How to list all file names from a folder and sub-folders into a worksheet?
If you want to generate a list of file names within a directory in a worksheet, you can process the following ways to get a list of files from a directory in worksheet quickly.
- List all file names from a folder into worksheet by using a web browser
- List all file names from a folder into worksheet by using formula
- List all file names from a folder into worksheet by using VBA code
- List all file names from a folder and sub-folders into a worksheet with a powerful feature
List all file names from a folder into worksheet by using a web browser
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 in worksheet, see screenshot:
1. Go to copy the path of the folder (Folder Test) in Explorer. For example, the path of this folder is: C:\Users\AddinTestWin10\Desktop\Folder Test.
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:
- 1. With this method, only the files in the main folder can be displayed, the files in the subdirectory can not be listed.
- 2. The hyperlinks of the file names are not available.
List all file names from a folder into worksheet by using formula
In Excel, you can also use a formula to get the list of all filenames or psecifc type of filenames from a folder, please do with following steps:
1. Copy and paste the file path into a cell, and then type \* after the file path as below screenshot shown:
2. Then, click Formula > Name Manager, see screenshot:
3. In the Name Manager dialog box, click New button, see screenshot:
4. In the popped out New Name dialog box, specify a name into the Name text box, and then enter the below formula into the Refers to text box, see screenshot:
Note: In this formula, Sheet1!$A$1 is the cell of the worksheet contains the file path you are instered in step 1.
5. And then, click OK > Close to close the dialogs, and then enter the following formula into a blank cell where you want to list the file names, and drag the fill hanlde down untill blank cells are displayed, now, all file names in the specified folder have been listed as below screenshot shown:
Note: In this formula, Filenames is the range name you are created in step 4, and A1 is the cell contains the file path.
- 1. You should save this workbook as Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook format, if you want the formulas work well after the file is closed and reopened.
- 2. If you want to list all files with a specific extension, such as list all docx file names, in this case, you just need to use *docx* instead of *, similarly, for xlsx files, please use *xlsx*.
List all file names from a folder into worksheet by using VBA code
Using the following VBA to list files in a folder in a worksheet:
1. Open a worksheet, and click to select a cell where you want to put the filenames.
2. Hold down the ALT + F11 keys in Excel, and it opens the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.
3. Click Insert > Module, and paste the following code in the Module Window.
VBA code: List all file names from a folder into a worksheet
Sub listfiles()
'Updateby Extendoffice
Dim xFSO As Object
Dim xFolder As Object
Dim xFile As Object
Dim xFiDialog As FileDialog
Dim xPath As String
Dim I As Integer
Set xFiDialog = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFolderPicker)
If xFiDialog.Show = -1 Then
xPath = xFiDialog.SelectedItems(1)
End If
Set xFiDialog = Nothing
If xPath = "" Then Exit Sub
Set xFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set xFolder = xFSO.GetFolder(xPath)
For Each xFile In xFolder.Files
I = I + 1
ActiveSheet.Hyperlinks.Add Cells(I, 1), xFile.Path, , , xFile.Name
Next
End Sub
4. Then press F5 key to run the code, a new window Browse will be displayed. Select the folder you would like to be listed the filenames.
5. Then click OK, the files in the specific folder have been listed into the worksheet with hyperlinks. See screenshot:
List all file names from a folder and sub-folders into a worksheet with a powerful feature
The Filename List utility of Kutools for Excel can easily generate a list of files from a directory in a worksheet as below demo shown. Click to download Kutools for Excel!
After installing Kutools for Excel, please do as this:
1. Open Excel, Click Kutools Plus > Import / Export > Filename List…, see screenshot:
2. In the Filename List dialog box,do the following operations:
(1.) Click 
button to specify the folder which contains the files you want to list;
(2.) Check the Include files in subdirections option to list all file names in subfolders or check the Include hidden files and folders option to list all names of hidden files as well as file names in hidden folders;
(3.) Specify the file type that you want to list under the Files type section;
(4.) Select one file size unit you want to display from the File size unit section you need.
(5.) Check the Create hyperlinks option as you need.
3. Click OK. It will generate a list of files in the directory or subdirectory in a new worksheet. See screenshot:
Click to Download Kutools for Excel and free trial Now!
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- Create A List Of All Worksheet Names From A Workbook
- Supposing, you have a workbook with multiple worksheets, now you want to list all of the sheet names in current workbook, is there any quick method for creating a list of theses sheet names in Excel without typing them one by one? This tutorial is giving instructions on how to list worksheet names in Excel.
- Copy Or Move Files From One Folder To Another Based On A List
- If you have a list of file names in a column in a worksheet, and the files locate in a folder in your computor. But, now, you need to move or copy these files which names are listed into the worksheet from their original folder to another one as following screenshot shown. How could you finish this task as quickly as you can in Excel?
- Get List Of Sheet Names In Google Sheets
- This article, I will introduce some methods to get the name of current sheet name or a list of sheet names in Google sheets.
- Navigate Between Worksheets By Using Drop Down List
- Supposing, you have a workbook which contains multiple worksheets, now, you need to create a drop down list or combo box which lists all sheet names and when you select one sheet name from the drop down list, it will jump to that sheet immediately. This article, I will introduce how to navigate between worksheets by using a drop down list in Excel.
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