XL: Macro to Import a Text File into Existing Worksheet

ID: Q133198

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a
Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel does not provide a direct means for importing a text file into an existing worksheet. Generally, this is done by opening the text file into its own workbook and then copying the data from the new workbook to the existing worksheet. This article provides a sample Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro (Sub procedure) that can automate this process for you.

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/

The following sample macro prompts you for a file by displaying the Open dialog box, opens the file into its own workbook, and then copies the data to the cell that was active when the macro was run.

   Sub ImportTextFile()

       Dim DestBook As Workbook, SourceBook As Workbook
       Dim DestCell As Range
       Dim RetVal As Boolean

       ' Turn off screen updating.
       Application.ScreenUpdating = False

       ' Set object variables for the active book and active cell.
       Set DestBook = ActiveWorkbook
       Set DestCell = ActiveCell

       ' Show the Open dialog box.
       RetVal = Application.Dialogs(xlDialogOpen).Show ("*.txt")

       ' If Retval is false (Open dialog canceled), exit the procedure.
       If RetVal = False Then Exit Sub

       ' Set an object variable for the workbook containing the text file.
       Set SourceBook = ActiveWorkbook

       ' Copy the contents of the entire sheet containing the text file.
       Range(Range("A1"), Range("A1").SpecialCells(xlLastCell)).Copy

       ' Activate the destination workbook and paste special the values
       ' from the text file.
       DestBook.Activate
       DestCell.PasteSpecial Paste:=xlValues

       ' Close the book containing the text file.
       SourceBook.Close False

   End Sub

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00c 7.00 8.00 import append textfile current how to XL97 XL98 XL7 XL5

Keywords          : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode PgmHowto KbVBA 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,5.0c,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:5.0,5.0a,98
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999