I have had a long-held belief that Excel/VBA methodology is very suited to solving this problem. I have investigated several possible methods noted below and picked one that gives a "quick win". I offer my results so far as a step towards the goal, as well as giving an example of how to manipulate a non-MS Office application using VBA. In this case Windows Explorer - I have used similar code on corporate applications like Oracle and SAP. My 'Write' method uses Sendkeys. Luckily I have been able to do the job without having to use code to simulate mouse functions or using API calls to simulate key presses. Ideally I would like to use something more stable, but there is the bonus that it is simple, as well as changing WMA and both versions of MP3 tag (see below) if present. Perhaps on reading this someone else may have a better method.
Being a ballroom dancer I have a large collection of CDs as well as software to rip to hard drive and enhance the sound quality. Many are quite old. A big problem has been to get a consistent view of the file properties - especially Genre, (eg. Waltz, Foxtrot .. etc.) which, from my own CD burning or external sources, is missing, or incorrect from using the now obsolete ID3v1 tag standard list. Applications such as Windows Media Player and RealPlayer allow functionality to edit tags but become very tiresome when it comes to making bulk changes - such as after burning a new CD. When viewing properties of the same file in various other applications they often show things like Title & Artist switched, and Genre not at all. I have tried software to change MP3 file tags, but find them over-complicated, confusing, and difficult to make the bulk changes I need. With Windows Explorer we can only change 8 properties - but I find these sufficient.
My method is :-
1. READ : Run one macro to put data into a worksheet.....
2. MAKE CHANGES : Make manual changes to the Excel worksheet in the normal way....
3. WRITE : Run another macro to read the worksheet and update the file properties in Explorer.
Part 1 is very simple and robust. Part 3 is difficult because when we use Sendkeys to mimic keyboard entry the code runs too fast to allow time for things to happen on screen, so we have to put Wait statements *depending on how fast the computer runs*. So Slower is better - up to a point.
Properties are added to MP3 files by using a "Tag" - additional bytes of information which form part of the file. WMA files are a Microsoft invention using a similar, but different structure. Interestingly, using my code to make changes via Window Explorer updates BOTH MP3 Tag versions as well as .WMA files. I moan about Microsoft less and less.
MP3 *ID3v1* consisting of 128 bytes always at the end of the file is now 'obsolete' - despite being still in use. This is very easy to read/write using the same code as for Text Files eg.
Open "c:myfile.mp3" For Binary As #1
etc. It is, however, limited to 4 text fields of 30 characters max, 'Year' =4 characters, and 'Genre' is a single character, the Asc() code of which is a lookup to a standard list which contains 125 items - none of which is any good to me. Could have my own lookup I suppose.
MP3 *ID3v2.3* is in the process of being superseded by ID3v2.4. The big problem here is that there are several different versions and the code required is extremely complicated - mainly due to the use of variable length fields. So we not only have to find the property, but read the field length before getting the field contents. Writing would need to change the coded field length. This is further complicated by there being the option to use an "Extended Tag" - *or not* ! Version 2 tag can be at the beginning or end of the file (before ID3v1 if it exists) - or both. The MP3 files on my computer all seem to have both versions - v2 at the beginning and v1 at the end. It is further complicated by the ability to have User Defined fields. I see some of my files have a user defined 'Genre' field, despite having the standard one 'TCON' too. The tag also needs a form of "encryption" so that the mp3 player does not treat it as audio data. Visit here for detailed information http://www.id3.org .
To view an audio file in its raw state open it in a Text Editor. I use 'TexPad' which is very fast and gives a choice of Binary (with Text 'translation' in a column) or Text view. Notepad gives just a Text view with empty space for non-text/binary characters. There is a large number of Null characters Asc(0) in proportion to the overall file length - mainly for "future development" I believe.
I would be interested to hear of any comments, suggestions and code improvements.
The problem with the Write macro was that, although it did work, it used SendKeys which has to be slowed down considerably.
Here is a new version of the Write macro that works as normal. I originally tried to use CDDBControl.dll version 1.2.0.51 which is widely available on the internet but found that I could only get it to change 1 file before crashing Excel.
I have put the READ macro in the next message.
Dim ws As Worksheet Dim FromRow As Long Dim LastRow As Long Dim FilesToChange As Integer ' number of files to change Dim FilesChanged As Integer ' number of files changed Dim MyFilePathName As String ' full path & file name Dim MyFileType As String ' mp3 wma etc. '- Dim id3 As Object Dim MyArtist As String Dim MyAlbum As String Dim MyGenre As String Dim MyTrack As String Dim MyTitle As String
Sub WRITE_TO_EXPLORER() Application.Calculation = xlCalculationManual Set ws = ActiveSheet Set id3 = CreateObject("CDDBControlRoxio.CddbID3Tag") LastRow = ws.Range("A65536").End(xlUp).Row ' count worksheet rows FilesToChange = ws.Range("A2:A" & LastRow).SpecialCells(xlCellTypeVisible).Count If FilesToChange = 0 Then MsgBox ("No files to change."): Exit Sub FilesChanged = 0........................
I have a tool that accesses a master sheet. Multiple people use the tool (sort of a user interface).
In some cases I need to write to the Master in which I check to make sure its not read only when the macro opens it (that works fine).
In other cases, like when just pulling information, read only is fine. But, I have not specified read only when I open the master. Sometimes the users are getting a "File Now Available" with a read-write and cancel option. I do not want them to get this message.
My current universal call to master looks like this: ...
I have recently used a before_close event on this workbook to save a backup of the open file to another location on my system. This works fine but I was wondering if there was some more code I could add to only execute this event on a write access basis.
The file I use can be viewed by anyone on the network as read-only and only certain users with a password can edit/update with a write access password.
The backup event is use executes every time the document is closed be it read-only or write-access.
Ideally I would like to add some code to only execute this backup if the file is opened on a write-access basis.
I create and delete a conditional formatting rule programmatically. The issue I am facing is when I try to delete the conditional formatting rule that I programmatically created, I ran into the following errors:
1. Exception from HRESULT: 0x800A03EC 2. Attempted to read or write protected memory. this is often indication that other memory is corrupt.
I get these errors only when I have user created conditional formatting rules prior to deleting – I don’t want to delete all conditional formatting rules using FormatConditions.Delete(). Further, I can’t use FormatConditions[index].Delete() because I don’t have a index reference for the one that was created from the application.
Note: I have checked the Trust access to the VBA project object model.
I use this to read cell content, add some text/characters (ie. [ and ]) and change the properties of the complete cell
Sub COMMENT() Worksheets("DVD Lijssie").Activate If ActiveCell.Value 0 Then ' Change all in to ... ... ... ActiveCell.FormulaR1C1 = ActiveCell.Value & " " & "]" & " " & "[" With ActiveCell.Font .Name = "Arial Narrow" .Size = 8 .ColorIndex = 16 End With End If End Sub HOW can I change this vba-code so it leave's the content of the cell like it is and add some content with the use of let's say TexBox1 and ONLY use different font properties for the newely added content?
I am trying to write a formula to read the cells in column H individually if cell is blank write no to corresponding cell of column I, if the cell has any sort of data write yes to corresponding cell of column I
Currently H uses this formula ='name of column from sheet 1'!P:P
What if you have text that are hyperlinked to a txt file and you want to read from it and copy it into excel. What can I do then. Here is what I have been working on so far:
Sub GoToHyperLink() Dim cell As Range Dim link As Hyperlink Dim Textline As String
I'm trying to open a file on a network drive...but I'm getting the following error message when it opens: "This file may be read-only, or you may be trying to access a read-only location. Or the server the document is stored on may not be responding." Now, the file itself has no rights restrictions and is not read only. It doesn't appear to be locked.
Now, there are other Excel files in the same directory which I could open fine; however, the Excel documents having the above problem all have a little black icon "appears to be a padlock" (image attached) at the bottom left hand side of the Excel file icon. I tried the following:
- Renaming - Converting to a different file format (didn't work, it won't let me) - Opening in notepad...etc doesn't work.
This file is dated back in 2004...do you think it's corrupt? Is there anything i can do to open or recover this?
Although the question I'm about to ask is not related to Excel, but related to MS Word, the coding is similar.
The above code I used to set the properties value, but I get an error highlighting 'storedPath'. I speculate MS Word does not recognized this word. Is there another word or code that I can use to set the value in the MS Word document properties?
Is it possible to disable The "Look In:" field of the GetOpenFilename dialogue? What I would like to do is to keep users from selecting folders other than the CurrentDirectory settings and if possible to keep the user from deleting,copying and pasteing to the files in the current dirrectory displayed. The code I have is:
I would like to programatically add information to an Excel file's Properties, the Details tab. I have alot of files in the applicable group. Files are .xls but I'm using Excel 2007.
Is there a way to set the printer's properties using VBA?
Sometimes we set the printer for BEST quality to do photos or brochures. Well if we don't change it back, when we go to print a spreadsheet, it takes forever because it is set on best quality.
So...... I want to be able to set the print properties to normal using VBA.
I have a problem with the PivatTable properties in Excel and VBA. The problem is as follows:
This is a example table:
Sum of store_sales time_id product_id store_id 367 368 369 1 3 6 7 11,4 11 13 14
(the format is not real clear, but I will explain)
This is a part of a PivotTable where: Sum of Store_sales is located in the datafield(one record; 11,4) product_id and store_id are Row-Items Time_id is a column item.
Now, I want the properties of the cell containing 11,4. I've made it so far in VBA that I can ask what his column-items and his row-item are.
Column = Application.Range(chosenCell).PivotCell.ColumnItems.Item(1) Row = Application.Range(chosenCell).PivotCell.RowItems.Item(1) Row2 = Application.Range(chosenCell).PivotCell.RowItems.Item(2) But how do I get VBA to return the valueheaders of those columns and rows? So actually, I want VBA to also return the names: product_id, store_id and time_id. This is because I need those headers to create a query which I send to a Access database.
Is someone able to give me a hint? Is there a method for this in VBA?
I have a workbook with 10 worksheets and I need to know the memory size for each worksheet. I know from File/ Properties that the file is 3.7mb but that is much higher than I would have expected. I can't tell which worksheets are causing it to be so large.
2. Use the Offset and End properties of Range object to name range from A2 to the end of the column as “NEmployees”, range B1 to the end of the row as “NScores”,and the rest of the range, B2 to F19, as “ScoreData”.
3. Do some formatting using the range names and the With-End With construction: make the font of the NEmployees Range in bold and blue color; change the font of the NScores Range to italic, in red and centralize the text (using the HorizontalAlignment property).
I am trying to use VBA to change the caption of checkboxes in "Sheet 2" when I change the value of a cell "A1" in "Sheet 1".
This code is working:
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)If Intersect(Target, ActiveSheet.Range("A1")) Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
Worksheets("Sheet 2").CheckBox1.Caption = "New Caption"End Sub
But there are 6 checkboxes in Sheet 2 and I would like to do something like this:
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)If Intersect(Target, ActiveSheet.Range("A1")) Is Nothing Then Exit Sub For i = 0 to 5Worksheets("Sheet 2").Control("CheckBox" & i+1).Caption = "Box" & i+1Next iEnd Sub
This doesn't work.. So I guess the Control-function is wrong.
I have a button on a worksheet that activates a macro, the macro is stored in a "personal.xlsb" file. This file is copied to several users computers so they can use the macro, problem is once the button is assigned to a macro from one computer all the other users can't use the macro. What can I do to make this macro work on all computers? (Less placing yet another button on the tool bar).
I have a series of shapes (circles) that I wish to use as a substitute to the radio buttons found in the form controls (too small).
I've drawn the shapes, but wish to manipulate their properties in VBA. For example, when the user clicks on the shape, the macro includes VBA which will change the properties to include colour and fill. Of course, clicking it again, will send it back to the default.
How can I get the VBA of the current shape's (default) properties? Where can I find a list of the VBA properties available to any particular shape so I know what fields are available to set attributes to?
I have 2 sheets to this program. I open the properties to change the ScrollArea of Sheet1 to $A$1:$N$24 so the users that will be using this cannot scroll down to see data. As soon as I hit save, or even Save As and replace the file, then reopen it, I am able to scroll on Sheet1. Now, I do not recall if this same thing was happening prior to restricting access to the workbook or not. One thought I have is because I am the fully authorized user, is that why, even after saving I am able to scroll? Would someone who does not have the permissions that I do in the work book not be able to scroll? Or am I just missing something small?
I need to have all cells locked and protected, but I need to be able to select all cells in column A only. With 2003 I can chose to be able to select locked cells in the Protection Properties, but that allows at the same time to select all cells and I want a property to allow selection in column A only.
