Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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: Renaming a File.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 4, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Your macros can rename a file by using the Name command. This is a holdover from other versions of BASIC. The syntax is:
Name OldFile As NewFile
where OldFile is the name of the old file, and NewFile is the name of the new file. Both filenames must either be string variables or be enclosed in quotes. Both filenames can contain complete path names, but both must be on the same disk drive. If the path names differ, then the command also has the side benefit of moving the file from one directory to another as it does the renaming.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (10451) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Renaming a File.
Professional Development Guidance! Four world-class developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. The authors show how to consistently make the right design decisions and make the most of Excel's powerful features. Check out Professional Excel Development today!
There are a variety of ways that you might want to count the cells in your worksheet. One way is to figure out how many ...
Discover MoreWhen you use macros to create functions, you might want to share those functions with others�"particularly if they ...
Discover MoreDoes your macro need to allow the user to specify a particular file name that should be used by the macro? Here's a quick ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
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 © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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