Open XLS File Using VBA in Excel

Opening an XLS File in Excel

Excel does not have a direct formula or function that allows you to open another workbook through a cell formula. However, you can utilize VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) to achieve this. Below is a structured approach using VBA to open an XLS file that resides in the same folder as the active workbook.

Steps to Create a VBA Macro

1. Open the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Editor:

   • Press ALT + F11 in Excel to open the VBA editor.

2. Insert a New Module:

   • Right-click on any of the items in the project explorer window.
   • Select Insert > Module.

3. Write the VBA Code:

   • Copy and paste the following code into the newly created module:

Sub OpenXLSFile()
    Dim filePath As String
    Dim fileName As String
    
    ' Define the file name of the XLS file you want to open
    fileName = "YourFileName.xls" ' Change to your actual file name
    
    ' Get the active workbook path
    filePath = ThisWorkbook.Path & "\" & fileName
    
    ' Open the specified XLS file
    Workbooks.Open filePath
End Sub

Explanation of the Code

• Sub OpenXLSFile: This defines a subroutine named OpenXLSFile.
• Dim filePath As String: This declares a variable named filePath to store the path of the file.
• Dim fileName As String: This declares a variable named fileName which will hold the name of the XLS file.
• fileName = "YourFileName.xls": Change "YourFileName.xls" to the actual name of the XLS file you wish to open.
• filePath = ThisWorkbook.Path & "" & fileName: Combines the path of the current workbook with the file name to create the full path.
• Workbooks.Open filePath: This command opens the specified workbook using the file path.

Running the Macro

• After writing the code, you can run the macro by pressing F5, or you can assign it to a button or shape in your Excel sheet for ease of access.

Practical Example

Assume you have an XLS file named DataFile.xls in the same folder as your active workbook. You would change the line:

fileName = "YourFileName.xls"

to:

fileName = "DataFile.xls"

When you run the OpenXLSFile macro, Excel will locate and open DataFile.xls from the same directory.

Conclusion

Excel formulas do not support the task of opening files directly, but through leveraging VBA, users can achieve this with a simple macro. For further exploration into Excel functionalities including advanced VBA techniques, consider utilizing the Enterprise DNA Platform for relevant courses and resources.