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12. Macros and VBA

12.9 If and Select Case

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Sub ClassifyDelivery()
    Dim mins As Double
    mins = Worksheets("Orders").Range("H2").Value

    If mins <= 10 Then
        MsgBox "Excellent (10-minute delivery)"
    ElseIf mins <= 15 Then
        MsgBox "Good"
    Else
        MsgBox "Late - check with store"
    End If
End Sub

Function CityCode(ByVal city As String) As String
    Select Case Trim(city)
        Case "Pune": CityCode = "PUN"
        Case "Nashik": CityCode = "NSK"
        Case "Nagpur": CityCode = "NGP"
        Case "Kolhapur": CityCode = "KOP"
        Case "Solapur": CityCode = "SLP"
        Case "Sambhaji Nagar", "Aurangabad": CityCode = "SBN"
        Case Else: CityCode = "UNK"
    End Select
End Function

Select Case also accepts ranges and comparisons: Case 0 To 98, Case Is >= 499.

Ravindra Bagale's Tip

In VBA, text comparison is case-sensitive by default – "pune" and "Pune" are different! That's why many students' Select Case returns "UNK". Before comparing, use Trim and LCase/UCase, or write Option Compare Text at the top of the module. ElseIf is one word – if you write "Else If", it creates a separate block.

Worked example — if and select case

Why

Priya Deshmukh in Pune and Yuki Tanaka abroad both need a clear, repeatable way to use if and select case on a HomeNest Supplies sheet without breaking totals.

What

If And Select Case is the Excel idea this page teaches. We will walk one tiny example end to end.

How

  1. Open a blank sheet. In A1 type a short label for if and select case.
  2. Enter a small made-up value for Priya Deshmukh using £ where money appears.
  3. Add a second value for Yuki Tanaka using $ so you see mixed currencies stay numeric.
  4. Apply the method from this lesson step by step (menu or formula as shown above).
  5. Check the result still works inside SUM or a simple check cell.

Formula / action

Follow the formula or ribbon steps shown in this lesson (keep values numeric).
Result: The demo cell shows the expected result for HomeNest Supplies's sample row.
Meaning: Once if and select case is correct on one row, copy the same pattern down the column.

Practice tasks (10+)

Try these on a blank sheet. Open a hint only if you are stuck. No quiz — just practice.

1. Rebuild the smallest example of if and select case on a blank sheet for HomeNest Supplies.

Hint: Use only the steps on this page. Keep numbers numeric.

2. Change one input for Aamir Khan and confirm the result updates.

Hint: If the result is stuck, check absolute vs relative references.

3. Repeat the same steps with a £ or € value for Carlos Rivera.

Hint: Formatting must not break SUM.

4. Write the result meaning in one plain sentence next to the cell.

Hint: Imagine explaining it to a new joiners.

5. Add a second row and fill the method down.

Hint: Double-click the fill handle if the pattern is consistent.

6. Break the example on purpose, then fix it using this lesson.

Hint: Common break: text instead of a number.

7. Apply if and select case to a 5-row made-up HomeNest Supplies table.

Hint: Keep column headers clear.

8. Check your answer with a simple total or COUNT.

Hint: A wrong total usually means a format or key mismatch.

9. Swap ₹ and $ on one column and re-check totals.

Hint: Stored values stay the same; only the display changes.

10. List two mistakes beginners make with if and select case.

Hint: Look back at the tip box on this page.

11. Teach the steps out loud in under one minute.

Hint: Why → What → How.

12. Save the sheet as HomeNestSup_practice.xlsx.

Hint: Use a clear file name for class.

Loading practice tasks...

  1. Last used row (Easy): Which row number is the last filled row? The headings are in row 1.
  2. Late orders (Easy): How many rows have Status "Late"?
  3. Total amount (Easy): Add up the Amount column.
  4. Worst delay (Easy): What is the largest number in the Days late column?
  5. Late orders in Pune (Medium): How many orders are Late and in City "Pune"?
  6. Customer for an order (Medium): Find the Customer for Order ID "DL-704".
  7. Money stuck in late orders (Medium): Add up the Amount column for rows where Status is "Late".
  8. Big orders (Medium): How many rows have an Amount of 2000 or more?
  9. Message text (Medium): Build the text "N late orders", where N is the count of Late rows.
  10. Average delay of late orders (Hard): What is the average Days late for rows with Status "Late"? Round to 1 decimal.
  11. Tag for the first row (Hard): For the first row, return "Chase" if Days late is 3 or more, else "OK".
  12. Warning or all clear (Hard): Return "Warning" if any order is 3 or more days late, else "All clear".

See all practice tasks in the Task Hub →

Quick revision cards

Three standalone cards. Each one explains the idea with its own example. Scan the QR to open this lesson.

Revision card 1: What is If And Select Case?
Card 1: What is If And Select Case? · Download PNG
Revision card 2: Tiny example — If And Select Case
Card 2: Tiny example — If And Select Case · Download PNG
Revision card 3: Checklist — If And Select Case
Card 3: Checklist — If And Select Case · Download PNG