Use Excel VBA to change the value of a cell in a closed workbook? - vba

Question

I currently use this function in VBA to get the value of a cell in a closed workbook. I want to use a similar process to SET the value of the cell to whatever I want, without opening the file. Is that possible?
Private Function GetValue(path, file, sheet, ref)
Dim arg As String
If Right(path, 1) <> "\" Then path = path & "\"
If Dir(path & file) = "" Then
GetValue = "File Not Found"
Exit Function
End If
arg = "'" & path & "[" & file & "]" & sheet & "'!" & _
Range(ref).Range("A1").Address(, , xlR1C1)
GetValue = ExecuteExcel4Macro(arg)
End Function

Answer 1

Yes you can do this using ADO as Gary commented but only if your Excel Worksheet is arranged in a Database like structure.
Meaning you have valid fields arranged in columns (with or without headers).
For example:
Now, you see that ID number 12345 have a name John John and you want to update it to John Knight.
Using ADO you can try:
Edit1: You can actually do this without using Recordset. See below update.
Sub conscious()
Dim con As ADODB.Connection
Dim sqlstr As String, datasource As String
Set con = New ADODB.Connection
datasource = "C:\Users\UserName\Desktop\TestDataBase.xlsx" 'change to suit
Dim sconnect As String
sconnect = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;" & _
"Data Source=" & datasource & ";" & _
"Extended Properties=""Excel 12.0;HDR=YES"";"
With con
.Open sconnect
sqlstr = "UPDATE [Sheet1$] SET [Name] = ""John Knight"" WHERE [ID Number] = 12345"
.Execute sqlstr
.Close
End With
Set con = Nothing
End Sub
Result:
I'm not entirely sure if this is what you want but HTH.
Notes:
You need to add reference to Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects X.X Library (early bind).
But you can also do this using late bind (no reference).
Connection string used is for Excel 2007 and up.
Sheet1 is the name of the target sheet you want to update the value to.
Edit1: This is how to do it if your file have no header
First change the connection string HDR argument to NO:.
sconnect = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;" & _
"Data Source=" & datasource & ";" & _
"Extended Properties=""Excel 12.0;HDR=NO"";"
Then adjust your SQL string to:
sqlstr = "UPDATE [Sheet1$] SET F2 = ""John Knight"" WHERE F1 = 12345"
So that is F1 for field 1, F2 for field 2 etc.