How to Move Files Using Partial File Name in Excel VBA

Discover a simple method to move files with a `partial name` using Excel and VBA. Streamline your file management today!
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Move Files Using Partial File Names with Excel VBA

Are you tired of long and tedious file management tasks? Do you want to move files from one folder to another using only a part of their names? If so, you're in the right place! This guide will guide you step-by-step on how to utilize Excel and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) to move files based on partial file names easily.

The Need for Moving Files Using Partial File Names

Imagine the following scenario: you have a folder filled with multiple files, and you need to move them to different folders based on names listed in an Excel sheet. However, you don’t always know the complete file names. Instead of typing in the entire names, what if you could simply enter part of the name—like “Excel training”—and still locate the correct file, such as “Excel training makes easy”?

This capability would significantly streamline your file organization process. Let’s explore how to achieve this with the help of VBA.

Setting Up Your Environment

Before diving into the code, ensure you have the proper setup:

Microsoft Excel: You need a working version of Excel to write and run VBA code.

VBA References: Early binding requires a reference to the 'Microsoft Scripting Runtime.' To do this:

Go to Tools References in the VBA editor (press ALT + F11 to open it).

Scroll and check Microsoft Scripting Runtime.

Writing the VBA Code

Below is the code that will help you move files based on partial names listed in your Excel sheet.

Code Explanation

Let's break down the provided VBA code step by step:

Define Constants and Setup Variables

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Here, we've defined paths for both source and destination folders. We also set up the worksheet and determine the last row in the specified column.

Validation Checks for Paths and Data

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This section checks if the source and destination directories exist and if there's data in the designated column.

Moving Files Based on Partial Names

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This critical loop goes through each entry in the Excel sheet, constructs a partial file name, and uses it to find and move the files. If a file exists starting with that partial name, it gets moved to the destination folder.

Displaying Results to the User

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

After processing, the program informs the user how many files were successfully moved, not found, or if there were any blank cells.

Complete Code

Here is the entire code ready for use:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can efficiently move files from one folder to another using only partial file names through Excel VBA. This method offers a significant time-saving advantage, especially when dealing with large numbers of files.

Give it a try, and enhance your file management workflow! If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out in the comments below.