Winzip - Quick way to zip up files from different path?

[mingali]

Hi

I have a folder that contain a list of files in shortcut type. So that i can just click it without going to different drives and paths to open those files and it really save my time.

After updating those files, i need to zip it up. There are many files to zip up and it takes time by going to its path one by one. Do you guys know is there any method to zip up those files without going to its relevant drives and paths?

Thanks

[arthurbr]

Rin de bruin has some solutions at his site

[mingali]

Hi Andy,

I hope you are not running thin of your patient. I went to tools but reference cannot be selected. Any idea why?

Thanks

[Andy Pope]

Perhaps you IT have set it so you can not access them.

You could try late binding code.

Sub X()
' requires reference to  Windoes Scripting Host object model
    Dim objWSH As Object '  WshShell
    Dim wshShortcut As Object 'wshShortcut
    Dim strFile As String
    Dim strPath As String
    Dim strName As String
    
''    Set objWSH = New WshShell
    
    Set objWSH = CreateObject("WScript.shell")
    strPath = "C:\temp\MyShortcuts\"
    strFile = Dir(strPath & "*.lnk")
    Do While Len(strFile) > 0
        Set wshShortcut = objWSH.CreateShortcut(strPath & strFile)
        strName = strPath & Mid(wshShortcut.TargetPath, InStrRev(wshShortcut.TargetPath, "\") + 1)
        Debug.Print wshShortcut.TargetPath, strName
        
''        FileCopy wshShortcut.TargetPath, strName
        strFile = Dir
    Loop
    
    Set objWSH = Nothing

End Sub

[mingali]

Hi Andy,

It works perfectly....well, at least at home. i will try again at work tomorrow.

Thanks for your help ;-)

[mingali]

Hi Andy,

It did not work at workplace. When i click F5, nothing show up in the immediate window. I tried both version you provided. At my workplace, i can access to tools -> reference and i did tick 'windows scripting host object model'.

What else may have gone wrong?

Thanks

[Andy Pope]

Add a line to the code to check it is running.

Debug.print "Running"

Does the word running appear in the immediate window?
If yes then check the path name you are using is correct.
if not then check macros are enabled and that you can run them

[mingali]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for your reply

Add a line to the code to check it is running.

Where shall i add this additional line?

Does the word running appear in the immediate window?

No

if not then check macros are enabled and that you can run them

How to check marcos are enabled?

[Andy Pope]

You can literally add it any where within the routine.

Try this, do you see the message boxes?

Sub X()
' requires reference to  Windoes Scripting Host object model
    Dim objWSH As Object '  WshShell
    Dim wshShortcut As Object 'wshShortcut
    Dim strFile As String
    Dim strPath As String
    Dim strName As String
    
msgbox "About to run my code"
' if zero then path is not correct

msgbox Len(dir("C:\temp\myshortcuts",vbDirectory))


''    Set objWSH = New WshShell
    
    Set objWSH = CreateObject("WScript.shell")
    strPath = "C:\temp\MyShortcuts\"
    strFile = Dir(strPath & "*.lnk")
    Do While Len(strFile) > 0
        Set wshShortcut = objWSH.CreateShortcut(strPath & strFile)
        strName = strPath & Mid(wshShortcut.TargetPath, InStrRev(wshShortcut.TargetPath, "\") + 1)
        Debug.Print wshShortcut.TargetPath, strName
        
''        FileCopy wshShortcut.TargetPath, strName
        strFile = Dir
    Loop
    
    Set objWSH = Nothing

End Sub

[mingali]

Hi Andy,

[QUOTE=
Try this, do you see the message boxes?
[/QUOTE]

Yes, there are two message boxes. However, immediate window still remains blank.

What is your suggestion for next step?

Thanks

[mingali]

Thank Andy.

I will try it on Monday and let you know.

[mingali]

Thanks Andy.

I will try it tommorrow and let you know.

[mingali]

Hi Andy,

I will try it tomorrow and see how it goes.

FYI, i did create another new folder in my desktop with different filenames and to see whether the macro (the one you provided yesterday) can be executed or not. Unfortunately, no message box also.

Today, i just zipped up those files one by one and it took me about one hour. I really hope your macro can run at my workplace PC so that i can have an easier life.

How come it works in my home PC but not office PC?

Thanks

[Andy Pope]

How come it works in my home PC but not office PC?

If I knew I would tell you.

You may have to get you IT guys involved to hunt down the reason for it not working on your work pc, as the code itself acutally works as you have demonstrated on your home pc.

[mingali]

Hi Andy,

It works now!!!! Yahoo!!!

I asked an IT guys to look into it. He did something on my PC and then your code works!!!! How happy I am now ;-)

Thank you very much. Your code save me about an hour time a month. Have seen how powerful marco is, now i am learning it. Hopefully, i can learn and understand it faster so that i can apply it to my job and save me more time for more relevant work.

[Andy Pope]

Glad you got it working.

[mingali]

Thanks for your prompt answer.

as you are aware, my goal is to take less time to zip up those files.

Does the first method requires me to go to all the drives and paths to copy those files to the common folder after i update the files everytime?

Unfortunately, the second method is out of question as my company does not allow us to instal any software.

[mingali]

i just tried an experiment. when the files in the folder are shortcut type, the zip up version is also shortcut type. So it doesnt work in this way.

you mentioned double click the files, does it mean i need to open the file from the folder and zip it one by one? Some files are so large that it take two or three minutes to open. So in fact, it is slower than going to different path. If it is not what you meant, can you please give me a clearer explanation as i have misunderstood?

FYI, after updating those files, i need to close it for my boss to review. After he reviewed only then i zip those files up.

Thanks

[Andy Pope]

Maybe this will help you collect a copy of the orginal files, based on the shortcut information, into the folder of short cuts.

Then you can select all .xls files and zip. Once you have a zip you can delete the copied .xls files

Sub X()
' requires reference to  Windoes Scripting Host object model
    Dim objWSH As WshShell
    Dim wshShortcut As wshShortcut
    Dim strFile As String
    Dim strPath As String
    Dim strName As String
    
    Set objWSH = New WshShell
    
    strPath = "C:\temp\MyShortcuts\"
    strFile = Dir(strPath & "*.lnk")
    Do While Len(strFile) > 0
        Set wshShortcut = objWSH.CreateShortcut(strPath & strFile)
        strName = strPath & Mid(wshShortcut.TargetPath, InStrRev(wshShortcut.TargetPath, "\") + 1)
        Debug.Print wshShortcut.TargetPath, strName
        
''        FileCopy wshShortcut.TargetPath, strName
        strFile = Dir
    Loop
    
    Set objWSH = Nothing

End Sub

So I have a folder in C:\temp called MyShortcuts. This folder contains shortcuts to xls files in other locations.
The code currently only displays information in the immediate window about which files and where they are stored.

[mingali]

Hi Arthurbr & Andy,

I dont know how to use Marco. So i am not sure how to apply it. Sorry about it.

[Andy Pope]

Open new workbook.
ALT+F11 to go to vbe
Insert Module
Paste code

CTRL+G to display immediate window, where the output will be displayed

Change folder locations names to suit your setup

With the cursor in the code F5 to execute code

The immediate window should contain source and destination file details

If all looks correct remove '' to un comment FileCopy command and re run.