Advanced VBA | Working with text files exercise | Reading in a text file to draw a house

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The answer to the exercise will be included and explained if you attend one of more of the courses listed below!

Software ==> Advanced VBA  (33 exercises)
Version ==> Any MS Office versions
Topic ==> Working with text files  (2 exercises)
Level ==> Average difficulty
Courses ==> Fast track Excel VBA  /  Advanced VBA
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The folder above contains two files: an empty Excel worksheet, and the specification for how to fill it.  This is what the file GridSpec.txt looks like:

Advanced VBA exercise - Working with text files (image 1)

This shows, for example, that row 1 column 8 (ie cell H1) should be coloured in.

Write a macro which opens this text file as a read-only text stream, then reads through it line by line, using the coordinates specified for each line to colour in a single cell in the Excel worksheet.  For example, the lines shown would colour in:

  • Row 1 column 8
  • Row 2, column 3
  • Row 2, column 4

When you've finished, run your macro: you should be looking at an easily identifiable household object (so to speak), if badly drawn.

If you have time, try writing the macro to recreate the text file!

Save this file as Make a piccie, then close it down.

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