Opening a File with a Cell Reference in Excel

Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
Article ID: Q34155

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
Microsoft Excel for OS/2 versions 2.2, 2.21, and 3.0

SUMMARY

To select a cell that contains a certain filename in a macro and have the macro automatically open the file that is listed in the selected cell, use the following macro line:

   =OPEN(DEREF(cell reference))

The OPEN command requires that a full path be included to the file that is to be opened. Therefore, if the file is not in the current directory, you must include a complete path to the file that is listed in the cell of the worksheet. The following are examples:

In Cell A1, if the file is in the current directory, enter the following in Cell A1:
```
      filename.xls
```
In Cell A1, if the file is in another directory, enter the following in Cell A1:
```
      c:\windows\taxes\filename.xls
```

MORE INFORMATION

It is recommended to include the complete path as noted in Example 2 in all cases.

Include the following in the macro:

   =OPEN(DEREF(sheet1!$A$1))

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:
Additional words: 5.00 2.0 2.00 2.01 2.1 2.10 2.2 2.20 2.21 3.0
3.00 4.0 4.00

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
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