Check if File/Folder exists | Mac Excel Automation

Check if File or Folder exists on Mac

Note : When you use VBA in Mac Excel 2016 or higher that is working with files and folders you will notice that it is possible that it will ask you permission to access the file or folder (Grant File Access Prompt), this is because of Apple’s sandbox requirements.This means that when you want to save/open files or check if it exists with VBA code the first time you will be prompted to allow access on the first attempt to access such a folder or file. If you want to avoid problems like this use the AppleScriptTask example on this page or read the info on this page: Problems with Apple’s sandbox requirements

Use VBA Dir to check if a file or Folder exists

I have decided to remove the samples for testing whether a file or a directory exists with VBA Dir from this page. Unfortunately, there are still problems with Dir that cannot be solved at the moment. The advantage of using the AppleScriptTask example on this page is that it will not ask you permission to access the file or folder (Grant File Access Prompt). I hope there will be a solution for the problems with VBA Dir soon so that I can share examples on this page again.

Use AppleScriptTask to check if a file or Folder exists

With the AppleScriptTask method you need to distribute an extra file containing the script, and it must be placed in the specified location on the user’s system to have permission to run. This requires some user interaction the first time.

I create this install script for you to copy the script file in the correct location, you can download the Install.scpt script together with the FileFolder.scpt file below. The folder must be in the Users Download folder, you see that if you download the compressed folder from my website it will automatically uncompressed in your Downloads folder and you can double-click the Install.scpt file in it to Open and Run it to copy the FileFolder.scpt in the correct location so the AppleScriptTask function can find it. The advantage of using the AppleScriptTask example is that it will not ask you permission to access the file or folder (Grant File Access Prompt).

You can download the Install.scpt and FileFolder.scpt files below (File dates 4-Dec-24)
Download Files

Below you find the VBA macro's that you can use in your VBA projects now

Sub TestFileExists1()
 'Test if a file with the name FileName.xlsm is on your Desktop in the folder TestFolder
    Dim RunMyScript As Boolean
    Dim FilePath As String
    
    FilePath = MacScript("return POSIX path of (path to Desktop) as string") & "TestFolder/FileName.xlsm"
    
    RunMyScript = AppleScriptTask("FileFolder.scpt", "ExistsFile", FilePath)
    If RunMyScript = True Then
        MsgBox "File exists"
    Else
        MsgBox "File not exists"
    End If
End Sub


Sub TestFileExists2()
 'Test if a file with the name FileName.xlsm is on your Desktop in the folder TestFolder
    Dim RunMyScript As Boolean
    Dim FilePath As String
    
    FilePath = "/Users/rondebruin/Desktop/TestFolder/FileName.xlsm"

    RunMyScript = AppleScriptTask("FileFolder.scpt", "ExistsFile", FilePath)
    If RunMyScript = True Then
        MsgBox "File exists"
    Else
        MsgBox "File not exists"
    End If
End Sub


Sub TestFolderExists1()
'Test if the folder with the name TestFolder is on your Desktop
    Dim RunMyScript As Boolean
    Dim FolderPath As String
    
     'If you want to test a folder in the TestFolder use & "TestFolder/OtherFolder"
    FolderPath = MacScript("return POSIX path of (path to Desktop) as string") & "TestFolder"
    
    RunMyScript = AppleScriptTask("FileFolder.scpt", "ExistsFolder", FolderPath)
    If RunMyScript = True Then
        MsgBox "Folder exists"
    Else
        MsgBox "Folder not exists"
    End If
End Sub


Sub TestFolderExists2()
'Test if the folder with the name TestFolder is on your Desktop
    Dim RunMyScript As Boolean
    Dim FolderPath As String
    
    FolderPath = "/Users/rondebruin/Desktop/TestFolder"
    
    RunMyScript = AppleScriptTask("FileFolder.scpt", "ExistsFolder", FolderPath)
    If RunMyScript = True Then
        MsgBox "Folder exists"
    Else
        MsgBox "Folder not exists"
    End If
End Sub