I have a VBA function that, when invoked via a button on a sheet, extracts a .csv file from a website and imports it into my workbook. The problem is the file is uploaded in different time intervals during the day, so I have to periodically check the website.
Is there a way in VBA that I can schedule when a function is invoked?
You can use the Application.OnTime() method which will allow you to schedule a Macro for a specific time amongst other settings. However you're probably best using VB Script or similar.
It's also important to note that the workbook would need to be open the entire time if you are going to use VBA, whereas a VBS file will run silently and can be triggered to run at startup.
If you're proficient enough with VBA then you shouldn't have a problem writing VBS.
Related
What I'm aiming at is getting a list of all currently running scripts in order to check if other users aren't running the same VBA macro at the same time (and if yes, then stop the code etc., similar to what the OP of the below question wanted). This would be for a shared workbook (I learned it's not designed for this type of work, but I need to try it).
https://stackoverflow.com/a/36116091/5947935
I've been trying to make the code in the above answer work in VBA, but it seems it's a vbs thing and I would like to avoid that.
I'm not an expert to say the least, so I'm having trouble understanding how to get this to work in Excel VBA. I don't even know if it's possible at all.
I've found this as well: VBA Getting program names and task ID of running processes and it works fine but it only lists the running processes.
I've no idea however how to merge the two... or even if the WMI is the correct way to go.
I'd appreciate any sort of help.
I used to create a "locking file" which was just an empty text file with the name of the workbook followed by the username and an extension of .LCK
First thing my code did on auto open was look for a locking file then report back to the user which user had it open then cancel the open.
If it didn't find a locking file then it created one and proceeded as normal. If it found one but it was the same username (ie that user had it crash on them) it proceeded with the open.
The last thing the code did was delete the file.
No codes here and theory not tested yet, but the idea of preventing a different user executing a Macro on a shared workbook requires some thinking.
I would create a hidden worksheet, and use one of the cells to store the Environ("USERNAME") when the macro is first started - to indicate who has it running, then clear it when complete, first-in-first-out.
Lets say named range MUser (macro user) is range A1 in that hidden worksheet
When the macro runs, it will first check if MUser is empty, if so then change it's value to Environ("USERNAME") and Save the file before next step (here I am not certain the value is updated on others session).
If MUser is not empty, either abort or retry in a few second.
When macro completes, MUser will be ClearContents, and save the File to free up the workbook for macro.
Idea is here but please test. Post your own code for us to troubleshoot. You may also use Workbook events to "lock" the macro execution this way. Or even use this hidden sheet to make a log record for debug. Also some fail-safe needs to be implemented (such as a time stamp at macro start and override the lock after some minutes).
I have a MS Access database with a macro. The macro will, obviously, import files, run queries and generating spreadsheet reports on a daily basis.
Now I want to modify the macro to process files within a start/end date range. But the file names used in the TransferText and TransferSpreadsheet actions are all fixed and I need to separate the files into different folders.
Can I change that using VBA?
I have been try looking up in the web but I have difficulty find any resources that explain how to manipulate the actions within a macro.
File copying would be another option but I would take that as the last resort.
Trying to figure out the best way to kick off an excel macro at a certain time. I found a few suggestions, but I still have plenty of questions on the idea and was hoping you guys could provide some clarification.
What I am trying to do: I have live excel workbooks that are connected to my database. So at 11:30PM on the last day of every month I want to go into several excel workbooks (I have one for every vendor that we sell), enable the security and editing and refresh the connection so all of the information in the sheets is up to date. Lastly I would like to then save a copy of that file in a sub folder inside the current folder.
Run on time method:
Here is this run on time method that I found on ozgrid. My question is, I am assuming that excel would need to be running at the time in order to execute the method? If so what would be one way of opening up excel and refreshing a workbook to be saved?
Running excel on Windows Task Scheduler Windows Task Scheduler
Essentially this method is using an Excel Controller to run excel using VBS...Seems more promising than the run on time method but I am not very familiar with how an excel controller works or VBS, so any help or ideas on this one would be greatly appreciated.
Any input is greatly appreciated. If my ideas are way out in left field could you guys help point me in the right direction?
Thanks for all the help in advance!
Turn the problem around. Create a workbook with normal Excel query tools and have it load the result set of the query when the workbook is opened (You don't specify a version, but see Refresh an external data connection for Excel 2013).
Then, either create a view in the database that contains the results you require, or to materialise the result of a view into a staging table that is then read by the workbook.
Users can then open the workbook whenever they require data, and the current results will be available. A parametrised version of the query could then access a history table to older periods.
This way all data is only prepared when required, and is always available without the scheduling complexity.
I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with setting up a macro to run automatically at a given time... lets say 5AM.
There are some posts on mr excel but most of what I find is simply OnTime "x time" based code, and I'm unsure how this executes.
Do you have to open the sheet, run the macro and then expect it to run at the given time? Once it is open, will it run every day at that time or can you run it whenever?
You could
1] have Windows task scheduler open your workbook. Please see: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/schedule-a-task
2] and then create a function in your macro that launches your code when the book is opened. See http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/excel-questions/6122-run-macro-open.html for more info.
This seems to be what you want:
How can I Run Excel Files as a task or job?
Use the Windows Scheduler to schedule a task to open up the Excel file. You should then be able to use the Workbook_Open Event to do what you need with the file.
I've created a small application that basically reads and writes to a single Excel.exe process. It's basically a timer that records the time I use on projects and then store it in an Excel sheet. This works great, however, I've noticed that if I open Excel manually, work on some sheets and whatnot, save and exit etcetc, the process my software use gets broken or something. The same thing that happens if I manually close the excel.exe process and my software doesn't "know".
So I was wondering if it's possible to protect the excel.exe process somehow? To make sure it can't be closed or tampered with in the meantime?
Let me suggest an alternative approach that does not require you to have an Excel process running all the time (after all, this also consumes a lot of system resources):
Let your application record your information. Every now and then -- for example, after a work entry has been finished or a specific time has elapsed -- open the Excel sheet, write the data, and close it again (also closing the Excel process that you are automating). This save operation should not take more than a few seconds and it will (mostly) prevent the problem you are experiencing.
In fact, since Office automation is always a bit painful, an even better way would be to output your data without requiring an Excel process. To do this, you could use
one of the third-party Excel libraries available for .net,
a CSV or HTML file, which can be opened by Excel, or
open the Excel file as a database with ADO.NET.
You cannot protect a process, but you can check the process.HasExited property to find out whether the process has terminated and take action based on that.
Add an exception handler. Either call non-throw methods if possible.