you want to combine these elements into a single string with a comma as the delimiter, you would use the following code: Join(Array(“Apple”, “Banana”, “Cherry”), “, “). The result would be the string “Apple, Banana, Cherry”.

Using the VBA Join Function with a Single-Dimension Array

The VBA Join function works best with a single-dimension array. If you try to use it with a multi-dimension array, it will only join the elements of the first dimension. For example, if you have a 2D array with the elements (“Apple”, “Banana”) and (“Cherry”, “Date”), the VBA Join function will only join the elements “Apple” and “Banana”.

To use the VBA Join function with a multi-dimension array, you need to first convert the array into a single-dimension array. This can be done using a loop that iterates through each element of the array and adds it to a new single-dimension array.

Using the VBA Join Function with a Variable Delimiter

The delimiter parameter in the VBA Join function is optional. If you don’t specify a delimiter, the function will use a space as the default delimiter. However, you can specify any character as the delimiter. This can be useful when you need to format the output string in a specific way.

For example, if you want to join the elements of an array with a newline character as the delimiter, you would use the following code: Join(Array(“Apple”, “Banana”, “Cherry”), vbNewLine). The result would be the string “ApplenBanananCherry”.

Common Errors When Using the VBA Join Function

While the VBA Join function is quite straightforward to use, there are a few common errors that you might encounter. One of the most common errors is trying to use the function with a non-array variable. The VBA Join function only works with arrays, so if you try to use it with a single variable, you will get an error.

Another common error is trying to use the function with an empty array. If the array doesn’t contain any elements, the function will return an empty string. This might not be what you expect, especially if you’re using the function in a larger piece of code.

Conclusion

The VBA Join function is a powerful tool in Excel that allows you to combine multiple elements of an array into a single string. By understanding how to use this function, you can manipulate large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Excel user, the VBA Join function is a valuable addition to your toolkit.

Remember, practice makes perfect. So, don’t hesitate to experiment with the VBA Join function and see how it can help you in your Excel tasks. Happy coding!