Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Determining If a File Exists.
As you are programming your macros, you may have a need to determine if a particular file exists on disk. For instance, the purpose of your macro may be to open and read from a text file. Before doing so, you will want to check to see if the file exists, in order to avoid an error.
The following VBA function can be used to check for the existence of a file. All you need to do is pass it the full filename as a string, and the macro returns either True (if the file exists) or False (if it doesn't).
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
Function FileThere(FileName As String) As Boolean
FileThere = (Dir(FileName) > "")
End Function
This function works by using the Dir function, which checks for a file in a directory. If the file exists, then Dir returns the full path of the file. The True/False condition of the function is derived by comparing what Dir returns against an empty string. If something is returned, the file exists because Dir doesn't return an empty string.
You can use the function similar to the following:
If FileThere("c:\myfile.txt") Then
'
' Do stuff here
'
Else
MsgBox "File Not There!"
End If
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9050) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Determining If a File Exists.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
When you open a workbook in Excel, the Open dialog box always starts within the folder in which you were last working. ...
Discover MoreWhen you import information from a CSV text file, Excel formats the data according to its default settings. Wouldn't it ...
Discover MoreNeed to get the full path of your current workbook into the Clipboard? Excel doesn't make it quite as easy as it used to ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2017-10-24 06:51:00
Ken Varley
I previously used the function "Exist" (Below) and called it with IF EXIST (<filename>) THEN, to produce a result of True or False.
Your function is much simpler. Top marks from me.
Note: My function catches both folders and files
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Function Exist(FileNameWithPathandExt As String)
Exist = False
Dim FSO
'Set Object
Set FSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If FSO.FolderExists(FileNameWithPathandExt) Then Exist = True _
Else _
If FSO.FileExists(FileNameWithPathandExt) Then Exist = True
End Function
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments