FreeFile

Returns an Integer representing the next file number available for use by the Open statement.

Syntax: FreeFile [ ( rangenumber ) ]

rangenumber

optional Variant that specifies the range from which the next free file number is to be returned. Specify 0 (default) to return a file number in the range 1–255, inclusive. Specify 1 to return a file number in the range 256–511.

Use FreeFile to supply a file number that is not already in use.

Common Errors

Error	When
-2147467259 (&H80004005), Unspecified error	every file number from 1 to 255 is in use
94 (&H5E), Invalid use of Null	rangenumber is Null

Note BETA 1034

When every file number from 1 to 255 is in use, VB6 and 64-bit VBA raise error 67 (&H43), Too many files, instead.

Example

This example uses the FreeFile function to return the next available file number. Five files are opened for output within the loop, and some sample data is written to each.

Dim MyIndex, FileNumber
For MyIndex = 1 To 5    ' Loop 5 times.
    FileNumber = FreeFile    ' Get unused file number.
    Open "TEST" & MyIndex For Output As #FileNumber    ' Create file name.
    Write #FileNumber, "This is a sample."    ' Output text.
    Close #FileNumber    ' Close file.
Next MyIndex