Choose a picture to be used in the "Insert" process

Brian F · Sep 18, 2014

Excel 2010, Windows 8.1;
Short version; I want to double click on a picture to identify it as the photo to use in a "Insert" process.

Long version; I need to insert a photo and then format it to properly fit the cell. I do this every day multiple times and have cooked up a variety of ways to do this but none of them are generic enough to handle the different file naming protocols from different cameras. I want to identify the photo by double clicking on it rather than having to describe the entire photo name e.g. "DSCF1023.JPG" or "IMAG 140917_00022".

The photos to be accessed for insertion are always placed in the same folder "Report_Photos" (and I have no problem identifying where those photos are in a VBA statement.

I can easily insert a picture from my "Report_Photos" folder by clicking Insert > Picture, going to the folder and clicking on the picture but then the routine has run its course and the picture isn't formatted. [Excel is doing something like "ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert("C:\Report_Photos\DSCF1023.JPG").Select"] The problem is that double clicking on the photo "DSCF1023.JPG" fires off the routine to completion giving me no chance to include formatting.

If I wrote a macro to insert the picture I could have it go to the "Report_Photos" folder but how do I choose (identify) a specific photo (ThisPhoto.jpg) to include in the statement ("C:\Report_Photos\ThisPhoto.jpg).Select"]. It seems to me I need to be able to double click on the picture to identify it the photo I want to use (just as Excel does). [I do not want to have to enter the photo file name by hand]. Once I've identified the photo and included it in the Insert process, I can continue on with VBA Insert process followed by code to format the picture.

Help is always appreciated.

spacebouncer · Sep 18, 2014

I would...

Easy way:
Choose an appropriate way to identify the cell you're inserting into.
Add a shape, setting top and left to top and left of the cell, height and width to height and width of the cell Shapes.AddShape method (Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel)
Set the fill as a picture, using the following to allow you to easily select your picture. Application.FileDialog Property (Excel)

Harder:
Create the picture as an object, writing the code into a class module.
Automate further by using a better way of naming the pictures so the path for the picture can be worked out without you having to click the picture yourself.

Let me know if you need any further info.

Brian F · Sep 18, 2014

I will study your suggestions to see if I can apply one of them. Thank you for your help!

I have inserted and changed the photos in so many ways that your first suggested method reminded me that at one time I had a formatted generic photo in the cell in question. I would then right click on the generic photo and choose "Change Picture" which worked fairly well but I was annoyed by having to chase around to find the photo to switch for the generic photo. It also seemed amateurish (which I may be but I don't see the value in letting everyone know). So I made a macro that had the file path and I told the macro which photo to choose. The process of telling Excel which photo to choose turns to be too complicated to teach to others. I could also run the pictures through a "batch file namer" but that is going to confuse people even more.

I was hoping that there was a way to double click the photo [or something similar] (as excel allows you to do in "Insert" or Change picture") but no joy. Thanks again, I'll work on your proposed solutions. The worst that happens it that I learn something!

spacebouncer · Sep 18, 2014

Sorry I think I'm missing something here. If the object is a picture, then when you right click you should get the option to change picture. What do you want that different to this?

Choose a picture to be used in the "Insert" process

Brian F

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Brian F

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Choose a picture to be used in the "Insert" process

Brian F

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spacebouncer

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Brian F

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spacebouncer

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