How Do I Put Double Quotes in a String in Vba?

I want to insert an if statement in a cell through vba which includes double quotes.

Here is my code:

Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("A1").Value = "=IF(Sheet1!B1=0,"",Sheet1!B1)"

Due to double quotes I am having issues with inserting the string. How do I handle double quotes?

2

5 Answers

I find the easiest way is to double up on the quotes to handle a quote.

Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("A1").Formula = "IF(Sheet1!A1=0,"""",Sheet1!A1)" 

Some people like to use CHR(34)*:

Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("A1").Formula = "IF(Sheet1!A1=0," & CHR(34) & CHR(34) & ",Sheet1!A1)" 

*Note: CHAR() is used as an Excel cell formula, e.g. writing "=CHAR(34)" in a cell, but for VBA code you use the CHR() function.

4

Another work-around is to construct a string with a temporary substitute character. Then you can use REPLACE to change each temp character to the double quote. I use tilde as the temporary substitute character.

Here is an example from a project I have been working on. This is a little utility routine to repair a very complicated formula if/when the cell gets stepped on accidentally. It is a difficult formula to enter into a cell, but this little utility fixes it instantly.

Sub RepairFormula()
Dim FormulaString As String

FormulaString = "=MID(CELL(~filename~,$A$1),FIND(~[~,CELL(~filename~,$A$1))+1,FIND(~]~, CELL(~filename~,$A$1))-FIND(~[~,CELL(~filename~,$A$1))-1)"
FormulaString = Replace(FormulaString, Chr(126), Chr(34)) 'this replaces every instance of the tilde with a double quote.
Range("WorkbookFileName").Formula = FormulaString

This is really just a simple programming trick, but it makes entering the formula in your VBA code pretty easy.

All double quotes inside double quotes which suround the string must be changed doubled. As example I had one of json file strings : "delivery": "Standard", In Vba Editor I changed it into """delivery"": ""Standard""," and everythig works correctly. If you have to insert a lot of similar strings, my proposal first, insert them all between "" , then with VBA editor replace " inside into "". If you will do mistake, VBA editor shows this line in red and you will correct this error.

I have written a small routine which copies formula from a cell to clipboard which one can easily paste in Visual Basic Editor.

    Public Sub CopyExcelFormulaInVBAFormat()
        Dim strFormula As String
        Dim objDataObj As Object

        '\Check that single cell is selected!
       If Selection.Cells.Count > 1 Then
            MsgBox "Select single cell only!", vbCritical
            Exit Sub
        End If

        'Check if we are not on a blank cell!
       If Len(ActiveCell.Formula) = 0 Then
            MsgBox "No Formula To Copy!", vbCritical
            Exit Sub
        End If

        'Add quotes as required in VBE
       strFormula = Chr(34) & Replace(ActiveCell.Formula, Chr(34), Chr(34) & Chr(34)) & Chr(34)

        'This is ClsID of MSFORMS Data Object
       Set objDataObj = CreateObject("New:{1C3B4210-F441-11CE-B9EA-00AA006B1A69}")
        objDataObj.SetText strFormula, 1
        objDataObj.PutInClipboard
        MsgBox "VBA Format formula copied to Clipboard!", vbInformation

        Set objDataObj = Nothing

    End Sub

It is originally posted on Chandoo.org forums' Vault Section.

In case the comment by gicalle ever dies:

I prefer creating a global variable:

Public Const vbDoubleQuote As String = """" 'represents 1 double quote (")
Public Const vbSingleQuote As String = "'" 'represents 1 single quote (') 

and using it like so:

Shell "explorer.exe " & vbDoubleQuote & sPath & vbDoubleQuote, vbNormalFocus

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Marcus Vance

Marcus Vance

Cybersecurity & Digital Privacy Researcher

Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.

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