Classic VB - How do I open a file/web-page in its default application?

[sciguyryan]

To perform either of these tasks you can use the ShellExecute API function as shown below.

ShellExecute basically tells Windows to open the item as if you had double-clicked it in Windows Explorer.

'in General-Declarations:
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
 
 
'Example code:
     'open a file
  ShellExecute Me.hWnd, "open", "c:\My folder\Test.doc", vbNullString, "C:\", ByVal 1&
 
     'open a web page
  ShellExecute Me.hWnd, "open", "http://www.VBForums.com", vbNullString, "C:\", ByVal 1&

Here are two useful Subs for you, which will make the code easier to write:

Private Sub OpenAFile(strFileLocation As String)
'Just call the OpenAFile sub with the path of the file to open as its parameter.
    If Dir$(strFileLocation) = "" Then
        Exit Sub
    End If
    ShellExecute Me.hWnd, "open", strFileLocation, vbNullString, "C:\", ByVal 1&
End Sub
 
Private Sub OpenURL(strURL As String)
'Just call the OpenURL sub with the URL of the webpage to open as its parameter. 
 
    ShellExecute Me.hWnd, "open", strURL, vbNullString, "C:\", ByVal 1&
End Sub
 
 
'Example code (same effect as the examples above)
  Call OpenURL("http://www.VBForums.com") 
  Call OpenAFile("c:\My folder\Test.doc")

Cheers,

RyanJ