Getting The Name Of The Parent Workbook In Excel

Do you ever find yourself wanting to know the name of the parent workbook in Excel? It can be a tricky task, but we’ve got you covered! In this article, we will show you how to quickly and easily get the name of the workbook in Excel.

Getting the Name of the Parent Workbook in Excel

In Excel, to obtain the name of the parent workbook, you have two solutions. The CELL function or VBA Method. Here are the steps for each method to acquire the parent workbook name:

1. For CELL:
   1. Access the CELL function.
   2. Input the required arguments.
   3. Get the parent workbook name.
2. For VBA Method:
   1. Open the Visual Basic Editor.
   2. Insert the code for the parent workbook name.
   3. Execute the code.
   4. Receive the parent workbook name.

Image credits: chouprojects.com by Joel Washington

Using the CELL Function

The process of finding the name of the parent workbook in Excel can be done effortlessly by utilizing the CELL function.

1. Begin by selecting any cell within your worksheet or dashboard.
2. Type in =CELL("filename") in the cell, then press Enter.
3. A path appears that includes the name of your file and a few other details.
4. Extract only the name of the parent workbook by adding a few characters to your previous formula: enter =LEFT(CELL("filename"),FIND("]",CELL("filename"))-1)
5. You can now see the name of your parent workbook displayed without any additional details.

Interestingly, using this method, you can dynamically obtain information about other workbooks as well.

Did you know that this technique can also extract useful properties such as sheet names and cell addresses?

Once I utilized the CELL function to retrieve my workbook’s name when working on a project with my colleagues remotely, and it saved us time from emailing back and forth!

You may not be fluent in VBA, but with this method, you’ll be speaking Excel’s language in no time.

Using VBA Method

To retrieve the name of the parent workbook in Excel, we can use the VBA method. By using this method, we can access key information about a workbook and utilize it for various purposes.

Follow these 6 easy steps to use VBA Method to get the Parent Workbook’s Name:

1. Open a new or existing Excel workbook.
2. Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor (VBE).
3. In the VBE window, click on “Insert” then “Module”.
4. Paste the following code:


Sub GetParentWorkbookName()
MsgBox ActiveWorkbook.Parent.Name
End Sub


5. Close the VBE window and switch back to your Excel workbook.
6. Run or execute the macro by Pressing F5 or Go To Developer > Macro > Select ‘GetParentWorkbookName’ macro and Click on Run button.

This will directly output a message box containing the Name of Parent Workbook.

It is important to note that, unlike worksheets, parent workbooks do not have an explicit name cell. Hence, extracting their respective names can be challenging at times. But using this method, you can easily retrieve parent name even if you don’t have direct access through GUI.

Pro Tip: Always make sure to keep your Macros enabled before executing them; otherwise, you won’t see any output or end up getting errors.

FAQs about Getting The Name Of The Parent Workbook In Excel

What is the importance of getting the name of the parent workbook in Excel?

Answer: Getting the name of the parent workbook in Excel is important because it helps in identifying the location of the file and can be used to reference the parent workbook from other workbooks or external applications.

What are the different methods to get the name of the parent workbook in Excel?

Answer: There are different methods to get the name of the parent workbook in Excel, such as using the formula “=CELL(“filename”,A1)” or using VBA code like “ActiveWorkbook.Name”, “ThisWorkbook.Name”, or “Application.ActiveWorkbook.Name”.

How to use the formula “=CELL(“filename”,A1)” to get the name of the parent workbook in Excel?

Answer: To use the formula “=CELL(“filename”,A1)” to get the name of the parent workbook in Excel, simply type the formula in a cell and enter it. The result will display the full path of the current workbook including the name of the file and sheet. To extract only the name of the parent workbook, use the formula “=MID(CELL(“filename”,A1),FIND(“]”,CELL(“filename”,A1))+1,255)”.

How to use VBA code to get the name of the parent workbook in Excel?

Answer: To use VBA code to get the name of the parent workbook in Excel, open the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) by pressing “Alt+F11”, then insert a new module, and type the code “ActiveWorkbook.Name”, “ThisWorkbook.Name”, or “Application.ActiveWorkbook.Name” depending on your needs. Save the file as a macro-enabled workbook and run the code by pressing “F5”.

Can the name of the parent workbook be changed?

Answer: Yes, the name of the parent workbook can be changed by clicking on “File” > “Save As” and entering a new name, or by using VBA code like “ActiveWorkbook.SaveAs Filename:=”NewName.xlsm””.

What are some best practices when getting the name of the parent workbook in Excel?

Answer: Some best practices when getting the name of the parent workbook in Excel include using absolute paths instead of relative paths, avoiding hardcoding the path or file name in the code, and handling errors and exceptions properly. It is also important to use a naming convention for consistency and clarity.