Else Without If Error VBA in Excel (3 Reasons with Solutions)

Not only in VBA, the If-Else-if condition is a widely popular conditional tool to investigate the conditions and then carry out tasks. This effective command lets use to give instructions to the code more efficiently. Now while doing so, it can sometimes create errors which can lead to faulty output or disruption to the workflow. In this article we are going to discuss the common reasons for the Else without if Error in Excel VBA and how we can resolve them. Below we presented a sample reason why that code did not run according to the requirements.

One of the many reasons why the Else Without If error occurs is because of the missing If statement in the code where the If Else If condition is used. Shown in the below video.

If ElseIf Syntax Structure

The If-ElseIf Syntax structure actually allows users to check certain conditions serially, and carry out tasks accordingly. Follow the structure given below,

If [Conditional Logic1] Then

ElseIf [Conditional Logic2] Then

ElseIf [Conditional Logic3] Then

Else

‘ Code block to be executed if none of the conditions are true

End If

If any of the conditions come true, the code will execute the task assigned for that condition and exit the code. Here we get a thorough idea of how the If-Elseif code actually works.

Else Without If Error in Excel VBA: 3 Separate Solutions

3 separate Examples where this Else Without If occurs are given below. User needs to understand their issue and take action accordingly. In order to avoid any kind of compatibility issues, try to use the Microsoft 365 edition.

Solution 1: Missing IF Statement

One of the reasons why you might see an Else if without an If error, is that there might be an If statement missing from the If Else statement. Like the video shown below.

Sub Else_Without_iF_Missing_iF()
Input_data = 10
MsgBox "If statement Present and Code working perfectly"
ElseIf Input_data = 5 Then
MsgBox "ElseIf statement Present and Code working perfectly"
End If
End Sub

• For this, you just need to review the whole structure of your If function.
• Then if there is any If the statement is missing, put it back together according to the logic.

Then the new resolved code is given below,

Sub Else_Without_iF_Missing_iF()
Input_data = 10
If Input_data > 5 Then
MsgBox "If statement Present and Code working perfectly"
ElseIf Input_data = 5 Then
MsgBox "ElseIf statement Present and Code working perfectly"
End If
End Sub

• Then we can see that the code is now running without any issues.

Solution 2: Part of Else Inside of Loop and If Statement Outside

Secondly, you can see that Else without an if the error is because the part of Else is inside another loop and the If statement is placed outside. As shown in the video below,

Sub Else_Without_iF_Elseif_Inside_loop()
Input_data = 1
If Input_data > 5 Then
MsgBox "If statement Present and Code working perfectly"
For i = 0 To 2
Debug.Print i
ElseIf Input_data = 5 Then
Next i
MsgBox "ElseIf statement Present and Code working perfectly"
End If
End Sub

• We can see that the code is now running without any errors.

Read More: Excel VBA Nested If Then Else in a For Next Loop

Solution 3: No Indentation in Code

Another way you might see that else without an if the error is because you might place faulty indentation for the IF Else If logic statement. The code requires proper indentation after the If statement if the code continues right after the Then part of the IF statement. Then the code will show an error, else without if error. In the image shown below,  

Sub Else_Without_iF_Missing_iF()
Input_data = 10
If Input_data > 5 Then MsgBox "If statement Present and Code working perfectly"
ElseIf Input_data = 5 Then
MsgBox "ElseIf statement Present and Code working perfectly"
End If
End Sub

• Now we can edit the code to have an indentation. This indentation is basically a new line right after the then part of the code.
• The corrected code is given below,

Sub Else_Without_iF_Missing_iF()
Input_data = 10
If Input_data > 5 Then MsgBox "If statement Present and Code working perfectly"
ElseIf Input_data = 5 Then
MsgBox "ElseIf statement Present and Code working perfectly"
End If
End Sub

• After pasting this code, we can see that the code is now running without any error.

Thing to Remember

• Properly structure your If-Else statements: Ensure that each Else statement is accompanied by a corresponding If statement. Check that your If and Else statements are correctly nested and aligned.
• Double-check your code indentation: Maintain consistent indentation to visually identify the logical flow of your code. Indent the Else statement at the same level as its corresponding If statement.
• Review your ElseIf usage: Make sure you use the ElseIf statement only when there is a preceding If statement. If you intend to have a standalone Else statement, use Else instead.
• Test your code thoroughly: Before running your VBA code, perform extensive testing to identify any errors or issues, including the “Else without If” error. Test your code with different scenarios and data to ensure it behaves as expected.
• Use proper coding practices: Follow good coding practices, such as using meaningful variable names, adding comments to clarify the logic, and organizing your code structure for better readability.
• Debugging and error handling: Implement error handling techniques, such as using the VBA Debugger or adding error-handling routines, to catch and handle errors effectively, including the “Else without If” error.

Frequently Asked Question

1. What does else without if error mean?

In Excel, else-if in the code must be preceded by the If statement. Without an IF statement, the conditional logic of Else-if falls apart. But without elseif, If statement can independently carry out the task. So

2. What is the rule of if-else?

In Excel VBA, the formula If- Else is actually a logical command using which you can check various conditions and then carry out different tasks. With the help of If-Elseif, users can actually check out conditions multiple times and then carry out tasks.

3. Can I have two else if?

Yes, you can have two else if as long as the logical sequence is fine. Although too many else if might cause the code to be bigger. So use them in a logical coherent way.

Download Practice Workbook

Download the following workbook to practice by yourself.

Conclusion

The issue of getting else without if an error in Excel VBA is discussed here with 4 possible reasons. Each of the reasons is given here with examples and solutions. The user needs to understand what type of issue they are actually facing right now and then seek a solution according to that. The most common issue that people face is the missing IF statement.

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