VBA – Build a Custom Import Interface

Would you prefer to have control over users importing files, instead of having them use the Excel features to do it? Do you need more control over your imports for validation or modification on import? There are multiple ways to do this and just as many requirement variations, but here are some of the building blocks to start from.

1. Put the following code in a module then run it

Public Sub CustomImport()


'Define Variables

Dim ImportFile As String

Dim ImportTitle As String

Dim TabName As String

Dim ControlFile As String
'Open common dialog and get filename

ImportFile = Application.GetOpenFilename( _

"Excel Files, *.xls, All Files, *.*")

ImportTitle = _

Mid(ImportFile, InStrRev(ImportFile, "\") + 1)
'Check cancel wasn't clicked

If ImportFile = "False" Then

Exit Sub

End If
'Import file

TabName = "MyCustomImport"

ControlFile = ActiveWorkbook.Name

Workbooks.Open Filename:=ImportFile

ActiveSheet.Name = TabName

Sheets(TabName).Copy _

Before:=Workbooks (ControlFile).Sheets(1)

Windows(ImportTitle).Activate

ActiveWorkbook.Close SaveChanges:=False

Windows(ControlFile).Activate

End Sub
Sidenote: This works well for *.xls, *.xlsx, *.xlsm, *.csv, and *.txt files. You can add or call code before the End Sub to modify the imported data before the user can touch it.