Edit

Share via

Range.Columns property (Excel)

  • Article

Returns a Range object that represents the columns in the specified range.

Syntax

expression.Columns

expression A variable that represents a Range object.

Remarks

To return a single column, use the Item property or equivalently include an index in parentheses. For example, both Selection.Columns(1) and Selection.Columns.Item(1) return the first column of the selection.

When applied to a Range object that is a multiple-area selection, this property returns columns from only the first area of the range. For example, if the Range object has two areas—A1:B2 and C3:D4—Selection.Columns.Count returns 2, not 4. To use this property on a range that may contain a multiple-area selection, test Areas.Count to determine whether the range contains more than one area. If it does, loop over each area in the range.

The returned range might be outside the specified range. For example, Range("A1:B2").Columns(5).Select returns cells E1:E2.

If a letter is used as an index, it is equivalent to a number. For example, Range("B1:C10").Columns("B").Select returns cells C1:C10, not cells B1:B10. In the example, "B" is equivalent to 2.

Using the Columns property without an object qualifier is equivalent to using ActiveSheet.Columns. For more information, see the Worksheet.Columns property.

Example

This example sets the value of every cell in column one in the range named myRange to 0 (zero).

Range("myRange").Columns(1).Value = 0

This example displays the number of columns in the selection on Sheet1. If more than one area is selected, the example loops through each area.

Public Sub ShowNumberOfColumnsInSheet1Selection
   Worksheets("Sheet1").Activate 
   
   Dim selectedRange As Excel.Range
   Set selectedRange = Selection
   
   Dim areaCount As Long
   areaCount = Selection.Areas.Count 
   
   If areaCount <= 1 Then 
      MsgBox "The selection contains " & _ 
             Selection.Columns.Count & " columns." 
   Else 
      Dim areaIndex As Long
      areaIndex = 1 
      For Each area In Selection.Areas 
         MsgBox "Area " & areaIndex & " of the selection contains " & _ 
                area.Columns.Count & " columns." 
         areaIndex = areaIndex + 1 
      Next 
   End If
End Sub

Support and feedback

Have questions or feedback about Office VBA or this documentation? Please see Office VBA support and feedback for guidance about the ways you can receive support and provide feedback.