Using Visual Basic to Create a Chart Using a Dynamic Range

When you record a macro to create a chart, the source address of cells used to create the chart is fixed by Microsoft Excel. This article contains a sample Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro that you can use to create a chart when the source address containing the data to be used in the chart may vary.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements. Follow these steps to create the sample macro:

1. Enter the following information in a new worksheet:

         C3:         D3:  Region 1   E3:  Region 2   F3:  Region 3
         C4:  Jan    D4:  10         E4:  80         F4:  15
         C5:  Feb    D5:  20         E5:  70         F5:  25
         C6:  Mar    D6:  30         E6:  60         F6:  35
         C7:  Apr    D7:  40         E7:  50         F7:  45
   						

2. Type the following code in a new module sheet:

         Sub CreateChart()
   
            ' Select the cell in the upper-left corner of the chart.
            Range("c4").Select
            ' Select the current range of data. This line of code assumes that
            ' the current region of cells is contiguous - without empty rows
            ' or columns.
            Selection.CurrentRegion.Select
   
            ' Assign the address of the selected range of cells to a variable.
            myrange = Selection.Address
   
            ' Assign the name of the active sheet to a variable. This line is
            ' used in order to allow a chart to be created on a separate chart
            ' sheet.
            mysheetname = ActiveSheet.Name
   
            ' Add a chart to the active sheet.
            ActiveSheet.ChartObjects.Add(125.25, 60, 301.5, 155.25).Select
   
            ' To create a chart on a separate chart sheet, remark out the
            ' previous line, and substitute the next line for the one above.
   
            ' Charts.Add
   
            Application.CutCopyMode = False
   
            ' This line can best be written by recording a macro, and
            ' modifying the code generated by the Microsoft Excel Macro
            ' recorder.
   
            ActiveChart.ChartWizard _
               Source:=Sheets(mysheetname).Range(myrange), _
               Gallery:=xlLine, Format:=4, PlotBy:=xlRows, _
               CategoryLabels:=1, SeriesLabels:=1, HasLegend:=1, _
               Title:="", CategoryTitle:="", _
               ValueTitle:="", ExtraTitle:=""
   
         End Sub
   						

3. Activate the worksheet where you entered the data in step 1 and run the CreateChart macro.

A new chart is created on your worksheet.

Microsoft Excel 97

For more information about the ChartWizard Method, from the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type chartwizard, click Search, and then click to view "ChartWizard Method."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Microsoft Excel Version 7.0

For more information about the ChartWizard Method, on the Help menu, click "Microsoft Excel Help Topics" click the Index Tab, and then type:

Microsoft Excel Version 5.0

For more information about the ChartWizard Method, on the Help menu, click Contents, click Programming with Visual Basic, click the search button, and then type:

In Microsoft Excel 5.0 for the Macintosh

For more information about the ChartWizard Method, click the Balloon Help icon, click Microsoft Excel Help, click Programming with Visual Basic, click the search button, and then type: