How can we perform common set operations (union, intersection, minus) in MS Excel?

Question

For example, I have an xls where :

• column A has list of items with property A
• column B has list of items with property B

I need the fol

Answer 1

Well, Microsoft Excel does not handle built-in set operations. But you can emulate then by VBA using MATCH function and error handling.

Here is the code that worked for me (I presume that you have heading on the first line):

Sub set_operations()
    Dim i, j, rangeA, rangeB, rowC, rowD, rowE, rowF As Long
    Dim test1, test2 As Boolean

    rangeA = ActiveSheet.Range("A" & CStr(ActiveSheet.Rows.Count)).End(xlUp).Row()
    rangeB = ActiveSheet.Range("B" & CStr(ActiveSheet.Rows.Count)).End(xlUp).Row()
    rowC = 2
    rowD = 2
    rowE = 2
    rowF = 2
    test1 = False
    test2 = False
    test2 = False

    'A union B
    On Error GoTo errHandler1
    For i = 2 To rangeA
        If Application.Match(ActiveSheet.Cells(i, 1), ActiveSheet.Range("C:C"), 0) > 0 Then
            If test1 = True Then
                ActiveSheet.Cells(rowC, 3) = ActiveSheet.Cells(i, 1)
                rowC = rowC + 1
            End If
        End If
        test1 = False
    Next i
    For j = 2 To rangeB
        If Application.Match(ActiveSheet.Cells(j, 2), ActiveSheet.Range("C:C"), 0) > 0 Then
            If test1 = True Then
                ActiveSheet.Cells(rowC, 3) = ActiveSheet.Cells(j, 2)
                rowC = rowC + 1
            End If
        End If
        test1 = False
    Next j

    'A intersection B
    For i = 2 To rangeA
        On Error GoTo errHandler2
        If Application.Match(ActiveSheet.Cells(i, 1), ActiveSheet.Range("B:B"), 0) > 0 Then
            On Error GoTo errHandler1
            If Application.Match(ActiveSheet.Cells(i, 1), ActiveSheet.Range("D:D"), 0) > 0 Then
                If test1 = True And test2 = False Then
                    ActiveSheet.Cells(rowD, 4) = ActiveSheet.Cells(i, 1)
                    rowD = rowD + 1
                End If
            End If
        End If
        test1 = False
        test2 = False
    Next i

    'A minus B
    For i = 2 To rangeA
        On Error GoTo errHandler2
        If Application.Match(ActiveSheet.Cells(i, 1), ActiveSheet.Range("B:B"), 0) > 0 Then
            On Error GoTo errHandler1
            If Application.Match(ActiveSheet.Cells(i, 1), ActiveSheet.Range("E:E"), 0) > 0 Then
                If test1 = True And test2 = True Then
                    ActiveSheet.Cells(rowE, 5) = ActiveSheet.Cells(i, 1)
                    rowE = rowE + 1
                End If
            End If
        End If
        test1 = False
        test2 = False
    Next i

    'B minus A
    For i = 2 To rangeB
        On Error GoTo errHandler2
        If Application.Match(ActiveSheet.Cells(i, 2), ActiveSheet.Range("A:A"), 0) > 0 Then
            On Error GoTo errHandler1
            If Application.Match(ActiveSheet.Cells(i, 2), ActiveSheet.Range("F:F"), 0) > 0 Then
                If test1 = True And test2 = True Then
                    ActiveSheet.Cells(rowF, 6) = ActiveSheet.Cells(i, 2)
                    rowF = rowF + 1
                End If
            End If
        End If
        test1 = False
        test2 = False
    Next i


errHandler1:
    test1 = True
    Resume Next

errHandler2:
    test2 = True
    Resume Next
End Sub