Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Appending to a Non-Excel Text File.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 10, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
When using a macro to write information to a text file, you may want to add information to an existing file, rather than creating a new text file from scratch. To do this, all you need to do is open the file for Append rather than Output. The following code shows this process:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Open "MyFile.Dat" For Append As #1
For J = 1 to NewValues
Print #1, UserVals(OrigVals + J)
Next J
Close #1
When the file is opened for Append mode, any new information is added to the end of the file, without disturbing the existing contents.
Understand that the information in this tip shows how to add data to a text file; it doesn't indicate where that data should come from. In other words, if you want the data to come from information stored in variables in your macro, you'll need to determine which variable contents to write to the file. (The example code actually uses variables—the UserVals array—for writing information to the text file.) If, however, you want the information to be pulled from a worksheet, then you'll need to create the code that grabs the information from the desired cells and, in turn, writes it out to the text file. (This tip is not about grabbing the data, but about writing it to the file.)
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2536) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Appending to a Non-Excel Text File.
Dive Deep into Macros! Make Excel do things you thought were impossible, discover techniques you won't find anywhere else, and create powerful automated reports. Bill Jelen and Tracy Syrstad help you instantly visualize information to make it actionable. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, real-world case studies, and 50 workbooks packed with examples and solutions. Check out Microsoft Excel 2019 VBA and Macros today!
You can use Excel for all types of data processing. You may want to work with filenames in a worksheet, but the first ...
Discover MoreThe data stored in a worksheet can often correspond to information external to that worksheet. For instance, you might ...
Discover MoreWhen you choose to save worksheet data in CSV format, Excel gives you three choices for file formats. Those choices are ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments