XL97: How to Programmatically Perform a Web Query

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

A Web query is a new feature in Microsoft Excel 97 that allows you to retrieve data stored on an intranet, the Internet, or the World Wide Web. A Web query can use static parameters, dynamic parameters, or a combination of both. Queries with static parameters send a query without any input; queries with dynamic parameters prompt you for input. Regardless of the type of parameters in the query, the requested information is pulled from an Internet or an intranet site, and the results are placed in a worksheet.

Using a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) form, you can use two methods to send parameters to the server: GET and POST. Use GET when you are sending small amounts of information and POST when you are sending larger amounts of information. The GET method appends the parameters to the Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The POST method sends the parameters as a separate line of text in the query file.

This article provides example macros that run Web queries that use both the GET and the POST methods.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic for Applications procedures for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. The Visual Basic procedures in this article are provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that they can be used in all situations. While Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular macro, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality, nor will they help you construct macros to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to consult one of the Microsoft Solution Providers. Solution Providers offer a wide range of fee-based services, including creating custom macros. For more information about Microsoft Solution Providers, call Microsoft Customer Information Service at (800) 426-9400.

Programmatically Running a Web Query

In order to programmatically run a Web query, you must use the Add method of the QueryTables collection. When you use the Add method, it returns a QueryTable object that represents the new query table. The syntax for the Add method is as follows:

   <expression>.Add(Connection, Destination, Sql)

Creating a Visual Basic Module

Before you use the examples in this article, you must create a module. To do this, use the following steps:

1. Save and close any open workbooks, and then create a new workbook.

2. Start the Visual Basic Editor (press ALT+F11).

3. On the Insert menu, click Module.

URL Examples

Static Web Query (GET Method):

The following example uses static parameters; you are not prompted for the values to send to the server. To create this macro, use the following steps:

1. In the module, type the following code:

         Sub URL_Get_Query()
      
             With ActiveSheet.QueryTables.Add(Connection:= _
                 "URL;http://webservices.pcquote.com/cgi-" & _
                 "bin/excelget.exe?TICKER=msft", _
                 Destination:=Range("a1"))
      
                 .BackgroundQuery = True
                 .TablesOnlyFromHTML = True
                 .Refresh BackgroundQuery:=False
                 .SaveData = True
             End With
         End Sub
   
   

2. Switch to Sheet1 in the workbook.

3. Run the URL_Get_Query macro.

Dynamic Web Query (POST Method):

The following example uses dynamic parameters; you are prompted for the values to send to the server. This example uses the POST method because the parameters are contained in the query. To create the macro, use the following steps:

1. Switch to the Visual Basic Editor and type the following macro in the module sheet:

         Sub URL_Post_Query()
      
             With ActiveSheet.QueryTables.Add(Connection:= _
                 "URL;http://webservices.pcquote.com/cgi-bin/excel.exe", _
                 Destination:=Range("a1"))
      
                 .PostText = _
                     "QUOTE0=[""QUOTE0"",""Enter up to 20 symbols separated " 
   

                  "by spaces.""]"
   
              .BackgroundQuery = True
              .TablesOnlyFromHTML = True
              .Refresh BackgroundQuery:=False
              .SaveData = True
          End With
      End Sub

                  "by spaces.""]"
   
              .BackgroundQuery = True
              .TablesOnlyFromHTML = True
              .Refresh BackgroundQuery:=False
              .SaveData = True
          End With
      End Sub