Category: [Excel]  Demo Available 

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Return Excel Color Index Number or Color as Text

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This UDF will return the cells fill color as either an Index number (default) or it's color name as text

The Code

Function CellColor(rCell As Range, Optional ColorName As Boolean)

Dim strColor As String, iIndexNum As Integer



'Written by Dave Hawley of OzGrid.com

Select Case rCell.Interior.ColorIndex

   Case 1

    strColor = "Black"

    iIndexNum = 1

   Case 53

    strColor = "Brown"

    iIndexNum = 53

   Case 52

    strColor = "Olive Green"

    iIndexNum = 52

   Case 51

    strColor = "Dark Green"

    iIndexNum = 51

   Case 49

    strColor = "Dark Teal"

    iIndexNum = 49

   Case 11

    strColor = "Dark Blue"

    iIndexNum = 11

   Case 55

    strColor = "Indigo"

    iIndexNum = 55

   Case 56

    strColor = "Gray-80%"

    iIndexNum = 56

   Case 9

    strColor = "Dark Red"

    iIndexNum = 9

   Case 46

    strColor = "Orange"

    iIndexNum = 46

   Case 12

    strColor = "Dark Yellow"

    iIndexNum = 12

   Case 10

    strColor = "Green"

    iIndexNum = 10

   Case 14

    strColor = "Teal"

    iIndexNum = 14

   Case 5

    strColor = "Blue"

    iIndexNum = 5

   Case 47

    strColor = "Blue-Gray"

    iIndexNum = 47

   Case 16

    strColor = "Gray-50%"

    iIndexNum = 16

   Case 3

    strColor = "Red"

    iIndexNum = 3

   Case 45

    strColor = "Light Orange"

    iIndexNum = 45

   Case 43

    strColor = "Lime"

    iIndexNum = 43

   Case 50

    strColor = "Sea Green"

    iIndexNum = 50

   Case 42

    strColor = "Aqua"

    iIndexNum = 42

   Case 41

    strColor = "Light Blue"

    iIndexNum = 41

   Case 13

    strColor = "Violet"

    iIndexNum = 13

   Case 48

    strColor = "Gray-40%"

    iIndexNum = 48

   Case 7

    strColor = "Pink"

    iIndexNum = 7

   Case 44

    strColor = "Gold"

    iIndexNum = 44

   Case 6

    strColor = "Yellow"

    iIndexNum = 6

   Case 4

    strColor = "Bright Green"

    iIndexNum = 4

   Case 8

    strColor = "Turqoise"

    iIndexNum = 8

   Case 33

    strColor = "Sky Blue"

    iIndexNum = 33

   Case 54

    strColor = "Plum"

    iIndexNum = 54

   Case 15

    strColor = "Gray-25%"

    iIndexNum = 15

   Case 38

    strColor = "Rose"

    iIndexNum = 38

   Case 40

    strColor = "Tan"

    iIndexNum = 40

   Case 36

    strColor = "Light Yellow"

    iIndexNum = 36

   Case 35

    strColor = "Light Green"

    iIndexNum = 35

   Case 34

    strColor = "Light Turqoise"

    iIndexNum = 34

   Case 37

    strColor = "Pale Blue"

    iIndexNum = 37

   Case 39

    strColor = "Lavendar"

    iIndexNum = 39

   Case 2

    strColor = "White"

    iIndexNum = 2

  Case Else

    strColor = "Custom color or no fill"

End Select



	If ColorName = True Or _

		strColor = "Custom color or no fill" Then

		CellColor = strColor

	Else

		CellColor = iIndexNum

	End If



End Function

To use this UDF push Alt+F11 and go Insert>Module and paste in the code. Push Alt+Q and save. The Function will appear under "User Defined" in the Paste Function dialog box (Shift+F3). Use the Function in any cell as shown below. 

=CellColor(A1,TRUE)
Where cell A1 has a fill color of dark red the result would be "Dark Red" 

=CellColor(A1,FALSE) OR CellColor(A1)
Where cell A1 has a fill color of dark red the result would be 9

 

See also:

Excel: Generate Unique Random Numbers

Get Range Address of a Excel Named Range

Excel: Remove Duplicates in Excel

Restricting Excel VBA Loops

 

See also Index to Excel VBA Code and Index to Excel Freebies and Lesson 1 - Excel Fundamentals and Index to how to… providing a range of solutions.

 

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