How to list files in a directory to worksheet in Excel?

If you want to generate a list of files in a directory or list files in a folder in a worksheet, you can process the following ways to get a list of files from a directory in worksheet quickly.

Get a list of files in worksheet by using a web browser; Too many steps, it's not a handy trick.

Using VBA to list files of a folder in a worksheet; Too complicated, need to know VBA.

List files in a folder or subdirectory in worksheet with Filename list. It's quite handy.

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Get a list of files in worksheet by using a web browser

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Learn more Free download If you want to list files in a folder by using the web browser, you should make sure you have one of the web browsers (Firefox, Opera and Google Chrome) installed in your computer. Supposing you need to list files of following folder (list files in worksheet) in worksheet, see screenshot: (Its applicable in Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. )

1. Go to copy the path of the folder (dt kte) in Explorer. For example, the path of this folder is: C:\Users\dt\Desktop\dt kte.

2. Open one of the web browsers (FireFox, Opera and Google Chrome) and paste the folder path in the address bar and press Enter key. See screenshot:

3. Click Ctrl+A to select all contents in the web browser and press Ctrl+C to copy them.

4. Open Excel and directly paste (using Ctrl+V shortcuts to paste) them in a worksheet. See screenshot:

Disadvantage: this method cannot list files in the subdirectory.

Using VBA to list files of a folder in a worksheet

Using the following VBA to list files in a folder in a worksheet:

1. Open a worksheet, click Developer > Visual Basic, a new Microsoft Visual Basic for applications window will be displayed, click Insert > Module, and then input the following codes in the module:

Option Explicit Sub GetFileNames() Dim xRow As Long Dim xDirect$, xFname$, InitialFoldr$ InitialFoldr$ = "C:\" '<<< Startup folder to begin searching from With Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker) .InitialFileName = Application.DefaultFilePath & "\" .Title = "Please select a folder to list Files from" .InitialFileName = InitialFoldr$ .Show If .SelectedItems.Count <> 0 Then xDirect$ = .SelectedItems(1) & "\" xFname$ = Dir(xDirect$, 7) Do While xFname$ <> "" ActiveCell.Offset(xRow) = xFname$ xRow = xRow + 1 xFname$ = Dir Loop End If End With End Sub

2. Then click

button to run the operation, a new window Please select a folder to list files from

will be displayed. Select the folder you would like to be listed the filenames.

3. Then click OK. See screenshot:

Disadvantage: By using this VBA, you can only get a list of filenames in a worksheet, no hyperlinks link to files and no other information. its not easy to get a list of files in a folder in a worksheet.

List files in a folder or subdirectory in worksheet with Filename list

The Filename List utility of Kutools for Excel can easily generate a list of files from a directory in a worksheet.

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If you have installed Kutools for Excel, you can quickly get a list of files in a folder in worksheet as follows:

1. Open Excel, Click Enterprise > Import/Export > Filename List

2. In the Filename List dialog box, specify the folder you want to list in worksheet by clicking button, and specify other settings. See screenshot:

3. Click OK. It will generate a list of files in the directory or subdirectory in worksheet. See screenshot:

Advantage: you can specify to list the files of the subdirectory or not, to create hyperlinks for each file or folder. You can also specify to list the files in the list according to the extensions of file types. Its quite easy for all Excel users.

For more detailed information about Filename List, please visit Filename List feature description.

Source : http://www.extendoffice.com/documents/excel/627-excel-list-files.html