VBA Code Snippets

Sorting an array alphabetically with VBA

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At some point in your VBA life it will be necessary to display or re-order an array/list alphabetically (or reverse alphabetically).  Unfortunately, VBA doesn’t have a function for sorting arrays automatically, but with a little bit of coding we can create a reusable function which would achieve something similar.

Setting up the example

This first VBA code is to set the scene.  It creates an array, calls the function to sort the array and then outputs the sorted array.  You only need this first piece of code if you are following it through as an example.

Sub RunTheSortMacro()

Dim i As Long
Dim myArray As Variant

'Set the array
myArray = Array("p", "A", "G", 3, "l", "6", 10, "K", 7)

'myArray variable set to the result of SortArrayAtoZ function
myArray = SortArrayAtoZ(myArray)

'Output the Array through a message box
For i = LBound(myArray) To UBound(myArray)
    MsgBox myArray(i)
Next i

End Sub

Sort the array A-Z

I like to use a Function, rather than a Sub for sorting an array.  The function is a reusable piece of code, it can form part of your ‘Core’ module, which you can copy into any VBA project.  This function takes an array as its variable and outputs the same array sorted in alphabetical order.

Function SortArrayAtoZ(myArray As Variant)

Dim i As Long
Dim j As Long
Dim Temp

'Sort the Array A-Z
For i = LBound(myArray) To UBound(myArray) - 1
    For j = i + 1 To UBound(myArray)
        If UCase(myArray(i)) > UCase(myArray(j)) Then
            Temp = myArray(j)
            myArray(j) = myArray(i)
            myArray(i) = Temp
        End If
    Next j
Next i

SortArrayAtoZ = myArray

End Function

Sort the array Z-A

The reverse function to sort the array Z-A

Function SortArrayZtoA(myArray As Variant)

Dim i As Long
Dim j As Long
Dim Temp

'Sort the Array Z-A
For i = LBound(myArray) To UBound(myArray) - 1
    For j = i + 1 To UBound(myArray)
        If UCase(myArray(i)) < UCase(myArray(j)) Then
            Temp = myArray(j)
            myArray(j) = myArray(i)
            myArray(i) = Temp
        End If
    Next j
Next i

SortArrayZtoA = myArray

End Function

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5 thoughts on “Sorting an array alphabetically with VBA”

  2. For fast QuickSort sorting of large 1 or 2-dimensional arrays one can use WSTools from https://wizardsoft.nl/products/wstools .

    ArraySort(Array.a, SortColumn = 0, Order = SORT_Ascending, Case = SORT_IgnoreCase)
    Const SORT_Ascending = 0, SORT_Decending = 1
    Const SORT_Case = 0, SORT_IgnoreCase = 1
    Sorts Array by SortColumn with Order and Case sensitivity. Uses the QuickSort algorithm.

    Reply

  3. An alternative, especial for a 2d array, would be to write the array to a worksheet, apply the data menu sort function and read back the sorted array. For a 3+d array, we’re back to a modification of your method.

    Reply

  4. My version of the function:

    Function SortArray(myArray As Variant, Optional SortOrder As Integer = 1) As Variant
    Dim i As Long
    Dim j As Long
    Dim TempVal As Variant
    Dim TempArr As Variant
    On Error GoTo ErrHdl
    TempArr = myArray
    For i = LBound(TempArr) To UBound(TempArr) – 1
    For j = i + 1 To UBound(TempArr)
    If StrComp(TempArr(i), TempArr(j), vbBinaryCompare) = IIf(SortOrder = 1, 1, -1) Then
    TempVal = TempArr(j)
    TempArr(j) = TempArr(i)
    TempArr(i) = TempVal
    End If
    Next j
    Next i
    SortArray = TempArr
    Exit Function
    ErrHdl:
    SorrtArray = myArray

    Reply

  5. Following up/clarifying Deepak’s code, you will generally want to use the StrComp function in the If-statement instead of the “>” function. The “>” only works with single character strings as in the example. On the other hand, the StrComp is a native VBA command that compares entire strings alphabetically, character by character (and can be toggled between case specific and case independent).

    For this example, the sort for longer strings would be:

    If StrComp(myArray(i)), myArray(j)) = 1 Then

    Note also how Deepak has the comparison set as a parameter so the same function can be used for AtoZ (=1) or ZtoA(=-1)
    See this page for more on StrComp – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/vba/language/reference/user-interface-help/strcomp-function)

    Reply

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