Re the GetMD5Hash function in the root message.
I have an improved function wwGetMD5Hash below:

The problem with GetMD5Hash is I get the same hash if the cell value is
"aaa" or "ccc", but it will be different if it is "aaaa". (see below for
a table of sample hashes).
The problem centers around VarPtr(vValue). I get better results with
StrPtr(sValue).

When I replace the following from GetMD5Hash:
vValue = oCell.Value
lResult = CryptHashData(hHash, VarPtr(vValue), LenB(vValue), 0&)

With:
Dim sValue as String
...
If Not IsEmpty(oCell.Value) Then
sValue = CStr(oCell.Value)
'rasey o40611
lResult = CryptHashData(hHash, StrPtr(sValue),
LenB(sValue), 0&) 'rasey 040611

I get a hash that that changes on the content of the cells.

I think VarPtr(vValue) must be returning a pointer to memory that "wraps"
the contents of the variant, not the contents of the variant itself.

When I use StrPtr(sValue), I must be getting a pointer to the contents of
the string.
The wwGetMD5Hash used below, not only changes the hash on changes in the
contents of a cell, but it also does not ignore empty cells.

Thanks to Stephen Bullen for the GetMD5Hash. I'd never gotten it myself.

Stephen M. Rasey
Houston, TX

\' wwGetMD5Hash(range) - return a 16 character hash string unique to the
contents of a many cell range.
' Afer GetMD5Hash (written by Stephen Bullen
' Newsgroups: microsoft.public.Excel.programming Date:
2004-02-05 12:50:20 PST )
' modified by Stephen Rasey (WiserWays) 040611
' Changes: Use StrPtr and coerse all cell values to strings
' Empty cells are not ignored, but the cell number in the
range
' is used to generate more data for the hash

Option Explicit

Declare Function CryptAcquireContext Lib "advapi32" Alias
"CryptAcquireContextA" (ByRef hProv As Long, ByVal sContainer As String, _
ByVal sProvider As String, ByVal lProvType As Long, ByVal lFlags As
Long) As Long

Declare Function CryptCreateHash Lib "advapi32" (ByVal hProv As Long, ByVal
lALG_ID As Long, _
ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lFlags As
Long, ByRef hHash As Long) As Long

Declare Function CryptHashData Lib "advapi32" (ByVal hHash As Long, ByVal
lDataPtr As Long, _
ByVal lLen As Long, ByVal
lFlags As Long) As Long

Declare Function CryptGetHashParam Lib "advapi32" (ByVal hHash As Long,
ByVal lParam As Long, _
ByVal sBuffer As String,
_
ByRef lLen As Long, ByVal
lFlags As Long) As Long

Declare Function CryptDestroyHash Lib "advapi32" (ByVal hHash As Long) As
Long

Declare Function CryptReleaseContext Lib "advapi32" (ByVal hProv As Long,
ByVal lFlags As Long) As Long

Const MS_DEF_PROV = "Microsoft Base Cryptographic Provider v1.0"
Const PROV_RSA_FULL As Long = 1
Const CRYPT_NEWKEYSET As Long = 8
Const CALG_MD5 As Long = 32771
Const HP_HASHVAL As Long = 2


Public Function wwGetMD5Hash(rngData As Range) As String

Dim hProv As Long
Dim hHash As Long
Dim lLen As Long
Dim oCell As Range
Dim baData() As Byte
Dim sBuffer As String
Dim vValue As String
Dim vU2 As Variant
Dim lResult As Long
Dim lcellCounter As Long

'Get/create a cryptography context
CryptAcquireContext hProv, vbNullString, MS_DEF_PROV, PROV_RSA_FULL, 0
If hProv = 0 Then
CryptAcquireContext hProv, vbNullString, MS_DEF_PROV, PROV_RSA_FULL,
CRYPT_NEWKEYSET
End If

'If we got one...
If hProv < 0 Then

'Create an MD5 Hash
CryptCreateHash hProv, CALG_MD5, 0, 0, hHash

'If that was OK...
If hHash < 0 Then

'Fill it with the contents of the range
lcellCounter = 0
For Each oCell In rngData.Cells
lcellCounter = lcellCounter + 1
If Not IsEmpty(oCell.Value) Then
vValue = CStr(oCell.Value)
'rasey o40611
Else
' must use a value for the empty cell not at all
likely to be used be accident.
vValue = "^ " & CStr(lcellCounter) 'rasey 040611
End If
'rasey 040611
lResult = CryptHashData(hHash, StrPtr(vValue), LenB(vValue),
0&) 'rasey 040611
Next

'Create a buffer to store the hash value
sBuffer = Space(30) 'rasey 040608 (Bullen used
30)
lLen = 30 'rasey 040608

'Get the hash value
CryptGetHashParam hHash, HP_HASHVAL, sBuffer, lLen, 0

'Return the hash value
wwGetMD5Hash = Left$(sBuffer, lLen)

'Tidy up
CryptDestroyHash hHash
End If

'Tidy up
CryptReleaseContext hProv, 0
End If

End Function

Example Data (1x3 range, Hash)
| | |=wwgetmd5hash(A1:C1)
aaa | | |íÓ}"o¼µ&ßÚ×óH''
aab | | |gä8Ä
svFõUª^P
aaa | | |íÓ}"o¼µ&ßÚ×óH''
aaaa | | |¤ù/Òë�¾¤Ï©ÅM7Àvå
aaaaa | | |ä?ÅeÓ?"�®K.?"("ê
aaa | | |íÓ}"o¼µ&ßÚ×óH''
aaa |10 | |~!øÖ/©·ù¤&ñ,çò
aaa |20 | |ôû³ÛEz¨mk\?UX°
aaa | | |20f±Lf(¶Çop'üj¤¤
aab | | |gä8Ä
svFõUª^P
baa | | |àK?/*)<O&´"ÚÑ
aaa | | |íÓ}"o¼µ&ßÚ×óH''
AAA | | |ù¹õéeùl^öï¯ÓcÁz'
|AAA | |Ónõ<SsÌ.Wë£'ªs
| |AAA |É-¿'È~vU©ÌáÌ

"Stephen Rasey" wrote in message
...
I noticed that the hash value does not change if I change a cell value
from
1 to 2 or 200 to 250. It does change if I change it form 1 to 10. or 200
to
2000.

The MD5 Hash seems to be sensitive to the number of characters, not the
actual value.

I am going to research some of the other hashing methods. Does anyone
have some suggestions to try?

Thanks in advance.

Stephen Rasey

Houston