Copy data from another Workbook through VBA - vba

Question

I want to collect data from different files and insert it into a workbook doing something like this.
Do While THAT_DIFFERENT_FILE_SOMEWHERE_ON_MY_HDD.Cells(Rand, 1).Value <> "" And Rand < 65536
then 'I will search if the last row in my main worksheet is in this file...
End Loop
If the last row from my main worksheet is in the file, I'll quit the While Loop. If not, I'll copy everything. I'm having trouble finding the right algorithm for this.
My problem is that I don't know how to access different workbooks.

Answer 1

The best (and easiest) way to copy data from a workbook to another is to use the object model of Excel.
Option Explicit
Sub test()
Dim wb As Workbook, wb2 As Workbook
Dim ws As Worksheet
Dim vFile As Variant
'Set source workbook
Set wb = ActiveWorkbook
'Open the target workbook
vFile = Application.GetOpenFilename("Excel-files,*.xls", _
1, "Select One File To Open", , False)
'if the user didn't select a file, exit sub
If TypeName(vFile) = "Boolean" Then Exit Sub
Workbooks.Open vFile
'Set targetworkbook
Set wb2 = ActiveWorkbook
'For instance, copy data from a range in the first workbook to another range in the other workbook
wb2.Worksheets("Sheet2").Range("C3:D4").Value = wb.Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("A1:B2").Value
End Sub

Answer 2

You might like the function GetInfoFromClosedFile()
Edit: Since the above link does not seem to work anymore, I am adding alternate link 1 and alternate link 2 + code:
Private Function GetInfoFromClosedFile(ByVal wbPath As String, _
wbName As String, wsName As String, cellRef As String) As Variant
Dim arg As String
GetInfoFromClosedFile = ""
If Right(wbPath, 1) <> "" Then wbPath = wbPath & ""
If Dir(wbPath & "" & wbName) = "" Then Exit Function
arg = "'" & wbPath & "[" & wbName & "]" & _
wsName & "'!" & Range(cellRef).Address(True, True, xlR1C1)
On Error Resume Next
GetInfoFromClosedFile = ExecuteExcel4Macro(arg)
End Function

Answer 3

Are you looking for the syntax to open them:
Dim wkbk As Workbook
Set wkbk = Workbooks.Open("C:\MyDirectory\mysheet.xlsx")
Then, you can use wkbk.Sheets(1).Range("3:3") (or whatever you need)

Answer 4

There's very little reason not to open multiple workbooks in Excel. Key lines of code are:
Application.EnableEvents = False
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
...then you won't see anything whilst the code runs, and no code will run that is associated with the opening of the second workbook. Then there are...
Application.DisplayAlerts = False
Application.Calculation = xlManual
...so as to stop you getting pop-up messages associated with the content of the second file, and to avoid any slow re-calculations. Ensure you set back to True/xlAutomatic at end of your programming
If opening the second workbook is not going to cause performance issues, you may as well do it. In fact, having the second workbook open will make it very beneficial when attempting to debug your code if some of the secondary files do not conform to the expected format
Here is some expert guidance on using multiple Excel files that gives an overview of the different methods available for referencing data
An extension question would be how to cycle through multiple files contained in the same folder. You can use the Windows folder picker using:
With Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
.Show
If .Selected.Items.Count = 1 the InputFolder = .SelectedItems(1)
End With
FName = VBA.Dir(InputFolder)
Do While FName <> ""
'''Do function here
FName = VBA.Dir()
Loop
Hopefully some of the above will be of use

Answer 5

I had the same question but applying the provided solutions changed the file to write in. Once I selected the new excel file, I was also writing in that file and not in my original file. My solution for this issue is below:
Sub GetData()
Dim excelapp As Application
Dim source As Workbook
Dim srcSH1 As Worksheet
Dim sh As Worksheet
Dim path As String
Dim nmr As Long
Dim i As Long
nmr = 20
Set excelapp = New Application
With Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogOpen)
.AllowMultiSelect = False
.Filters.Add "Excel Files", "*.xlsx; *.xlsm; *.xls; *.xlsb", 1
.Show
path = .SelectedItems.Item(1)
End With
Set source = excelapp.Workbooks.Open(path)
Set srcSH1 = source.Worksheets("Sheet1")
Set sh = Sheets("Sheet1")
For i = 1 To nmr
sh.Cells(i, "A").Value = srcSH1.Cells(i, "A").Value
Next i
End Sub
With excelapp a new application will be called. The with block sets the path for the external file. Finally, I set the external Workbook with source and srcSH1 as a Worksheet within the external sheet.