open word file

[binbpk]

hello,
i tried using these codes

Dim objWord As Word.Application
Set objWord = New Word.Application
objWord.Visible = True
objWord.Documents.Open " & App.Path & \HelpFile.doc"

to open a word file but it doesnt seem to work?
will appreciate any help.
thanks.

[Bobalandi]

Why dont you just use the insertable control for word documents?

[binbpk]

err is that for vb6?

[Bobalandi]

yup, goto the project menu, click components, click insertable objects, there should be a ms word one there I think...

[binbpk]

how do i drop this on the mdi form?

[Bobalandi]

well, you cont put it on the mdi form, mdi forms can only have toolbars, etc. you will have to put it on the main mdi child which you just draw it on there, like you would anything else...

[binbpk]

this actually works when i put in C:....
i think there must be something wrong with the other lines in here:
objWord.Documents.Open " & App.Path & \HelpFile.doc"

how do you write it when you want your application to be able to open a file regardless of where its placed in?

[Bobalandi]

I cant help you with that, I have no Idea...

[Ellis Dee]

It's better to use ShellExecute if you want to open a document in the program that reads that document type.

Private Declare Function GetDesktopWindow Lib "user32" () As Long
Private Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpszOp As String, ByVal lpszFile As String, ByVal lpszParams As String, ByVal lpszDir As String, ByVal FsShowCmd As Long) As Long

Public Function RunFile(pstrFile As String, Optional ByVal pstrDefaultFolder As String) As Long
    Const SW_SHOW = 1
    Dim lngPos As Long
    Dim lngDesktop As Long
    
    If Len(pstrDefaultFolder) = 0 Then
        lngPos = InStrRev(pstrFile, "\")
        If lngPos > 0 Then pstrDefaultFolder = Left$(pstrFile, lngPos - 1)
    End If
    lngDesktop = GetDesktopWindow()
    RunFile = ShellExecute(lngDesktop, "Open", pstrFile, "", pstrDefaultFolder, SW_SHOW)
End Function

Sample usage:

RunFile App.Path & "\HelpFile.doc"

Note that this works for any document type; not just word. It is the code equivalent to double-clicking a file from an explorer window.

[Lord Orwell]

try this line before the open:
msgbox App.Path & \HelpFile.doc"
looks to me like a simple error (assuming you copied it correctly)
should be app.path & "\helpfile.doc"

people always overlook the obvious...

[binbpk]

i tried this but it still does not work.

objWord.Documents.Open App.Path & "\HelpFile.doc"

[Lord Orwell]

show us what your app.path is. It may already have the \ on the end for example. Also you will annoyingly get different results for app.path depending on whether the program is compiled or not.

[westconn1]

try
objWord.Documents.Add App.Path & "\HelpFile.doc"

[binbpk]

try
objWord.Documents.Add App.Path & "\HelpFile.doc"

nope, still doesnt work. could it be because i'm using word 2007?
it says user defined type not defined.

[binbpk]

show us what your app.path is. It may already have the \ on the end for example. Also you will annoyingly get different results for app.path depending on whether the program is compiled or not.

it's in my documents folder so it reads:
C:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\College\Applied Communication Technology\Assignment\CPMS

[Lord Orwell]

so that's what you saw when you did a msgbox(app.path) or what you think it should be?

[westconn1]

try pasting in the full path

[binbpk]

so that's what you saw when you did a msgbox(app.path) or what you think it should be?

you mean it's supposed to read the path to my documents folder?

[binbpk]

ok managed to get it to work. i did not select the word object library from the references.
thank you so much for all your help.
appreciate it.