opening a file with access 2000 [resolved]

[rickford66]

Hello,
I'm using Access2000 and I need to open a file. The file is not an exe and I will not know for sure the program used to open it. For an example, I'll just use a .pdf extension. I need, inside access, to tell windows to open the file with the default program that is set to view the file. Actually, in my case it will be a .dwf file and most likely Volvoview will view it. I will not know where Volvoview or whichever viewing program will be located. Anyway, I've seen some examples on a search but not exactly what I was looking for. Can anyone give me the command line that will start this process? The app that opens the file need not be hidden. From that point the user will interact with that app until they close it manually.
Thanks.

[RobDog888]

You can use the ShellExecute API to open any file in its default application.

Option Explicit
Option Compare Database
 
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
 
Private Const SW_SHOWNORMAL As Long = 1
Private Const SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED As Long = 3
 
Private Sub OpenSomething()
    ShellExecute Application.hWndAccessApp, "Open", "C:\Test.dwf", vbNullString, "C:\", SW_SHOWNORMAL
End Sub

[rickford66]

Thanks RobDog888. That works perfectly.

[RobDog888]

No problem.

Note: If the uses system doesnt have a program associated with the .dwf file extension the the "Open With..." dialog box will open
prompting the user to select which program to try to open the file with.