Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Quickly Dumping Array Contents.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 31, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
If you have done any programming in VBA, you know the value of using variable arrays to store information. It is not uncommon to start working with large arrays in your macros. For instance, you might declare a 100-element string array, as follows:
Dim MyText(99) As String
As your macro executes, information can be stored and restored in the elements of the array. At some point, you may want to erase all the information in the array. One classic way of doing this is using a For ... Next loop to step through each array element, as follows:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
For J = 0 To 99
MyText(J) = ""
Next J
When the looping is complete, everything has been erased from the array. A quicker way of accomplishing the same task is to use the Erase function, as follows:
Erase MyText
Once executed, this single line sets each element of the MyText array back to an empty string. If the array is numeric, then each element of the array is set to zero.
There is one caveat with using the Erase function: If the array being erased were originally dimensioned at run time using the ReDim statement, then Erase gets rid of the dimensions and you'll need to use ReDim again to set them.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9393) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Quickly Dumping Array Contents.
Program Successfully in Excel! This guide will provide you with all the information you need to automate any task in Excel and save time and effort. Learn how to extend Excel's functionality with VBA to create solutions not possible with the standard features. Includes latest information for Excel 2024 and Microsoft 365. Check out Mastering Excel VBA Programming today!
When you record a macro, make sure that you know how Excel is recording your cell movements. This tip explains the ...
Discover MoreThe VBA programming language provided with Excel allows you to create and modify text files quite easily. Here's how to ...
Discover MoreNeed to figure out an absolute value within your macro code? It's easy to do using the Abs function, described in this tip.
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2025-12-06 19:50:15
Sandeep
Interesting!
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments