Outlook 2003: How to show a filedialog from Outlook

For some reason, Outlook does not support filedialogs (Application.FileDialog) while other applications do (Excel, Word). I have seen solutions to this problem that use automation to create a Word or Excel object and then use the filedialog property of the Word or Excel object to display a the filedialog (setting objWORD/objEXCEL.width = 0 and objWORD/objEXCEL.Height = 0). I have run into several issues when using this method and I am wondering if anyone knows how to display a filedialog through Outlook. Does Windows have a filedialog that can be displayed?

Thanks in advance for the help!

What are you trying to do? Is this using a UserForm or Outlook Form or VBA/Add-In code?

If your looking for a file browse dialog you can use APIs in a module of VBA code to manually generate a commondialog dialog.

Yes, I'm looking for a file browse dialog. I'm not all that familiar with using APIs. I'm guessing I would use the COMDLG32.dll?? Anything you could show me would be AWESOME!

Thanks for the help, robdog!

Heres a link with several examples for whatever type of operation you need.

http://www.allapi.net/apilist/GetOpenFileName.shtml

Here is some code from the URL you provided me:

VB Code:

Declare Function GetOpenFileName Lib "comdlg32.dll" Alias "GetOpenFileNameA" (pOpenfilename As OPENFILENAME) As Long

Do I put this in a standard module? How do I call it?

Yes, In your VBA IDE you have a ThisOutlookSession class only. You need to right click the project and click "Add Module". This will add a new standard module to your VBA Project. In this new module you can add the API and needed code for the function.

After right-clicking on ThisOutlookSession, I have the option to "Insert..." a User Form, Module, or Class Module. Which one is it? I have no clue what code to add to it. I'm sure someone has done this before, I can't be the only person who has needed a file dialog in Outlook.

There is some code here that uses APIs, but I have no clue how to call it. Would I just type GetOpenFileName or something like that?

Yes, the link I posted. Did you look at the code xamples at the bottom of the page?

Add a "Module". Then add the declarations like this to it.

VB Code:

Option Explicit
 
Private Declare Function GetOpenFileName Lib "comdlg32.dll" Alias "GetOpenFileNameA" (pOpenfilename As OPENFILENAME) As Long
 
Private Type OPENFILENAME
    lStructSize As Long
    hwndOwner As Long
    hInstance As Long
    lpstrFilter As String
    lpstrCustomFilter As String
    nMaxCustFilter As Long
    nFilterIndex As Long
    lpstrFile As String
    nMaxFile As Long
    lpstrFileTitle As String
    nMaxFileTitle As Long
    lpstrInitialDir As String
    lpstrTitle As String
    flags As Long
    nFileOffset As Integer
    nFileExtension As Integer
    lpstrDefExt As String
    lCustData As Long
    lpfnHook As Long
    lpTemplateName As String
End Type
 
Public Function MyOpenFiledialog() As String
 
    Dim OFName As OPENFILENAME
    OFName.lStructSize = Len(OFName)
    'Set the parent window
    OFName.hwndOwner = Application.hWnd
    'Set the application's instance
    OFName.hInstance = Application.hInstance
    'Select a filter
    OFName.lpstrFilter = "Text Files (*.txt)" + Chr$(0) + "*.txt" + Chr$(0) + "All Files (*.*)" + Chr$(0) + "*.*" + Chr$(0)
    'create a buffer for the file
    OFName.lpstrFile = Space$(254)
    'set the maximum length of a returned file
    OFName.nMaxFile = 255
    'Create a buffer for the file title
    OFName.lpstrFileTitle = Space$(254)
    'Set the maximum length of a returned file title
    OFName.nMaxFileTitle = 255
    'Set the initial directory
    OFName.lpstrInitialDir = "C:\"
    'Set the title
    OFName.lpstrTitle = "Open File - VB Forums.com"
    'No flags
    OFName.flags = 0
 
    'Show the 'Open File'-dialog
    If GetOpenFileName(OFName) Then
        MsgBox "File to Open: " + Trim$(OFName.lpstrFile)
        MyOpenFiledialog = Trim$(OFName.lpstrFile)
    Else
        MsgBox "Cancel was pressed"
        MyOpenFiledialog = vbNullString
    End If
 
End Sub

VB Code:

'Usage:
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    Text1.Text = MyOpenFiledialog
End Sub

Before I get into my debug issues... Has anyone ever told you that you are the man? Because if not, then here it is...

RobDog is the man!!!

Ok, now to my probs...

The Application object doesn't have a "hWnd" or "hInstance" property.

VB Code:

'Set the parent window
    OFName.hwndOwner = Application.hWnd
    'Set the application's instance
    OFName.hInstance = Application.hInstance

There is however an Application.Parent property... would that work instead of .hWnd? Are the .hWnd and .hInstance props only available in VB6?

It seems to work with those properties omitted. Is there a property of OPENFILENAME that would allow me to set the text on the buttons? Instead of "Open", I would like it to be "OK". Something like:

VB Code:

Private Type OPENFILENAME
    lStructSize As Long
    hwndOwner As Long
    hInstance As Long
    lpstrFilter As String
    [COLOR=Red][I]cmdOKText As String[/I][/COLOR]
           .
           .
           .
End Type
 
' And set this property with:
 
    Dim OFName As OPENFILENAME
    OFName.cmdOKText = "OK"

Where did you get the list of available settings?

:D Thanks.

Check out the link in post #4. You should also download the API Viewer utility from all api as it contains almost all the API definitions and constants.

Thanks RobDog888 :)