Check if path to file is correct on Excel Column

Question

I have an Excel file with multiple columns, one of the column has a path to an image in a remote folder (or local, doesn't matter).

\\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\folder\image.jpg

I want to check if all the URLs or PATHs to the files are correct.

If one is wrong or doesn't point to a real file (or the address is bad) then highlight it in red (or just signal it somehow).

Hope this makes sense. I know I can do this with Macros or VBA but I don't know the syntax.

Thanks!

Answer 1

You can use an UDF (User Defined Function) to check whether a file path is valid or not.

In Excel, hit ALT+F11 to turn on the Visual Basic Editor (VBE).

Right-click anywhere in the VBA Project Explorer » Insert » Module.

Copy and paste the below code

Function FileExist(path As String) As Boolean
    If Dir(path) <> vbNullString Then FileExist = True
End Function

Now, go back to your spreadsheet view. Go into any cell and type:

=FileExist(A1)

where A1 is cell reference that holds the file path

for example:

Additionally, you can use conditional formatting or VBA to highlight cell's based on value.

Answer 2

Figured this out. I'm sure other people are going to read this as I did today. You'll need two modules (one to extract hyperlinks and one to test file path directory)

Module1 (for hyperlinks)

    Function HLink(rng As Range) As String
    'extract URL from hyperlink
     'posted by C.F. Stotch! - shoutout to Richard K!
      If rng(1).Hyperlinks.Count Then HLink = rng.Hyperlinks(1).Address
    End Function

Module2 (for directory test)

     Function FileOrDirExists(PathName As String) As Boolean 'used to test filepaths of commmand button   links to see if they work - change their color if not working
  'Macro Purpose: Function returns TRUE if the specified file
   Dim iTemp As Integer

 'Ignore errors to allow for error evaluation
On Error Resume Next
iTemp = GetAttr(PathName)

 'Check if error exists and set response appropriately
Select Case Err.Number
Case Is = 0
    FileOrDirExists = True
Case Else
    FileOrDirExists = False
End Select

 'Resume error checking
   On Error GoTo 0
    End Function

''''' AND BELOW IS WHAT YOU WOULD INSERT INTO YOUR SHEET AND ACTIVATE IT HOW YOU WISH, via command button or how you wish. I have it auto run when worksheet is activated :) Cheers!

     Private Sub TestFilesExist()
   Dim xCheck As Integer
  'starting in the 3rd row....
 xCheck = 3
   On Error GoTo 0
    'Debug.Print Range("A" & xCheck).Value
    While xCheck < 36

       'xPather - checks if Z1 is a good path and then either highlights the actual cell in A column red if bad, or no fill if good.
      Dim sPath As String
      Dim XPather As String

'need a cell to put the hyperlink addresses into during the loop check as was not able to find the hyperlink address straight out of the cell containing the hyperlink. Extraction if you will. :)

ThisWorkbook.Sheets(1).Range("Z1").Value = "=HLink(A" & xCheck & ")"
XPather = ThisWorkbook.Sheets(1).Range("Z1").Value

Debug.Print XPather

 'Tests if directory or file exists
If FileOrDirExists(XPather) = False Then
    Range("A" & xCheck).Interior.ColorIndex = 3
Else
    Range("A" & xCheck).Interior.ColorIndex = xlNone
End If

    xCheck = xCheck + 1
    Wend

    End Sub