Updating a Web Query Based on a Schedule

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 31, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365

1

Robert has successfully made a data connection to a website through a web query. He has the web query update, automatically, every two minutes. However, the website to which he's connected is only "live" during certain hours. Robert wonders if there is a way to instruct the web query to update every two minutes, but only during a schedule that he establishes.

Not knowing the exact manner in which Robert is triggering his web query, only some general guidance can be given. The trick is going to be to figure a way to turn on the web query and a separate way to turn it off. The easiest way to handle this is to write two routines, which I'll call TurnQueryOn and TurnQueryOff. You could then use the OnTime method to specify when you want the query turned on. Here's an example that runs the proper routine at 6:00 am:

Application.OnTime TimeValue("06:00:00"), "TurnQueryOn"

You could, right after scheduling when to turn the query on, schedule when to turn it off:

Application.OnTime TimeValue("15:00:00"), "TurnQueryOff"

This code runs the TurnQueryOff routine at 3:00 pm. In these code lines, of course, the trick will be to develop the TurnQueryOn and TurnQueryOff macros and make sure they actually do what they are supposed to do.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the ExcelTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (13890) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Microsoft 365.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Putting a Bullet in the Middle of a Sentence

Need a special character (such as a bullet) in the middle of your text? Here are two quick ways to enter the character ...

Discover More

Calculating Week-Ending Dates

When working with dates, you may need to figure out all the dates on which weeks end in a given year. There are several ...

Discover More

Getting the Traditional Open Dialog Box

When you attempt to open a file in Word, chances are good that you will first have to pass through what is called the ...

Discover More

Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!

More ExcelTips (ribbon)

Renaming a File

Need to rename a file in a macro? It's easy to do using the Name command, as discussed in this tip.

Discover More

Opening a Workbook and Suppressing Automatic Macros

Want to stop Excel from running any automatic macros that may be stored with a workbook? Here's how to do it.

Discover More

Creating a Floating Macro Button

Macros can make your use of Excel much more powerful. If you have a macro that is triggered by an on-screen button, you ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two more than 4?

2021-07-31 14:36:37

Philip

I’d be interested in more details about how to set umpteen web query, and what the (table / formatting) requirements on the web side of the connections would be …

This Site

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.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2023 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.