Best way to run an .exe

[mallet]

I've developed an .exe that is fired from excel and winds up displaying it's results in a word document. After the user presses a command button on a worksheet, my .exe runs via a "shell" statement. Is there a better (or other) way to run the .exe?

An an answer would be very much appreciated.

[da_silvy]

you could try the "start" statement?

[mallet]

da_silvy suggested using "start" to run an .exe from an excel macro as an alternative to "shell". I couldn't locate "start" in any of the books I have nor at the microsoft vb site. Can any one elaborate on start?

Thanks

[da_silvy]

sorry, i think that function might only be availiable in vb 5/6 i think shell will probably be the most effective way to execute an executable..

[Edneeis]

What is wrong with the Shell start? What are you trying to do other then start the .exe? You can pass command line arguments, or use API calls or use a Wait function to see when it is finished.

[Scand]

I think this way would be nicer:

Private Type STARTUPINFO
cb As Long
lpReserved As String
lpDesktop As String
lpTitle As String
dwX As Long
dwY As Long
dwXSize As Long
dwYSize As Long
dwXCountChars As Long
dwYCountChars As Long
dwFillAttribute As Long
dwFlags As Long
wShowWindow As Integer
cbReserved2 As Integer
lpReserved2 As Long
hStdInput As Long
hStdOutput As Long
hStdError As Long
End Type

Private Type PROCESS_INFORMATION
hProcess As Long
hThread As Long
dwProcessID As Long
dwThreadID As Long
End Type

Private CommandLine As String
Private ErrCode As Long

Private Declare Function WaitForSingleObject Lib "kernel32" (ByVal _
hHandle As Long, ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function CreateProcessA Lib "kernel32" (ByVal _
lpApplicationName As Long, ByVal lpCommandLine As String, ByVal _
lpProcessAttributes As Long, ByVal lpThreadAttributes As Long, _
ByVal bInheritHandles As Long, ByVal dwCreationFlags As Long, _
ByVal lpEnvironment As Long, ByVal lpCurrentDirectory As Long, _
lpStartupInfo As STARTUPINFO, lpProcessInformation As _
PROCESS_INFORMATION) As Long

Private Declare Function CloseHandle Lib "kernel32" (ByVal _
hObject As Long) As Long

Public Declare Function GetExitCodeProcess Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hProcess As
Long, _
lpExitCode As Long) As Long

Private Const NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS = &H20&
Private Const INFINITE = -1&


Public Function ExecCmd(cmdline$) As Long
Dim proc As PROCESS_INFORMATION
Dim start As STARTUPINFO
Dim ReturnValue As Integer

' Initialize the STARTUPINFO structure:
start.cb = Len(start)

' Start the shelled application:
ReturnValue = CreateProcessA(0&, cmdline$, 0&, 0&, 1&, _
NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS, 0&, 0&, start, proc)

' Wait for the shelled application to finish:
Do
ReturnValue = WaitForSingleObject(proc.hProcess, 0)
DoEvents
Loop Until ReturnValue <> 258

ReturnValue = GetExitCodeProcess(proc.hProcess, ExecCmd)
ReturnValue = CloseHandle(proc.hProcess)
End Function



Sub Start_Exe()
CommandLine = "C:\Program Files\Mircosoft Office\Office\Winword.exe"
ErrCode = ExecCmd(CommandLine)
If ErrCode <> 0 Then
Call WhatError
Exit Sub
End If
End Sub

Sub WhatError()
'Here you can insert the error handling of the called program
End Sub


Greetz Scand

[Scand]

Why does this forum doesn't accept tabs?

Greetz
Scand

[Iain17]

Scand,

You can use vB code on this web site (similar to html). click on the (vB Code) link and it will exaplain all.

just to get you started you can use the tags. Just place any code them

['code']
'code goes here.
['/code']

Obviously you don't use the " ' " character, they are just there to stop the forum thinking i am placing code.

[Scand]

Thanks, now all is clearly.

Try:

Private Type STARTUPINFO	cb As Long	lpReserved As String	lpDesktop As String
	lpTitle As String	dwX As Long	dwY As Long	dwXSize As Long	dwYSize As Long
	dwXCountChars As Long	dwYCountChars As Long	dwFillAttribute As Long
	dwFlags As Long	wShowWindow As Integer	cbReserved2 As Integer
	lpReserved2 As Long	hStdInput As Long	hStdOutput As Long	hStdError As Long
End TypePrivate Type PROCESS_INFORMATION	hProcess As Long	hThread As Long
	dwProcessID As Long	dwThreadID As LongEnd TypePrivate CommandLine As String
Private ErrCode As Long
Private Declare Function WaitForSingleObject Lib "kernel32" (ByVal _
	hHandle As Long, ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function CreateProcessA Lib "kernel32" (ByVal _
	lpApplicationName As Long, ByVal lpCommandLine As String, ByVal _
	lpProcessAttributes As Long, ByVal lpThreadAttributes As Long, _
	ByVal bInheritHandles As Long, ByVal dwCreationFlags As Long, _
	ByVal lpEnvironment As Long, ByVal lpCurrentDirectory As Long, _
	lpStartupInfo As STARTUPINFO, lpProcessInformation As _
	PROCESS_INFORMATION) As Long
Private Declare Function CloseHandle Lib "kernel32" (ByVal _
	hObject As Long) As Long
Public Declare Function GetExitCodeProcess Lib "kernel32" (ByVal hProcess As
Long, _	lpExitCode As Long) As LongPrivate Const NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS = &H20&
Private Const INFINITE = -1&Public Function ExecCmd(cmdline$) As Long
	Dim proc As PROCESS_INFORMATION	Dim start As STARTUPINFO
	Dim ReturnValue As Integer	' Initialize the STARTUPINFO structure:
	start.cb = Len(start)	' Start the shelled application:
	ReturnValue = CreateProcessA(0&, cmdline$, 0&, 0&, 1&, _
		NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS, 0&, 0&, start, proc)
	' Wait for the shelled application to finish:	Do
		ReturnValue = WaitForSingleObject(proc.hProcess, 0)		DoEvents
	Loop Until ReturnValue <> 258
	ReturnValue = GetExitCodeProcess(proc.hProcess, ExecCmd)
	ReturnValue = CloseHandle(proc.hProcess)End FunctionSub Start_Exe()
	CommandLine = "C:\Program Files\Mircosoft Office\Office\Winword.exe"
	ErrCode = ExecCmd(CommandLine)	If ErrCode <> 0 Then		Call WhatError		Exit Sub
	End IfEnd SubSub WhatError()
	'Here you can insert the error handling of the called programEnd Sub

Greetz Scand