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Excel to highlight/select files in Explorer from a list

  1. 03-21-2020, 10:08 AM #1
    Builditbob
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    Excel to highlight/select files in Explorer from a list

    Hi all, It has been some time since I last asked a question, as have got better at figuring things out for myself! However, I am stuck on this one, which I am hoping would be fairly simple for you guys.

    I have a list of photo file names in a spread sheet, I also have a folder where photos are stored. The list of file names match the photo file names (less the extension, in this case .JPG) what I need is some way that excel can search the folder where the photos are stored and highlight the matching file names. That way, I can simply Ctrl + C and this will copy the selected photos and I am sorted. I have tried using VBA, but my skills at this are very low and I have no idea what I am doing. Is there anyone who can help.

    Many thanks
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  2. 03-21-2020, 10:34 AM #2
    MarvinP
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    Re: Excel to highlight/select files in Explorer from a list

    Hi bob,

    Could you update your profile and add the version of Excel you are using? There are more tools in the newer versions of Excel that might be useful, but I can't tell what version you have. Click on the "My Profile" at the top and fill in more information.
    One test is worth a thousand opinions.
    Click the * Add Reputation below to say thanks.
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  3. 03-21-2020, 11:58 AM #3
    Builditbob
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    Re: Excel to highlight/select files in Explorer from a list

    Hi MarvinP,

    I subscribe to Office 365 64Bit, and use it mainly on a Mac, but use a PC when using Macros. Hence the question is geared around Windows Explorer rather than Finder as used by Macs.

    Hope that this helps.

    Many thanks

    Bob
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  4. 03-21-2020, 12:09 PM #4
    MarvinP
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    Re: Excel to highlight/select files in Explorer from a list

    If you have the newer version of Excel see if this gets you what you need. This answer involves Power Query get Folder options which is not available in older versions of Excel.
    https://www.howtoexcel.org/power-que...ll-subfolders/
    I imagine you can build a table in Excel of all your path and filenames. Then compare it against what you already have.
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  5. 03-23-2020, 04:46 AM #5
    Builditbob
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    Re: Excel to highlight/select files in Explorer from a list

    Hi MarvinP

    Many thanks for pointing me in the direction of the Power Query , it is something that I have never used and will now do so in the future. It looks very interesting. However, it has not answered my original question, what I need is someway for Excel to search through a folder and to identify and select specific files that are listed within an Excel worksheet. Essentially, I have a specific list of photo file names that I need to pull from a folder that has lots more photos stored within, i.e. I need to find 600 photos that are currently mixed up within a folder that contains 3,000 photos. I know what these photos file names are as they are listed in my worksheet, I need someway for excel to open the folder, find the files and select then (but not open them!).

    If you are able to help, that would be very helpful.

    Many thanks,

    Bob (Stay safe out there too...)
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  6. 03-25-2020, 12:37 PM #6
    Builditbob
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    Re: Excel to highlight/select files in Explorer from a list

    Hi everybody,

    I am still struggling with trying to resolve this issue and hoping for some assistance, is there anyone able to help at all?

    Many thanks in advance

    Bob
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  7. 03-25-2020, 02:53 PM #7
    MarvinP
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    Re: Excel to highlight/select files in Explorer from a list

    Hi Bob,

    When you say "and select them", what does that mean? Does that mean you want the full path and filename for those pictures? Can you give an example of what the answer looks like?
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  8. 03-26-2020, 04:29 AM #8
    Builditbob
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    Re: Excel to highlight/select files in Explorer from a list

    Hi MarvinP

    Essentially, when you select multiple files in explorer to either, copy,or move at the same time. That is what I am after, when I mean 'select the files' that is what I mean. The folder contains file names that has over 3,000 files within, I have a list of the file names for only some of them and I want Excel to search the folder and identify the files by selecting them within Explorer. When, that task is complete, I can then simply hit Ctrl C and copy a version (or drag them out if required) of those files into a separate location and viola I have those specific files that I need.

    Perhaps it is something that Excel is unable to do? If so, then I shall have to identify them all manually

    I do appreciate your help, as it is quite a time consuming and inaccurate process of copying the files manually. I have attached a screenshot showing the selection of photos that I am after it that helps.

    Many thanks

    BobScreenshot 2020-03-26 at 15.32.46.png
    Last edited by Builditbob; 03-26-2020 at 11:34 AM.
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