PPT97: Sample Code to Change Source of Linked Excel Worksheet

• Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

This article provides a sample Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro (Sub procedure) that searches a presentation for linked Excel OLE objects and changes the linked source of these objects to a single source workbook that you specify. This macro retains links to specific spreadsheet ranges and objects, and allows you to change the source workbook.

This macro assumes that the linked objects are all Excel Spreadsheet objects and that the links are to sections of spreadsheets, and not to entire workbooks.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

Sample Visual Basic Procedure

   Sub ChangeExcelSource()

   Dim i As Integer
   Dim k As Integer

   ' Create a variable to store the worksheet reference string.
   Dim linkname As String

   ' Create a variable to store the position of the worksheet
   ' reference in the .SourceFullName property of the OLEFormat
   ' object.
   Dim linkpos As Integer

   ' Set a For loop to go from slide 1 to the last slide in the
   ' presentation.
   For i = 1 To ActivePresentation.Slides.Count

      ' Select the slide based on the index value.
      With ActivePresentation.Slides(i)

         ' Loop through all the objects on slide.
         For k = 1 To .Shapes.Count

            ' Use only shapes on the slide.
            With .Shapes(k)

               ' If the shape's type is an OLE object then...
               If .Type = msoLinkedOLEObject Then

                 ' Change the path to new source and set the update
                 ' type to Automatic. First find where the worksheet
                 ' reference is, and then store it in linkname. Next
                 ' assign the new path and concatenate the chart name
                 ' to the end of the path.
                 With .LinkFormat

                 ' Find where in the source path string the
                 ' character "!" occurs, and assign the position
                 ' to the variable linkpos.
                 linkpos = InStr(1, .SourceFullName, "!", _
                    vbTextCompare)

                 ' Assign linkname to worksheet reference at the
                 ' end of the source file path.
                 linkname = Right(.SourceFullName, _
                    Len(.SourceFullName) - linkpos)
                 .SourceFullName = "c:\document\fileb.xls!" & linkname
                    .AutoUpdate = ppUpdateOptionAutomatic
                 End With

               End If

            End With

         Next k

      End With

   Next i

   ' Update all links in the presentation, so that the changes are
   ' visible and the source file locations are correct on the screen.
   ActivePresentation.UpdateLinks
   End Sub

REFERENCES

For more information about creating Visual Basic for Applications macros, click the Office Assistant in Microsoft PowerPoint, type "how to create a macro," click Search, and then click to view "Create a macro in Visual Basic Editor."

For more information about running Visual Basic for Applications macros, click the Office Assistant in Microsoft PowerPoint, type "how to run a macro," click Search, and then click to view "Run a macro."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
   TITLE     : OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications