How can I display a URL as an image in an excel cell?

If you have a set of links in column J like:

and you run this short VBA macro:

Sub InstallPictures()
    Dim i As Long, v As String
    For i = 2 To 1903
        v = Cells(i, "J").Value
        If v = "" Then Exit Sub
        With ActiveSheet.Pictures
            .Insert (v)
        End With
    Next i
End Sub

each of the links will be opened and the associated Picture will be placed on the worksheet.

The pictures must the be properly sized and positioned.

EDIT#1:

Macros are very easy to install and use:

1. ALT-F11 brings up the VBE window
2. ALT-I ALT-M opens a fresh module
3. paste the stuff in and close the VBE window

If you save the workbook, the macro will be saved with it. If you are using a version of Excel later then 2003, you must save the file as .xlsm rather than .xlsx

To remove the macro:

1. bring up the VBE window as above
2. clear the code out
3. close the VBE window

To use the macro from Excel:

1. ALT-F8
2. Select the macro
3. Touch RUN

To learn more about macros in general, see:

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm

and

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee814735(v=office.14).aspx

Macros must be enabled for this to work!

EDIT#2:

To avoid stopping on retrieval errors, use this version:

Sub InstallPictures()
    Dim i As Long, v As String
    On Error Resume Next
        For i = 2 To 1903
            v = Cells(i, "J").Value
            If v = "" Then Exit Sub
            With ActiveSheet.Pictures
                .Insert (v)
            End With
        Next i
    On Error GoTo 0
End Sub

This is my modification:

• Replace cell with link with picture (not a new column)
• Make pictures get saved with document (instead of links which can be fragile)
• Make images slightly smaller so that they have a chance of sorting with their cells.

Code Below:

Option Explicit
Dim rng As Range
Dim cell As Range
Dim Filename As String

Sub URLPictureInsert()
    Dim theShape As Shape
    Dim xRg As Range
    Dim xCol As Long
    On Error Resume Next
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    ' Set to the range of cells you want to change to pictures
    Set rng = ActiveSheet.Range("A2:A600")  
    For Each cell In rng
        Filename = cell
        ' Use Shapes instead so that we can force it to save with the document
        Set theShape = ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddPicture( _
            Filename:=Filename, linktofile:=msoFalse, _
            savewithdocument:=msoCTrue, _
            Left:=cell.Left, Top:=cell.Top, Width:=60, Height:=60)
        If theShape Is Nothing Then GoTo isnill
        With theShape
            .LockAspectRatio = msoTrue
            ' Shape position and sizes stuck to cell shape
            .Top = cell.Top + 1
            .Left = cell.Left + 1
            .Height = cell.Height - 2
            .Width = cell.Width - 2
            ' Move with the cell (and size, though that is likely buggy)
            .Placement = xlMoveAndSize
        End With
        ' Get rid of the 
        cell.ClearContents
isnill:
        Set theShape = Nothing
        Range("A2").Select

    Next
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True

    Debug.Print "Done " & Now

End Sub

This one works much better in that the image end up beside the cell it belongs to.

Option Explicit
Dim rng As Range
Dim cell As Range
Dim Filename As String

Sub URLPictureInsert()
    Dim theShape As Shape
    Dim xRg As Range
    Dim xCol As Long
    On Error Resume Next
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    Set rng = ActiveSheet.Range("C1:C3000")   ' <---- ADJUST THIS
    For Each cell In rng
        Filename = cell
        If InStr(UCase(Filename), "JPG") > 0 Then   '<--- ONLY USES JPG'S
            ActiveSheet.Pictures.Insert(Filename).Select
            Set theShape = Selection.ShapeRange.Item(1)
            If theShape Is Nothing Then GoTo isnill
            xCol = cell.Column + 1
            Set xRg = Cells(cell.Row, xCol)
            With theShape
                .LockAspectRatio = msoFalse
                .Width = 100
                .Height = 100
                .Top = xRg.Top + (xRg.Height - .Height) / 2
                .Left = xRg.Left + (xRg.Width - .Width) / 2
            End With
isnill:
            Set theShape = Nothing
            Range("A2").Select
        End If
    Next
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True

    Debug.Print "Done " & Now

End Sub