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How to remember or save previous cell value of a changed cell in Excel?

Normally, when updating a cell with new content, the previous value will be covered unless undo the operation in Excel. However, if you want to keep the previous value for comparing with the updated one, saving the previous cell value into another cell or into the cell comment will be a good choice. The method in this article will help you to achieve it.

Save previous cell value with VBA code in Excel


Save previous cell value with VBA code in Excel

Supposing you have a table as below screenshot shown. If any cell in column C changed, you want to save its previous value into the corresponding cell of column G or save in comment automatically. Please do as follows to achieve it.

1. In the worksheet contains the value you will save when updating, right-click the sheet tab and select View Code from the right-clicking menu. See screenshot:

2. In the opening Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, copy the below VBA code into the Code window.

The following VBA code helps you saving previous cell value of specified column into another column.

VBA code: Save previous cell value into another column cell

Dim xRg As Range
Dim xChangeRg As Range
Dim xDependRg As Range
Dim xDic As New Dictionary
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    Dim I As Long
    Dim xCell As Range
    Dim xDCell As Range
    Dim xHeader As String
    Dim xCommText As String
    On Error Resume Next
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    xHeader = "Previous value :"
    x = xDic.Keys
    For I = 0 To UBound(xDic.Keys)
        Set xCell = Range(xDic.Keys(I))
        Set xDCell = Cells(xCell.Row, 7)
        xDCell.Value = ""
        xDCell.Value = xDic.Items(I)
    Next
    Application.EnableEvents = True
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
    Dim I, J As Long
    Dim xRgArea As Range
    On Error GoTo Label1
    If Target.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    Set xDependRg = Target.Dependents
    If xDependRg Is Nothing Then GoTo Label1
    If Not xDependRg Is Nothing Then
        Set xDependRg = Intersect(xDependRg, Range("C:C"))
    End If
Label1:
    Set xRg = Intersect(Target, Range("C:C"))
    If (Not xRg Is Nothing) And (Not xDependRg Is Nothing) Then
        Set xChangeRg = Union(xRg, xDependRg)
    ElseIf (xRg Is Nothing) And (Not xDependRg Is Nothing) Then
        Set xChangeRg = xDependRg
    ElseIf (Not xRg Is Nothing) And (xDependRg Is Nothing) Then
        Set xChangeRg = xRg
    Else
        Application.EnableEvents = True
        Exit Sub
    End If
    xDic.RemoveAll
    For I = 1 To xChangeRg.Areas.Count
        Set xRgArea = xChangeRg.Areas(I)
        For J = 1 To xRgArea.Count
            xDic.Add xRgArea(J).Address, xRgArea(J).Formula
        Next
    Next
    Set xChangeRg = Nothing
    Set xRg = Nothing
    Set xDependRg = Nothing
    Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub

For saving the previous cell value in a comment, please apply the below VBA code

VBA code: Save previous cell value in the comment

Dim xRg As Range
Dim xChangeRg As Range
Dim xDependRg As Range
Dim xDic As New Dictionary
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    Dim I As Long
    Dim xCell As Range
    Dim xHeader As String
    Dim xCommText As String
    On Error Resume Next
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    xHeader = "Previous value :"
    For I = 0 To UBound(xDic.Keys)
        Set xCell = Range(xDic.Keys(I))
        If Not xCell.Comment Is Nothing Then xCell.Comment.Delete
        With xCell
            .AddComment
            .Comment.Visible = False
            .Comment.Text xHeader & vbCrLf & xDic.Items(I)
        End With
    Next
    Application.EnableEvents = True
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
    Dim I, J As Long
    Dim xRgArea As Range
    On Error GoTo Label1
    If Target.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    Set xDependRg = Target.Dependents
    If xDependRg Is Nothing Then GoTo Label1
    If Not xDependRg Is Nothing Then
        Set xDependRg = Intersect(xDependRg, Range("C:C"))
    End If
Label1:
    Set xRg = Intersect(Target, Range("C:C"))
    If (Not xRg Is Nothing) And (Not xDependRg Is Nothing) Then
        Set xChangeRg = Union(xRg, xDependRg)
    ElseIf (xRg Is Nothing) And (Not xDependRg Is Nothing) Then
        Set xChangeRg = xDependRg
    ElseIf (Not xRg Is Nothing) And (xDependRg Is Nothing) Then
        Set xChangeRg = xRg
    Else
        Application.EnableEvents = True
        Exit Sub
    End If
    xDic.RemoveAll
    For I = 1 To xChangeRg.Areas.Count
        Set xRgArea = xChangeRg.Areas(I)
        For J = 1 To xRgArea.Count
            xDic.Add xRgArea(J).Address, xRgArea(J).Text
        Next
    Next
    Set xChangeRg = Nothing
    Set xRg = Nothing
    Set xDependRg = Nothing
    Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub

Note: In the code, number 7 indicates the column G you will save the previous cell into, and C:C is the column you will save the previous cell value. Please change them based on your needs.

3. Click Tools > References to open the Refereces – VBAProject dialog box, check the Microsoft Scripting Runtime box, and finally click the OK button. See screenshot:

4. Press the Alt + Q keys to close the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

From now on, when cell value in column C updated, the previous value of the cell will be saved into corresponding cells in column G, or save in comment as below screenshots showed.

Save previous cell values in other cells:

Save previous cell values in comments:

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Comments (20)
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This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Can any body help in this problem
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
saving the previous data when entering manually but not working when data is refreshing from a web site, it is doing nothing
please help
thanks
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi Kamal.
This problem is a bit complicated. After trying various methods, I can't deal with it. I am sorry for that.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
only working when entering data manually
but not working when data is refreshing from a website
please help
thanks
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
cho e hỏi chút là có cách nào để khi tính toán cộng trừ xong thì nó sẽ lưu lại giá trị khi tính toán xong không ạ
ví dụ:
Giá trị ở cột A = cột B + cột C
Khi tính toán xong cột A sẽ lưu giá trị sau khi đã tính toán xong, lần tiếp theo tính toán thì nó cột A sẽ lấy giá trị hiện tại để tính toán tiếp chứ không lấy giá trị ban đầu ạ
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi trung,
The code has been updated. Please give it a try. Thanks for your feedback.
In the following code, the number 5 in this line Set xDCell = Cells(xCell.Row, 5) represents the column E where you will place the previous value. A:A refers to the cells in column A. You need to save the previous values of these cells.

Dim xRg As Range
'Updated by Extendoffice 20220803
Dim xChangeRg As Range
Dim xDependRg As Range
Dim xDic As New Dictionary
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    Dim I As Long
    Dim xCell As Range
    Dim xDCell As Range
    Dim xHeader As String
    Dim xCommText As String
    Dim X
    On Error Resume Next
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    xHeader = "Previous value :"
    X = xDic.Keys
    For I = 0 To UBound(xDic.Keys)
        Set xCell = Range(xDic.Keys(I))
        Set xDCell = Cells(xCell.Row, 5)
        
        xDCell.NumberFormatLocal = xCell.NumberFormatLocal
        xDCell.Value = xDic.Items(I)
        
    Next
    Application.EnableEvents = True
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
    Dim I, J As Long
    Dim xRgArea As Range
    On Error GoTo Label1
    If Target.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    Set xDependRg = Target.Dependents
    If xDependRg Is Nothing Then GoTo Label1
    If Not xDependRg Is Nothing Then
        Set xDependRg = Intersect(xDependRg, Range("A:A"))
    End If
Label1:
    Set xRg = Intersect(Target, Range("A:A"))
    If (Not xRg Is Nothing) And (Not xDependRg Is Nothing) Then
        Set xChangeRg = Union(xRg, xDependRg)
    ElseIf (xRg Is Nothing) And (Not xDependRg Is Nothing) Then
        Set xChangeRg = xDependRg
    ElseIf (Not xRg Is Nothing) And (xDependRg Is Nothing) Then
        Set xChangeRg = xRg
    Else
        Application.EnableEvents = True
        Exit Sub
    End If
    xDic.RemoveAll
    For I = 1 To xChangeRg.Areas.Count
        Set xRgArea = xChangeRg.Areas(I)
        For J = 1 To xRgArea.Count
            xDic.Add xRgArea(J).Address, xRgArea(J).Text ' xRgArea(J).Formula
        Next
    Next
    Set xChangeRg = Nothing
    Set xRg = Nothing
    Set xDependRg = Nothing
    Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
It is good if you type in.Can you help me to work it in when data is entered by using the value of function from DDE(Dynamic Data Exchange) as well?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi,
Sorry I can't solve this problem. I suggest you post the problem to the forum below to get help from other Excel enthusiasts.
https://www.extendoffice.com/forum/kutools-for-excel.html
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Is there a way to repeat this for all changes? I would like the Comments Box to show all of the previous entries if possible.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi Jennie! Did you manage to solve this issue? I am also trying to collect in a comments box all the new entries, but I am having difficulties to adapt the VBA code to this. Thank you!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
If the cell I want to save is a formula, the G cell will only save the formula, and calculate the value. I need to save the value - not the formula. How can I tell the VBA code, that the value changes although the formula is not changed. Best regards Flemming
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
This is for one cell value ,but how do for multiple cell value ,i want 4 cell data store and update like this for example C,D,E,F cell data into G,H,I,J cell respectively ,how can do please help
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, so modified the "VBA code: Save previous cell value into another column cell" code you made, however I have a couple of questions:

1. How does the code know which column has the new values? (which after another update would have its values out in the other column)
2. How can you make this into a Macro? Or make it run automatically when another program calls the xlsm. file?

Thanks
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi !

Great function but how can it be modified to work also with a cell I want to memorize the value containing VLOOKUP ? Unfortunately I couldn't find what to modify to save the value from the VLOOKUP. As it is it doesn't work when VLOOKUP's are in the middle :(

Thanks in advance for your help !
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