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Some Useful VBA Functions

VBA has many useful built-in functions, but it lacks the ability to perform many common tasks. For example, if your application needs to determine if a particular file exists, you need to write your own code to make that determination.

This tip contains VBA code for six simple, but very useful functions. You can simply copy the code and paste it to your module.

• FileExists - Returns TRUE if a particular file exists.
• FileNameOnly- Extracts the filename part of a path/filename string.
• PathExists - Returns TRUE if a particular path exists.
• RangeNameExists - Returns TRUE if a particular range name exists.
• SheetExists - Returns TRUE if a particular sheet exists.
• WorkBookIsOpen - Returns TRUE if a particular workbook is open.

The FileExists Function

Private Function FileExists(fname) As Boolean
'   Returns TRUE if the file exists
    Dim x As String
    x = Dir(fname)
    If x <> "" Then FileExists = True _
        Else FileExists = False
End Function

The FileNameOnly Function

Private Function FileNameOnly(pname) As String
'   Returns the filename from a path/filename string
    Dim i As Integer, length As Integer, temp As String
    length = Len(pname)
    temp = ""
    For i = length To 1 Step -1
        If Mid(pname, i, 1) = Application.PathSeparator Then
            FileNameOnly = temp
            Exit Function
        End If
        temp = Mid(pname, i, 1) & temp
    Next i
    FileNameOnly = pname
End Function

The PathExists Function

Private Function PathExists(pname) As Boolean
'   Returns TRUE if the path exists
    Dim x As String
    On Error Resume Next
    x = GetAttr(pname) And 0
    If Err = 0 Then PathExists = True _
      Else PathExists = False
End Function

The RangeNameExists Function

Private Function RangeNameExists(nname) As Boolean
'   Returns TRUE if the range name exists
    Dim n As Name
    RangeNameExists = False
    For Each n In ActiveWorkbook.Names
        If UCase(n.Name) = UCase(nname) Then
            RangeNameExists = True
            Exit Function
        End If
    Next n
End Function

The SheetExists Function

Private Function SheetExists(sname) As Boolean
'   Returns TRUE if sheet exists in the active workbook
    Dim x As Object
    On Error Resume Next
    Set x = ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(sname)
    If Err = 0 Then SheetExists = True _
        Else SheetExists = False
End Function

The WorkbookIsOpen Function

Private Function WorkbookIsOpen(wbname) As Boolean
'   Returns TRUE if the workbook is open
    Dim x As Workbook
    On Error Resume Next
    Set x = Workbooks(wbname)
    If Err = 0 Then WorkbookIsOpen = True _
        Else WorkbookIsOpen = False
End Function