Home » Tip Bank » Application Design » User Interface Design » Web UI

Language: Visual Basic
Expertise: Beginner

May 18, 2004

Importing Web content into your Excel workbook is simple using Micorosoft's WinHTTP tools (they are free and included with IE).

First, create and save an Excel Workbook. Next, access the visual basic editor (ALT-F11). Insert a new module and paste the following code:

Public Sub GetPage(Optional prmURL As Variant)
    Dim WinHttpReq As WinHttp.WinHttpRequest
    Dim txtURL As Variant
        
    If IsMissing(prmURL) Or IsNull(prmURL) Or IsEmpty(prmURL) Then
        txtURL = "http://www.devx.com"
    Else
        txtURL = prmURL
    End If
    
    
    ' Create an instance of the WinHTTPRequest ActiveX object.
    Set WinHttpReq = New WinHttpRequest
    
    ' Assemble an HTTP Request.
    WinHttpReq.Open "GET", txtURL, False

    ' Send the HTTP Request.
    WinHttpReq.Send
    
    ' Put status and content type into your workbook Column 1, row 2 and 3
    ActiveSheet.Cells(2, 1) = WinHttpReq.Status & " - " & WinHttpReq.StatusText
    ActiveSheet.Cells(3, 1) = WinHttpReq.ResponseText
End Sub

Lastly, insert a Visual Basic button in your file, and have it call the procedure. For example:

 
GetPage "http://www.microsoft.com"