Find the most/least consecutive repeated value [VBA]
This post Find the longest/smallest consecutive sequence of a value has a few really big array formulas. Today I would like to show you how to build a simple UDF that will simplify these formulas significantly.
Table of Contents
The following user-defined function returns the size of each consecutive sequence in a range. The udf is entered in cell range B2:B25, see this picture.
The UDF returns an array with the same size as the argument range. The cell range has 24 cells and the array has 24 values.
1. VBA code
'Name User Defined Function Function CountConsVal(r As Range) 'Dimension variables and declare data types Dim i As Long, s As Long 'Save value in cell range r to variable Rng Rng = r.Value 'Iterate through values in array variable Rng For i = LBound(Rng, 1) To UBound(Rng, 1) - 1 'Check if next value is equal to current value If Rng(i, 1) = Rng(i + 1, 1) Then 'Add 1 to numbers stored in variable s s = s + 1 'Clear container in array variable Rng Rng(i, 1) = "" 'Go here if next value is NOT equal to current value Else 'Add 1 to variable s and save to container in array variable Rng Rng(i, 1) = s + 1 'Save 0 to variable s s = 0 End If Next i 'Add 1 to variable s and then save result to the last container in array variable Rng Rng(UBound(Rng), 1) = s + 1 'Return values to worksheet CountConsVal = Rng End Function
2. Array formulas
Array formula in cell E3:
Array formula in cell E4:
Array formula in cell G3:
Array formula in cell G4:
Array formula in cell E7:
Array formula in cell E8:
3. Where to put the code?
To build a user-defined function in your workbook, follow these steps:
- Press Alt + F11 to open the visual basic editor.
- Press with left mouse button on "Insert" on the menu.
- Press with left mouse button on "Module".
- Copy the code above and paste it to the code module.
4. Explaining the User Defined Function
4.1 Function name and arguments
A user-defined function procedure always starts with "Function" and then a name. This UDF has a single argument r. Variable r is a range.
Function CountConsVal(r As Range)
4.2 Declaring variables
Variable i and s are declared data type Long. Read more about Defining data types.
Dim i As Long, s As Long
4.3 Transfer values from r (range) to a Rng (variant) array
Rng = r.Value
4.4 For ... Next statement
Repeats a group of statements a specified number of times. LBound returns the lower bound of an array and UBound the upper bound.
LBound(array, dimension) UBound(array, dimension), the dimension argument can be omitted if the array is a one-dimensional array. In this case the Variant Rng is a two-dimensional array despite the fact that the range r is a one-dimensional array. UBound(Rng, 1) returns the number of rows in Rng array.
For i = LBound(Rng, 1) To UBound(Rng, 1) - 1 ... Next i
4.5 If ... then... Else ... End If
Check if the current value (i) is equal to the next value (i+1)
If Rng(i, 1) = Rng(i + 1, 1) Then
4.6 Add number 1 to variable s
s = s + 1
4.7 Delete value in array
Rng(i, 1) = ""
4.8 Assign a value (s + 1) to array variable Rng(i, 1)
The current value in the array is equal to s + 1
Rng(i, 1) = s + 1
4.9 Assign 0 (zero) to variable s
s = 0
4.10 Assign a value (s + 1) to the last value in the array Rng(UBound(Rng), 1)
Rng(UBound(Rng), 1) = s + 1
4.11 The udf returns an array of values
CountConsVal = Rng
4.12 End a udf
A function procedure ends with this statement.
End Function
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How can i do this with colorformatted cells?. All the cells have the same value (1) the range is A1:A99999 and some rows are colorformatted with red using a different sheeth(table) and vba code.
Please helpme, If I change the numnber 1 by zero.
1. How many consecutive zero 2nd logest?
2. How many consecutive zero from left to rỉght in a row?
Thanks
Okido
The values in column B show how many consecutive values there are in column A, for each group.
I am a newbie at this. I have been trying to follow your instruction on how to do it but I can not seem to do it right. Copy-pasting the udf down the rows does not seem to work for me. Instead of alphabets in column A, I used their corresponding ordinal numbers, such A = 1, B = 2, C = 3. For column B, instead of just the number, it must include the letter it counted, like "3 C's" in B25 cell which is "3" only. I hope you could help me with this. Thank you.
liam,
Copy-pasting the udf down the rows does not seem to work for me.
No, the following steps allows you to enter the UDF as an array formula.
1. Select cell range B2:B25.
2. Type: =CountConsVal(A2:A25)&" "&CHAR(A2:A25+64)&"'S "
3. Press and hold CTRL + SHIFT simultaneously.
4. Press Enter once.
5. Release all keys
Instead of alphabets in column A, I used their corresponding ordinal numbers, such A = 1, B = 2, C = 3. For column B, instead of just the number, it must include the letter it counted, like "3 C's" in B25 cell which is "3" only.
See formula in step 2 above.
Thank you so much for the help. It worked perfectly!
Hi,
The formula does not work when the data is displayed horizontally.
Hi. I am trying to generate a chart that show how many time each number in the array followed the others.
My array is 6 columns by 2600 rows is a random list the first column the numbers go from 1 to 48, second 2-49; 3-50; 4-51; 5-52; 6-53.
thank you for reading this post.
Jeyner Lopez,
Can you explain "how many time each number in the array followed the others." in greater detail?
Hi,
I am trying to find the longest consecutive sequence of different words in a column before one of the words is repeated, then display a list of those words. Hoping someone could please assist with an Excel formula for this. Thank-you.