VBA Function To Test For Internet Connection
What This VBA Code Does
Sometimes you might be writing macro code that requires reaching out to cloud-based files or applications. In this event, you may want to test that your user has internet connectivity before proceeding with the tasks that require an internet connection.
VBA Code:
The following VBA function code uses the MSXML2.XMLHTTP object to make a request to Google’s homepage. If the status code returned is the value 200, it means that the request to the web address was successful, and therefore, an active internet connection has been established.
If there is an error, such as no internet connection being available, the function will return the value False.
There is also an optional input to the function that if TRUE will prevent the message box prompt from displaying. There may be instances where you want to exit your macro without notifying the user they don’t have an internet connection.
Private Function IsInternetConnected(Optional SupressMessage As Boolean) As Boolean
'PURPOSE: Output TRUE if computer has an internet connection
'SOURCE: www.thespreadsheetguru.com
Dim objHTTP As Object
'Test for Internet Connection
On Error Resume Next
Set objHTTP = CreateObject("MSXML2.XMLHTTP")
objHTTP.Open "GET", "https://www.google.com", False
objHTTP.Send
IsInternetConnected = (objHTTP.Status = 200)
On Error GoTo 0
'Report to User if Internet Connection not detected
If IsInternetConnected = False And SupressMessage = False Then
MsgBox "No internet connection detected! Connection to the internet is required before proceeding", _
vbCritical, "No Internet Detected"
End If
End FunctionUsing VBA Code Found On The Internet
Now that you’ve found some VBA code that could potentially solve your Excel automation problem, what do you do with it? If you don’t necessarily want to learn how to code VBA and are just looking for the fastest way to implement this code into your spreadsheet, I wrote an article (with video) that explains how to get the VBA code you’ve found running on your spreadsheet.
Getting Started Automating Excel
Are you new to VBA and not sure where to begin? Check out my quickstart guide to learning VBA. This article won’t overwhelm you with fancy coding jargon, as it provides you with a simplistic and straightforward approach to the basic things I wish I knew when trying to teach myself how to automate tasks in Excel with VBA Macros.
Also, if you haven’t checked out Excel’s latest automation feature called Power Query, I have put together a beginner’s guide for automating with Excel’s Power Query feature as well! This little-known built-in Excel feature allows you to merge and clean data automatically with little to no coding!
How Do I Modify This To Fit My Specific Needs?
Chances are this post did not give you the exact answer you were looking for. We all have different situations and it’s impossible to account for every particular need one might have. That’s why I want to share with you: My Guide to Getting the Solution to your Problems FAST! In this article, I explain the best strategies I have come up with over the years to get quick answers to complex problems in Excel, PowerPoint, VBA, you name it!
I highly recommend that you check this guide out before asking me or anyone else in the comments section to solve your specific problem. I can guarantee that 9 times out of 10, one of my strategies will get you the answer(s) you are needing faster than it will take me to get back to you with a possible solution. I try my best to help everyone out, but sometimes I don’t have time to fit everyone’s questions in (there never seem to be quite enough hours in the day!).
I wish you the best of luck and I hope this tutorial gets you heading in the right direction!
After 10+ years of creating macros and developing add-ins, I've compiled all the hacks I wish I had known years ago!
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Chris Newman
Chris is a finance professional and Excel MVP recognized by Microsoft since 2016. With his expertise, he founded TheSpreadsheetGuru blog to help fellow Excel users, where he shares his vast creative solutions & expertise. In addition, he has developed over 7 widely-used Excel Add-ins that have been embraced by individuals and companies worldwide.