How to Search content of Multiple Excel Files?

**camrencrew** · 04-07-2010, 03:09 PM

Hello

I need some help to search multiple excel files.

In order to keep track of my inventory, I have separate excel files for each machine.
Each file contains description, part number, location, price, etc. Each category is under same column in all the files. i.r. part number is always column B.

There are 42 excel files. It is very time consuming to open each file and search for a part.
I am trying to find out how I can find a part by searching either part number or their description through multiple files.

I have considered importing all the files to Access and use Access features. However I am not well educated how to use Access.

I like to know if there is other wys to do this.

If it sounds vague what I am looking for, please let me know and I will explain more.

Thank you in advance.

**Paul** · 04-07-2010, 03:38 PM

Hi Camrencrew, welcome to the forum.

Would it not make more sense to combine all 42 sheets into one? You have 65,000+ rows to work with (over 1 million rows in Excel 2007/2010). You then wouldn't have this problem. You may need to add a column (or a few) to denote which machine each part belongs to and other specific info, but it should make things easier in the long run.

Access would be a logical application to use, but if you're not familiar with it you'll have a greater learning curve than Excel.

Looping through 42 workbooks looking for a part is just very inefficient. That being said, it can be done.

How to Search content of Multiple Excel Files?

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