Excel VBA Application.GetOpenFilename
There are situations where we need to access the specified file name, which can be possible with VBA coding. To access the file, we need to mention the folder path and file name along with its file extension. To get the file name, many coders will give the VBA input boxVBA Input BoxVBA InputBox is inbuilt function used to get a value from the user, this function has two major arguments in which one is the heading for the input box and another is the question for the input box, input box function can store only the data types input which it variable can hold.read more as the option to enter the file path and file name. But this is not a good option to practice because when you present an input box in front of the user, they do not always remember the file path, backslashes to separate one folder from another folder, file names, and extension of the files. It makes the input the user gives messier. In the end, everything will screw up, even if there is a small space character mistake. The best way is to replace the input box with VBA’s method called “GetOpenFileName.”
This article will show you how to use VBA GetOpenFileName to get the file name without errors.
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What Does GetOpenFilename do in Excel VBA?
VBA “GetOpenFileName” allows the user to select the file from the computer we are working on without opening the file.
With the help of the “GetOpenFileName” method, we can present a dialog box in front of the user to select the file in the required folder. “GetOpenFileName” will copy the file location along with the file name and file extension.
Syntax of GetOpenFilename in Excel VBA
Take a look at the syntax of the “GetOpenFilename” method.
- File Filter: In this argument, we can specify what kind of files to be displayed to select. For example, if you mention “Excel Files,*.xlsx,” it will display only Excel Files saved with the excel extensionExcel ExtensionExcel extensions represent the file format. It helps the user to save different types of excel files in various formats. For instance, .xlsx is used for simple data, and XLSM is used to store the VBA code.read more “xlsx.” It will display no other files. However, if you ignore it, it will display all kinds of files.Filter Index: With this, we restrict the user from selecting the file type. We can specify the number of filters visible under File Filter.Title: It shows the select file dialogue box title.Button Text: This is only for Macintosh.Multi-Select: TRUE if you want to select multiple files or else FALSE. The default value is FALSE.
Example of GetOpenFilename in Excel VBA
Below are examples of VBA Application.GetOpenFilename.
Let us write a code to get the file name and path address.
Step 1: Start the subroutine.
Code:
Sub GetFile_Example1()
End Sub
Step 2: Declare a variable as String.
Sub GetFile_Example1()
Dim FileName As String
End Sub
Step 3: For this variable, we will assign the GetOpenFileName.
Sub GetFile_Example1()
Dim FileName As String
FileName = Application.GetOpenFilename()
End Sub
As of now, we have ignored all the parameters.
Step 4: Now show the result of the variable in the message box.
Sub GetFile_Example1()
Dim FileName As String
FileName = Application.GetOpenFilename()
MsgBox FileName
End Sub
Now run the code through the excel shortcut keyExcel Shortcut KeyAn Excel shortcut is a technique of performing a manual task in a quicker way.read more F5 or manually. It will show the below dialog box to select the file.
We will select any one file and click on “OK.”
When we select the file, we get a message box in VBAMessage Box In VBAVBA MsgBox function is an output function which displays the generalized message provided by the developer. This statement has no arguments and the personalized messages in this function are written under the double quotes while for the values the variable reference is provided.read more like this. It shows the full folder path, selected Excel file name, and file extension.
As seen in the above image, we could see all kinds of files.
Now we will add the first parameter, i.e., File Filter, as “Excel Files,*.xlsx.”
Sub GetFile_Example1()
Dim FileName As String
FileName = Application.GetOpenFilename(FileFilter:=“Excel Files,*.xlsx”)
MsgBox FileName
End Sub
If we run this code using the F5 key or manually. We will see only Excel files with the extension “xlsx.”
Like this, we can use the “VBA Application.GetOpenFileName” method to get the folder path along with the file name and extension.
Recommended Articles
This article has been a guide to VBA GetOpenFilename. Here we learn how to use the VBA Application.GetOpenFileName method to select the files from the folders along with examples. Below are some useful Excel articles related to VBA: –
- VBA FileCopyVBA FileDialogOperators in VBACall Subroutine in VBA
