Worksheet VBA properties and actions

Working with worksheets is one of the most common actions when writing VBA code.  The following is a reference guide to for finding the right syntax.

Referencing worksheets from the workbook

'Reference a worksheet in another workbook
Workbooks("WorkbookName.xlsx").Worksheets("SheetName").[other properties/actions]

'Reference a worksheet in the same workbook as the VBA code
ThisWorkbook.Worksheets("SheetName").[other properties/actions]

'Reference a worksheet in the active workbook
ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets("SheetName").[other properties/actions]

To use any of the following examples you will need to include the workbook reference, otherwise Excel will assume you want to use the ActiveWorkbook.

Selecting worksheets by name

'Select a worksheet by name
Worksheets("SheetName")

Select worksheets by position from left most worksheet

'Select worksheets by position from the left most worksheet
Worksheets(1) 'the first worksheet 
Worksheets(2) 'the second worksheet

Adding worksheets

'Add a worksheet
Worksheets.Add

'Add 4 worksheets
Worksheets.Add Count:=4

'Add a worksheet infront of a worksheet
Worksheets.Add Before:=Worksheets(3)

'Add a worksheet after a worksheet
Worksheets.Add after:=Worksheets(3)

'Add a worksheet at the start
Worksheets.Add Before:=Worksheets(1)

'Add a worksheet to the end
Worksheets.Add after:=Worksheets(Worksheets.Count)

'Add a new worksheet and assign it to a variable
Dim Ws As Worksheet
Set Ws = Worksheets.Add

'Add a new worksheet and name it
Dim Ws As Worksheet
Set Ws = Worksheets.Add
Ws.Name = "SheetName"

Delete worksheets

'Delete a worksheet
Worksheets("SheetName").Delete

'Delete a worksheet without displaying an error message
Application.DisplayAlerts = False
Worksheets("SheetName").Delete
Application.DisplayAlerts = True

Assign a worksheet to a variable

'Assign a worksheet to a variable
Dim Ws as Worksheet
Set Ws = Worksheets("SheetName")

Rename a worksheet

'Rename a worksheet
Worksheets("OldSheetName").Name = "NewSheetName"

Set the visibility status of a worksheet.

'Visible
Worksheets("SheetName").Visible = xlSheetVisible

'Hidden
Worksheets("SheetName").Visible = xlSheetHidden

'Invisible
Worksheets("SheetName").Visible = xlSheetVeryHidden

For other examples of worksheet visibility check out these posts:

• VBA to hide all sheets except one

Count worksheets

'Count worksheets
Worksheets.Count

Copy/Move worksheets

'Copy worksheets
Worksheets("SheetName").Copy

'Move a worksheet in front of another worksheet
Worksheets("SheetName").Copy Before:=Worksheets("AnotherSheetName")

'Move a worksheet after another worksheet
Worksheets("SheetName").Copy After:=Worksheets("AnotherSheetName")

'Copy multiple worksheets
Worksheets(Array("SheetName", "SheetName2", "SheetName3")).Copy

Protect & Unprotect worksheets

'Protect a worksheet
Worksheets("SheetName").Protect

'Protect a worksheet with a password
Worksheets("SheetName").Protect "password"

'Unprotect a worksheet without a password
Worksheets("SheetName").Unprotect

'Unprotect a worksheet without a password
Worksheets("SheetName").Unprotect "password"

Using the Active worksheet

'Activate a worksheet
Worksheets("SheetName").Activate

'Rename the activesheet
ActiveSheet.Name = "SheetName"

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