Excel question - possible to generate image previews from a URL?

May 23, 2024 1:39 PM

If you're a freak in the Sheets, this is the question for you!

I have an excel spreadsheet of data with a column full of image URLs. I would like to be able to generate an image preview for each image URL using a formula (ie: not manually). I would like the image preview to be visible within my spreadsheet along with the rest of the data in its row.

Is there a way to do this? I have tried the =IMAGE() function, but receive the error "BLOCKED!"

If this is not possible in Excel, is there another way to do this? Using coding/browser? I need the image previews to be in a list with the other data that is attached to them.

I am open to all options. except manually generating 200 image previews by opening each link in a browser (hopefully there is a better way in 2024).

Thanks in advance

posted by winterportage to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

Solving the "BLOCKED" error is probably going to be your best bet - it'll depend on what the issue is, but there are some various things that can cause it listed here. I'd try a) making sure Excel can connect to untrusted URLs for this document and b) changing the URLs to https if they aren't already, at the very least.
posted by sagc at 1:49 PM on May 23

Try using VBA instead.
posted by oceano at 2:52 PM on May 23

Best answer: If Excel isn't working, it might be worth trying Google Sheets (=IMAGE('YourURL') should do it, though you can also specify dimensions if you want).
posted by ssg at 3:33 PM on May 23

just popped in to high-five you, OP, for “freak in the Sheets” as an excel reference :)
posted by tamarack at 9:27 PM on May 23 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks for the help everybody! I was able to use the Google Sheets solution. I believe my problem was that my photos were not stored locally, and so Excel could not access them, but Google could.
posted by winterportage at 9:31 AM on September 7