Introduction

Comparing values for equality is a common functionality when dealing with worksheets. In this tutorial we're going to review the basic usage of VBA Excel not equal.

The VBA Excel Not Equal

This is an operator in VBA which is also called the negation operator. The operator looks like this (). If the two values are not equal it will return true, and if the two values are not equal it will return false. We get the exact opposite answer from the equal sign (=).

With the equality operator '=' if we have 25 = 25 it will return true.

However, for Not Equal, for example, 25 25, this will return false.

Example using Not Equal in VBA

For example:

Code:

Sub example1()  

Dim i As String  
i = 25 <> 25  

MsgBox i  

End Sub  

In the above code, we are trying to check if 25 is not equal to 25.

Let's see the result on our message box below:

We False as the result because 25 is not equal to 25.

Another example:

Let's change the comparison:

Code:

Sub example2()  

Dim i As String  
i = 25 <> 75  

MsgBox i  

End Sub  

The above code gives us True on the message box because 25 is not equal to 75.

Not equal to rows and columns

Code:

Sub example3()  

Dim i As Integer  
For i = 2 To 9  
If Cells(i, 1) <> Cells(i, 2) Then  
Cells(i, 3).Value = "Different"  
Else  
Cells(i, 3).Value = "Same"  
End If  

Next i  

End Sub  

Code explanation:

• Dim i As Integer - in this part, we have set our integer as i.
• For i = 2 To 9 - this refers to the cell range that we are working on.
• If Cells(i, 1) Cells(i, 2) Then - this will indicate VBA that we are using the if method. And we are using the syntax for equal or not equal to.
• Cells(i, 3).Value = "Different"
Else
Cells(i, 3).Value = "Same"
End If - this defines as the cell range we work on and the values to be written on column 3 if the values are different or same.

And now, see the result below:

As per the result, you can see in column C, it states whether the number on the two ranges are the same or not.

Hiding worksheet using the not equal sign

Below is a sample of an active workbook with three different worksheets opened.

See the below code that can hide the unnecessary worksheets and leave the one we wished to work on.

Code:

Sub example4()  

Dim AB As Worksheet  

For Each AB In ThisWorkbook.Worksheets  

If AB.Name <> "Example2" Then  
AB.Visible = xlSheetVeryHidden  
End If  
Next AB  

End Sub  

Code explanation:

• Dim AB As Worksheet - we have set AB as our workbook's integer.
• For Each AB In ThisWorkbook.Worksheets - this defines as that we need to work on this workbook and the worksheets.
• If AB.Name "Example2" Then
AB.Visible = xlSheetVeryHidden
End If - this will instruct VBA to hide the worksheets except Example2. And this also refers that we are using the if method.

And the result will be:

Unhiding worksheets using the not equal sign

Code:

Sub example5()  

Dim AB As Worksheet  

For Each AB In ThisWorkbook.Worksheets  

If AB.Name <> "Example 2" Then  
AB.Visible = xlSheetVisible  
End If  
Next AB  

End Sub  

The above code will unhide and show all the hidden worksheets on the workbook.

See below result:

Conclusion

The Not Equals operator can be a little confusing at first but it's easy to think about as the opposite of the equality operator. We showed a couple examples of using it including one where we unhid all the worksheets who's name was not equal to "Example 2". There are tons of use cases for this operator so it's a great tool to have in your toolbelt.