Shell and ShellExecute function

You can run another application or open a file by using the ShellExecute statement. This is basically the same as entering text into the Run window. First, declare this:

Private Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" (ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal lpOperation As String, ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpParameters As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long

Some programs register its name, so that you only have to enter its application name (these also work in the Run window). Some of these are:

So, 

ShellExecute 0&, vbNullString, "WinWord", vbNullString, vbNullString, vbNormalFocus

Runs Word, and

ShellExecute 0&, vbNullString, "C:\test.doc", vbNullString, vbNullString, vbNormalFocus

opens C:\test.doc with its default viewer. Note that if the path you pass contains spaces, you need to surround it by quotes:

ShellExecute 0&, vbNullString, """C:\dir with spaces\test.doc""", vbNullString, vbNullString, vbNormalFocus

which is actually the equivalent of passing this:

" C:\dir with spaces\test.doc "

The fourth parameter specifies any command line parameters you want to pass. For example, if you wanted to run notepad, and get it to open c:\test.doc, then you would do this:

ShellExecute 0&, vbNullString, "notepad", "c:\test.doc", vbNullString, vbNormalFocus

The fifth parameter specifies the startup directory (ie the directory that that will be shown when you click open). This is the same as the StartIn parameter in a Shortcut.

The sixth parameter specifies the startup position, and can be one of the following:

The ShellExecute function will return 2 if the file is not found.

You can also use this statement for sending an email:

ShellExecute 0&, vbNullString, "mailto:[email protected]", vbNullString, vbNullString, vbNormalFocus

or to open a URL:

ShellExecute 0&, vbNullString, "http://www.vbweb.co.uk", vbNullString, vbNullString, vbNormalFocus