XL2000: Macro to Import a Text File into an Existing Worksheet

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This article was previously published under Q213816

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SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel 2000 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 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 a Microsoft Certified Partner or Microsoft Advisory Services. For more information, visit these Microsoft Web sites:

Microsoft Certified Partners - https://partner.microsoft.com/global/30000104 (https://partner.microsoft.com/global/30000104)

Microsoft Advisory Services - http://support.microsoft.com/gp/advisoryservice (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/advisoryservice)

For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-us;cntactms) 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