title: Why do Excel sheets have to be activated before selection?
body: <p>This code</p>
  
  <pre><code>Sheets(1).Activate
  Sheets(2).Range("A1").Select
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>will fail in VBA because you can only use <code>Select</code> on an object which is <code>Active</code>. I understand this is the case.</p>
  
  <p>What element of the Excel datamodel causes this to be the case? I would think there is an implicit intent from a user/coder to <code>Activate</code> any object immediately prior to using <code>Select</code> - I do not understand why VBA would not make this assumption, and, I am assuming there is a reason this distinction exists.</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>What part of Excel's datamodel prevents selection without activation?</li>
  </ul>