XL98: Macro to Open the Most Recently Used File

ID: Q187653

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

If you click to select the "Recently Used File List" check box on the General tab of the Preferences dialog box in Microsoft Excel 98, the files you used recently are listed on the File menu. This article contains a sample macro that you can use to programmatically open the file you used last.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web: 

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

Sample Macro

1. Save and close all open workbooks, and then open a new workbook.

2. Start the Visual Basic Editor by pressing OPTION+F11.

3. On the Insert menu, click Module.

4. Enter the following code in the module: 

      Sub Open_Last_Used_File()

         Dim S as String

         ' Set the variable S to the path and file name of the most
         ' recently used file.
         S = Application.RecentFiles(1).Name

         ' Open the file.
         Workbooks.Open S

      End Sub

Running the Sample Macro

NOTE: If you do not select the "Recently Used File List" check box and you run a macro that uses the RecentFiles property of the Application object, the following error message appears: 

   Run-time error '9':
   Subscript out of range
To prevent the message from appearing when you run the Open_Last_Used_File macro, select the "Recently Used File List" check box on the General tab of the Preferences dialog box, and click OK.

1. On the File menu, click "Close and Return to Microsoft Excel."

2. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and click Macros.

3. Click the Open_Last_Used_File macro in the list of macros, and click 

   Run.
When you run the macro, it opens the first file in the list of recently used files, which is the file you most recently opened.

REFERENCES

For more information about the RecentFiles Property, from the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type

Recentfiles

click Search, and then click to view "RecentFiles Property."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions
Additional query words: mru XL98 
Keywords          : kbprg kbdta xlloadsave xlvbahowto 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: May 18, 1999