Open Excel from VBA in Word

Question

I use Office for Mac and I want to open Excel (and then a document within it) using a macro in Word.

Dim myexl As Excel.Application '(1)
Dim myworkbook As Workbooks
Dim my_path As String

...

Set myexl = CreateObject("Excel.Application") '(2)
Set myworkbook = myexl.Workbooks.Open(my_path) '(3)

However, the line (2) generates "Type mismatch" in the above code. If I try to switch (1) so that instead it reads

Dim myexl As Object

then (2) works but now I get "Object doesn't support this property or method" for line (3). This is like a catch 22.

How can I solve this? I want to open Excel and still be able to use the methods of an Excel.Application. Is there some way to cast the type or something similar?

Answer 1

use Object type for myworkbook variable, too:

    Dim my_path As String
    my_path = "some valid path to wanted workbook"

    On Error GoTo SafeExit
    Dim myexl As Object
    Set myexl = CreateObject("Excel.Application")

    Dim myworkbook As Object
    Set myworkbook = myexl.Workbooks.Open(my_path)

    myexl.Visible = True


    ...

SafeExit:
    MsgBox Err.Number & " - " & Err.Description
    If Not myexl Is Nothing Then myexl.Quit ' <-- this will close the excel instance you opened (if any)
    Set myexl = Nothing

Answer 2

To open an excel file from word, you do need to define myexl as Object. You also define myworkbook as object.

This solution was taken from " https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/how-do-i-open-a-specific-excel-file-through-vba-in/19201a70-6afe-4799-96bf-521cc6020718 ". I tested it just now and it worked, let me know if you run into issues.

Dim myexl As Object
Dim myworkbook As Object
Dim my_path As String = "C:\Path\WorkbookName.xlsx"

On Error Resume Next
    Set myexl = GetObject(, "Excel.Application")
    If Err Then
        Set myexl = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
    End If
    On Error GoTo 0
    Set myworkbook = myexl.Workbooks.Open(FileName:=my_path)
    myexl.Visible = True
lbl_Exit:
    Set myexl = Nothing
    Set myworkbook = Nothing
    Exit Sub
End Sub