Excel 2016 makes it very easy to create a list of files in a folder.

How have the first two months of 2019 been? I hope all is well with you and yours.

In this week’s Excel tip, you will learn a quick and easy way to get a list of all files in a folder and import the list into Excel.

In order to do this, we’ll be using the Excel Power Query add-in. It’s been available since version 2010, but is dramatically improved in versions 2016/365 and later.

In fact, if you find yourself having to use multiple functions and/or VBA to clean up your data before you analyze it, learning Power Query will save you hours each week. Feel free to contact me if you’d like our team to help yours master Power Query.

If you have questions, please call me (770-498-7333) or visit our contact link.

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Thank you for reading and have a great week! 

Excel 2016 Tip: Easily Create a List of Files and Folders

Have you ever needed to get a list of all of the files in a folder? It should be easy, but it isn't. Most of the instructions you'll find either involve working with the command line or writing VBA code.

Fortunately, with this Excel hack, it is possible to generate a list of folders easily.

In addition to the file name, you'll get the following information:

• File extension
• Date accessed
• Date modified
• Date created
• Folder Path

Here are the Excel 2016 instructions.

Open Excel and start a new workbook.

Click the Data tab in the ribbon. Click Get Data, then From File, then From Folder.

Click the Browse button.

Navigate to the folder, then click OK.

Click OK again.

A dialog box pops up with a preview of your file list. Click Load. 

Excel will create a list of all of the files in the folder and any sub-folders. 

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