Copying a Worksheet in Excel VBA

Copying a Worksheet

The following VBA procedure creates a copy of an existing worksheet in the same workbook:

Sub CopySheet()
    ThisWorkbook.Activate
    Worksheets("Sheet2").Copy After:=Worksheets("Sheet2")
    ActiveSheet.Name = "Sheet2copy"
End Sub

Explanation:

• Ensure the correct workbook is active
• Activate

This makes sure that the code targets the workbook containing the macro, especially important when multiple workbooks are open.

Copy a specific worksheet

Worksheets(« Sheet2 »).Copy After:=Worksheets(« Sheet2 »)

1. • The Copy method is used to duplicate the worksheet named « Sheet2 ».
   • The After:= parameter specifies that the copy should be placed immediately after the original sheet within the same workbook.
   • The copied sheet becomes the active sheet once created.

Rename the copied worksheet

Name = « Sheet2copy« 

• • After the copy is made and activated, it’s renamed to « Sheet2copy ».

About the Copy Method Parameters:

• After:=Worksheets(« Sheet2 »)
  This is an example of a named parameter, where the parameter name (After) is explicitly stated, followed by := (colon-equals) and the value.
• Alternatively, you can use Before:=… to insert the copied sheet before a specific sheet.
• If neither After nor Before is specified, Excel creates the copied sheet in a new workbook instead of the current one.

Why Use Named Parameters?

• They make your code clearer by explicitly stating which argument you are assigning.
• You don’t have to specify all parameters—just the ones relevant to your case.
• They reduce confusion, especially when multiple optional parameters are involved.

Important Note:

If you try to run the macro again without deleting or renaming the copied sheet, you’ll get a runtime error because worksheet names must be unique within the same workbook.