RDBMerge, Excel Merge Add-in for Excel for

Windows
Briefly! RDBMerge is a user friendly way to Merge Data from Multiple Excel Workbooks,
csv and xml files into a Summary Workbook.

Install the RDBMerge utility

1) Download the correct version and extract it to a local directory.
2) Copy RDBMerge.xla(m) to a unprotected directory on your system.
Tip: Use one folder for all your add-ins (easy to backup your add-ins this way)
3) Start Excel and open a workbook.
Excel 97-2003
Click Tools, click Add-Ins, use "Browse" to go to the add-in and then
click OK. Verify RDBMerge is checked in the add-in list and then click OK.
Excel 2007-2013
2007: Click the Microsoft Office Button, click Excel Options, click the Add-Ins tab.
2010-2013: Click on File, click on Options, click the Add-ins tab. In the Manage drop-down,
choose Excel Add-ins, and click Go. Use Browse to go to the add-in and then click on OK.
Verify RDBMerge is checked in the add-in list and then click OK.

How to use the RDBMerge Add-in Step by step

In Excel 2007-2013 you find a button named RDBMerge on the Ribbon on the Data tab to
open the UserForm. In Excel 97-2003 you find the menu option RDBMerge in the Data menu
to open the UserForm.
Folder Location:
In the folder location section click on the Browse button and select the folder with the files you
want to merge. After you do that you see the path returned in the UserForm.
Which Files:
In the section "Which Files" select the type of files in the dropdown that you want to merge. If
you use the first option "XL?" it will merge all type of Excel files with an extension that start
with XL (xls, xlsx, xlsm, xlsb). But you can also only merge files with a specific extension in
the folder.By default the option to merge all files in the folder is selected but you can also use
the option to filter on the file names, click on the Tips button for more information. In the
Add-in for Excel 2007-2013 there is also an option to select the files you want, easy if you do
not want to merge all the files in the folder.
Which worksheet(s):
In this section you have the option to choose the worksheet by index or name. If you use the
index 1 it will use the first worksheet in each file, you not have to know the worksheet name
this way. You can also merge data from all worksheets or use the filter option to filter on the
worksheet names, click on the Tips button for more information.
Which range:
You have the option to merge a fixed range (can be more than one area). Click on the Tips
button for more information. Or use the First cell ? till last cell on worksheet option, you can
change the start cell (default = A1). Use A2 for example if you not want to copy your header
each time.
Different options:
Before we press on the Merge button we have a few options here that you can change.
1: The Add file name checkbox will add the file name or file and sheet name before or above
your data.
You can use it for example to filter the Combine sheet for the data from a certain file.
2: To avoid problems with formulas I suggest you check Paste as values.
3: If your workbooks have links to other workbooks use the UpdateLinks option to update the
values.
4: Use the Paste data next to each other option if you want paste the data from each file next
to each other instead of below each other. If you set your fixed range for example to A1:A100
and check this check box it will use one column for each file in the combine sheet. If you
range have two columns it will use two columns for each file in the combine sheet.
5: If your workbooks have an Open password you can fill in the open/modify password in the
two text boxes, it is no problem if there are also workbooks with no password in the folder.
Click on the Merge button:
When you click on the Merge button it will create a new workbook for you with two
worksheets:

Combine Sheet with all the data

Log Sheet with copy/paste and error information
Then it is up to you if you want to save this workbook.
You see it is very easy to work with this add-in, testing all options with a few files in a test
folder is the best way to get familiar with this add-in. If you have problem or suggestions let
me know and I try to help you.
Note: If you merge XML files it is possible that you get a warning that Excel will be creating
its own schema for this schema-free document, check the checkbox "In the futere, do not
show this message" to stop this.

Download
Note: Download the add-in that is correct for your Excel version, If you want a Mac version of
the add-in check out the Mac section on my website.
Excel 2007-2013 version 1.4
File date(8-Dec-2010)
Excel 97-2003 version 1.3
File date(1 April-2010)

http://www.rondebruin.nl/win/addins/rdbmerge.htm