VBA check if file exists in sub folders - vba

Question

I am relatively amateur at VBA and am using a code provided by tech on the net.
I have an Excel document with files names in column B (not always one file type) which I am trying to ensure I have copies and the correct revision in a designated folder.
Currently, the code works perfectly for a specific folder location, but the files referenced in the Excel spreadsheet exist in various other folders and thus I need to create a code that can search a main folder and loop through the various sub-folders.
See current code below for reference.
Sub CheckIfFileExists()
Dim LRow As Integer
Dim LPath As String
Dim LExtension As String
Dim LContinue As Boolean
'Initialize variables
LContinue = True
LRow = 8
LPath = "K:\location\main folder\sub folder \sub folder"
LExtension = ".pdf"
'Loop through all column B values until a blank cell is found
While LContinue
'Found a blank cell, do not continue
If Len(Range("B" & CStr(LRow)).Value) = 0 Then
LContinue = True
'Check if file exists for document title
Else
'Place "No" in column E if the file does NOT exist
If Len(Dir(LPath & Range("B" & CStr(LRow)).Value & LExtension)) = 0 Then
Range("E" & CStr(LRow)).Value = "No"
'Place "Yes" in column E if the file does exist
Else
Range("E" & CStr(LRow)).Value = "Yes"
End If
End If
LRow = LRow + 1
Wend
End Sub
There are over 1000 documents, so simple windows searches is not ideal, and I have reviewed several previous questions and cannot find an answer that helps.

Answer 1

Okay, my answer is going to revolve around 2 comments from your question. This will serve only as a basis for you to improve upon and adapt to how you need it.
N.B SKIP TO THE BOTTOM OF MY ANSWER TO SEE THE FULL WORKING CODE
The first comment is:
I need to create a code that can search a main folder and loop through the various sub-folders.
The code i will explain below will take a MAIN FOLDER, that you will need to specify, and then it will loop through ALL subfolders of the parent directoy. So you will not need to worry about specific sub folders. As long as you know the name of the file you want to access, the code will find it regardless.
The second is a line of your code:
LPath = "K:\location\main folder\sub folder \sub folder"
This line of code will form part of a UDF (User Defined Function) that i will display below.
Step 1
Re-label LPath to be the what is called the "Host Folder". This is the MAIN FOLDER.
For Example: Host Folder = "K:\User\My Documents\" (Note the backslash at the end is needed)
Step 2
Set a reference to Microsoft Scripting Runtime in 2 places:
i) In the code
Set FileSystem = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
ii) In the VBA Editor. (To a basic google search on how to find the reference library in the VBA editor)
Step 3
This is the main element, this is a sub routine that will find the file no matter where it is, providing a file name and host folder has been provided.
Sub DoFolder(Folder)
Dim SubFolder
For Each SubFolder In Folder.SubFolders
DoFolder SubFolder
Next
Dim File
For Each File In Folder.Files
If File.Name = "Specify Name.pdf" Then
Workbooks.Open (Folder.path & "\" & File.Name), UpdateLinks:=False
Workbooks(File.Name).Activate
Exit Sub
End If
Next
End Sub
The code above will simply open the file once it has found it. This was just my own specific use; adapt as necessary.
MAIN CODE
Option Explicit
Dim FileSystem As Object
Dim HostFolder As String
Sub FindFile()
HostFolder = "K:\User\My Documents\"
Set FileSystem = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
DoFolder FileSystem.GetFolder(HostFolder)
End Sub
Sub DoFolder(Folder)
Dim SubFolder
For Each SubFolder In Folder.SubFolders
DoFolder SubFolder
Next
Dim File
For Each File In Folder.Files
If File.Name = "Specify Name.pdf" Then
Workbooks.Open (Folder.path & "\" & File.Name), UpdateLinks:=False
Workbooks(File.Name).Activate
Exit Sub
End If
Next
End Sub
You can chop this up how you see fit, you can probably throw it into your sub CheckIfFileExists() or just use it on its own.
Let me know how you get along so i can help you understand this further