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Tough Challenge: Can you automatically select only the files in a directory whose filenames appear in a spreadsheet?

Let's say you have a column of file names in a spreadsheet (ie - 12F.jpg, 12G.jpg, 27H.jpg, etc)

You also have a folder full of files. Some of the files match the ones in your spreadsheet (ie - 12F.jpg, 12G.jpg, 27H.jpg). However, some of the files in the folder do not match the ones in your spreadsheet.

Is there an way to automatically select only the jpg files that are in the spreadsheet? That way you can make a copy of only those files for instance.

Thanks so much in advance.

Saqib Husain

One way to do this is to do the copy with the help of VBA.

Loop through all the files listed and copy them to the desired destination.

Use an On Error statement to ignore the copy command if the file is not present.

furniturepeople

ASKER

Thanks, Is there a way to do it without VBA? I don't know how to use VBA.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Joe Winograd

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LeeTutor

I've requested that this question be deleted for the following reason:

Not enough information to confirm an answer.

Joe Winograd

There is definitely enough information to confirm an answer. I tested the solution proposed in http:#a39730202 – it works perfectly. I used the technique to copy all of the file names in column A of a spreadsheet to a text file (.BAT) in my favorite editor. I then used a macro to automatically prefix each file name with "copy" and suffix each file name with "D:\saved_files". I then ran the batch file – worked fine. If the OP (or CV) needs more info, please let me know. Regards, Joe

Joe Winograd

Netminder,
Thank you! Regards, Joe