Question

I’ve run accross this problem many times and still haven’t found the solution or why this won’t work. I want to use cells method to enter a formula through a column and so I write this:(just an example)

    With ws
        iEndCol = .cells(4650,1).End(Xlup).Column
        For i = 2 To iEndCol
            .Cells(i, 2) = "=VLOOKUP([RC-1],Somesheet!someTable,10,FALSE)"
        Next
    End With

when this dosen’t work (Method error) I try something like this:

    Cells(i,2).Select
    Do While IsEmpty(ActiveCell.Offset(0, -1)) = False
        ActiveCell.Formula = "=VLOOKUP([RC-1],Somesheet!someTable,10,FALSE))"
        ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Select
    Loop

or instead of .Formula, I try .FormulaR1C1, .Formulalocal etc. and this doesn’t work either. Then this is what works:

    Range("B2").Select
        Do Until IsEmpty(ActiveCell.Offset(0, 5)) And IsEmpty(ActiveCell.Offset(0, 6))
            If IsEmpty(ActiveCell) = False Then
                ActiveCell.Offset(0, 1).Formula = "=VLOOKUP(B2,Somesheet!someTable,10,FALSE)"
            End If
            ActiveCell.Offset(1, 0).Select
        Loop

What am I not understanding on using Cells to enter formulas?

Answer 1

Enter a formula using Excel interface (not your code).

Now go to the code editor, press Ctrl+G and type: ? activecell.FormulaR1C1

The result, =VLOOKUP(RC[-1],Somesheet!sometable,10,FALSE), will tell you what you are doing wrong. You are not providing correct RC syntax.

Having that said, you should always ensure your formula syntax matches the property you have picked to set that formula. Use A1 notation for .Formula, and RC notation for FormulaR1C1. And don’t use .Value to set a formula.