opening a file

[blue gem]

hello there! i'm a novice programmer in vb and i wanna know how to open a file when i click the file list box control? can anyone also help me in loading the file into the notepad? for example, when i opened a C program, it'll be shown in the notepad in text format. please help, i really need this one...

[manavo11]

Function OpenFile(sFileName As String) As String
 Dim FF As Integer
 Dim sText As String
 FF = FreeFile
 Open sFileName For Input As #FF
  sText = Input(LOF(FF), FF)
 Close #FF
 OpenFile = sText
End Function

I haven't tried this but I think it'll work As for loading a file in notepad, you need to use either Shell or ShellExecute

Shell "notepad.exe " & YourFileName

And I don't have the ShellExecute code now...

[Chrispybee]

Here is a nifty ShellandWait module that you can use. Dead easy and it's really good.
I'm to a novice programmer and people here are dead helpfull.
If you ask clear questions, you will get them answered better.

put this in a module

'in the Declarations section of the form/module:
Private Declare Function OpenProcess Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwDesiredAccess As Long, ByVal bInheritHandle As Long, _
      ByVal dwProcessId As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetExitCodeProcess Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hProcess As Long, lpExitCode As Long) As Long
Private Const PROCESS_QUERY_INFORMATION = &H400
 
'The function:
Public Function ShellandWait(ExeFullPath As String, _
                Optional TimeOutValue As Long = 0, _
                Optional WindowStyle As VbAppWinStyle = vbMinimizedNoFocus) As Boolean
'Run a program + wait for it to finish (max TimeOutValue seconds)
    
    Dim lInst As Long
    Dim lStart As Long
    Dim lTimeToQuit As Long
    Dim sExeName As String
    Dim lProcessId As Long
    Dim lExitCode As Long
    Dim bPastMidnight As Boolean
    
    On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
 
    lStart = CLng(Timer)
    sExeName = ExeFullPath
 
    'Deal with timeout being reset at Midnight
    If TimeOutValue > 0 Then
        If lStart + TimeOutValue < 86400 Then
            lTimeToQuit = lStart + TimeOutValue
        Else
            lTimeToQuit = (lStart - 86400) + TimeOutValue
            bPastMidnight = True
        End If
    End If
 
    lInst = Shell(sExeName, WindowStyle)
    
lProcessId = OpenProcess(PROCESS_QUERY_INFORMATION, False, lInst)
 
    Do
        Call GetExitCodeProcess(lProcessId, lExitCode)
        DoEvents
        If TimeOutValue And Timer > lTimeToQuit Then
            If bPastMidnight Then
                 If Timer < lStart Then Exit Do
            Else
                 Exit Do
            End If
    End If
    Loop While lExitCode <> 0
    
    ShellandWait = True
   
Exit Function
 
ErrorHandler:
  ShellandWait = False
 
End Function

Here's how to use the command

'Wait for Shell to finish before processing rest of files
     If Not ShellandWait(fullstring, , vbNormalNoFocus) Then
         MsgBox "File: " & fname & " failed to process"
     End If

[blue gem]

just back from school. oh, thank you so much guys! i haven't tried this at home yet but thanks in advance! some of the codes are new to me. thanks again! muahhh!

[blue gem]

Hello there again! I think I have to correct what I've said… almost all of the codes are totally new to me! I've tried your given codes at home guys but I cannot make it work. I'm really an empty skull in VB as for now, all that our Profs have taught us were about basic functions of VB buttons/objects and simple database. I made a program for my case study but isn't complete yet. The problem's still opening the file (after pressing a button) in notepad, textbox or in the actual office where the file resides but we are required to use the notepad. I've done opening the notepad but the content of the file isn't there yet, I want to have the content of the file already opened as the notepad is shown. Here is my code:

Private Sub cmdOpen_Click()
'With Form2
' .Show
' .Caption = Me.dirCompiler.Path & "\" & Me.fileCompiler.Path
'End With
Dim a As Double
a = Shell("c:\windows\notepad.exe", vbNormalFocus)
End Sub

Private Sub drvCompiler_Change()
On Error GoTo Drivehandler
Me.dirCompiler.Path = Me.drvCompiler.Drive
Exit Sub

Drivehandler:
MsgBox "Please insert proper disk to the drive." & vbNewLine & vbNewLine & " Drive unavailable", vbCritical, "Case Study no.1"
Me.drvCompiler.Drive = Me.dirCompiler.Path
Exit Sub
End Sub

Private Sub dirCompiler_Change()
Me.fileCompiler.Path = Me.dirCompiler.Path
Me.txtFilename = Me.fileCompiler.FileName
End Sub

Private Sub fileCompiler_Click()
Me.txtFilename = Me.fileCompiler.FileName
End Sub

How can I squeeze in here the codes you gave me? Uhm, one more question, can I make VB count the words/special characters that the notepad contains? I just hope my English didn't get you confused? Hope you bear with me guys.

[leinad31]

include the filename argument


Notepad.exe test.txt