Similar application, but no hard coded paths as in the examples above. This function copies the value from another closed workbook, similar to the =INDIRECT() function, but not as sophisticated. This only returns the value...not a reference..so it cannot be used with further functions which require references (i.e.: VLOOKUP()). Paste this code into a new VBA module:
'Requires filename, sheetname as first argument and cell reference as second argument
'Usage: type in an excel cell -> =getvalue(A1,B1)
'Example of A1 -> C:\TEMP\[FILE1.XLS]SHEET1'
'Example of B1 -> B3
'This will fetch contents of cell (B3) located in (sheet1) of (c:\temp\file1.xls)
'Create a module and paste the code into the module (e.g. Module1, Module2)
Public xlapp As Object
Public Function getvalue(ByVal filename As String, ref As String) As Variant
' Retrieves a value from a closed workbook
Dim arg As String
Dim path As String
Dim file As String
filename = Trim(filename)
path = Mid(filename, 1, InStrRev(filename, "\"))
file = Mid(filename, InStr(1, filename, "[") + 1, InStr(1, filename, "]") - InStr(1, filename, "[") - 1)
If Dir(path & file) = "" Then
getvalue = "File Not Found"
Exit Function
End If
If xlapp Is Nothing Then
'Object must be created only once and not at each function call
Set xlapp = CreateObject("Excel.application")
End If
' Create the argument
arg = "'" & filename & "'!" & Range(ref).Range("A1").Address(, , xlR1C1)
'Execute an XLM macro
getvalue = xlapp.ExecuteExcel4Macro(arg)
End Function