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: Easily Changing the Default Drive and Directory.
In other issues of ExcelTips you learned how you can use VBA to switch the current drive and directory. In short, you can change drive and directory as follows:
MyDrive = "E:" MyFolder = "\MyDocs\ThisFolder\" ChDrive MyDrive ChDir MyFolder
When done, the current directory will be E:\MyDocs\ThisFolder\. VBA provides a handy shortcut that allows you to easily specify both the drive and directory using the same information. Consider the following:
MyPath = "E:\MyDocs\ThisFolder\" ChDrive MyPath ChDir MyPath
This code contains one less line (and one less variable), but it does the same thing. VBA, when executing the ChDrive command, only pays attention to the drive letter in a path. This allows you to easily set the single variable to your path, and then use it when both setting drives and directories.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9182) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Easily Changing the Default Drive and Directory.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2013 For Dummies today!
Want to run a macro in Excel, but not sure if doing so will tie up your computer? Here's how macro processing really happens.
Discover MoreExcel allows you to add pictures to your worksheet, even within a macro. However, you might have a bit harder time figuring ...
Discover MoreNeed to know how many characters there are in a workbook? You can find out easily with the handy macro introduced in this ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2014-03-17 09:14:06
Jeff C
In my opinion you should always explicitly reference the drive and path when doing any file i/o as a best practice. To me, it's akin to using a global variable; convenient, but potentially dangerous.
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 © 2017 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
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: 
Comments