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I need assistance reading values in an embedded Excel File in Access

Hi Experts,
I found the code below on line, which allows me to open an Excel file as an Embedded OLE Object in ACCESS.
Now that I load the Excel file , I want to:

1. be able to manipulate the Excel file from within EXCEL
2. read/loop through the updated data in the Embedded object, and Save the data to a table in my ACCESS database I click on a button.

Private Sub cmdOLEAuto_Click()
   On Error GoTo Error_cmdOLEAuto_Click
   With Me![OLEExcelSheet]
      .Enabled = True
      .Locked = False
      ' Specify what kind of object can appear in the field.
      .OLETypeAllowed = acOLEEmbedded
      ' Class statement for Word document.
      .Class = "Excel.Sheet"
      ' Specify the file to be embedded.
      ' Type the correct path name.
      .SourceDoc = "c:\OLETEST.xls"
      ' Create the embedded object.
      .Action = acOLECreateEmbed
   End With
Exit_cmdOLEAuto_Click:
   Exit Sub
Error_cmdOLEAuto_Click:
   MsgBox CStr(Err) & " " & Err.Description
   Resume Exit_cmdOLEAuto_Click
End Sub

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How can I do this? Thanks in advance
mrotor

Scott McDaniel (EE MVE )

be able to manipulate the Excel file from within EXCEL

Do you mean you want to do that while someone has it open in Access? If so, then I don't believe you can do that.

Why not just link the Excel workbook to Access, and grab the data that way?

Hamed Nasr

Will dealing with the file as a linked table be of any good?
This way you update in excel, and manage in access.

Gauthier

Is there a good reason to embed the excel file?

Normally the manipulation part is standard, just double click on the OLE Object. You are however restricted by the control size which is a pain.
Or better, right click the OLE then WorksheetObject Open (not Edit!)

To read the data from the embedded excel object you need to open it:
in your button code something like this:
Edit: corrected typo in code

Private Sub Command2_Click()
    Me![OLEExcelSheet].Verb = acOLEVerbOpen
    Me![OLEExcelSheet].Action = acOLEActivate
    Set Xl = GetObject(, "Excel.Application")
    Debug.Print Xl.Cells(1, 1).Value
End Sub

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mainrotor

ASKER

Scott and hnasr,
Can you please provide a sample of how I would do what I need to do, using a linked Excel workbook.

Thank you.
mrotor

Gauthier

You mean there is no need to embed:
- You are dealing with a single excel file
- When moving around the access file in the file system, having to redefine the link is not a problem
Then in the Access DB, go to the ribbon tab External Data, Click Excel, and follow the wizard...

Hamed Nasr

Here is a sample.
Edit in excel, and mange in access. You may query, create form, report, and create new tables.
The example was created in D:\linked

PatHartman

I am confused by your process. Why are you storing the Excel object in the Access database? Or, why are you manipulating a stored object? Access isn't a particularly good file manager. I would use Access to store templates that I use to create workbooks and then populate but once the workbook is populated, I would put it into a directory somewhere for the user to control. If Access manages the data, you are essentially storing it twice. Once in a table and again in the spreadsheet.

mainrotor

ASKER

Hi Pat and other Experts,
I am not storing the Excel object in my Access database.

Here is step-by-step that will explain why I need the Linked or Embedded Excel in my Access 2013 application.
My application will be used to schedule employees for a given job. The application will use the following two tables: tblEmployeeAvailability, and tblScheduledEmployees.
Step 1: Select a job, to schedule, from the Job combo box (this will display the job's start and end dates)
Step 2: When the Job combo box's On Change event executes:
• The employees available to work the job will be selected from table tblEmployeeAvailability
• The available employees will be loaded into an embedded or linked Excel spreadsheet (see image below)

Step 3: I want to then, manipulate the Excel workbook to mark the dates I want to schedule the employees to work (see image below)

Step 4: Click the Schedule Selected Employees button. This will read the manipulated Excel workbook and save the data into the tblScheduledEmployees table.
NOTE: the Excel workbook will not be saved in the database.

If there is a better, much easier way of doing this, please let me know.
I don't really want to do it this way, but i don't know how to accomplish what i need to do by just using Access controls.

Is what I am trying to do possible? If so, how?

Thanks in advance,
mrotor

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Scott McDaniel (EE MVE )

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mainrotor

ASKER

Scott,
I think you are correct. I will probably use temporary tables for this. Will post my results later.

mrotor

Martin Liss

This question has been classified as abandoned and is closed as part of the Cleanup Program. See the recommendation for more details.