Closing/ending an external program

Von Pookie · Sep 21, 2006

I know I can start an external program by using the Shell command, but how can I *end* the program?

I'm assuming something to do with API, which I have never used. I've searched and searched, and can't seem to find any already-written code that works. You would think someone, somewhere would have asked this already but if they have, it is very well hidden. All I keep finding is code to close instances of Excel or run a program and then continue a macro after the shell program ends, neither of which are the scenario that applies here. Actually, I take that back. I found this newsgroup post which is asking the exact same thing but the code posted does not work. I've also skimmed www.allapi.net but I can't figure out how to put the code together myself.

All I'm trying to do is start VBScroll when Excel opens and end it when Excel closes.

VBScroll simply sits in the taskbar; I have to right-click the icon and select Exit from the menu to close it. Current specs would be Excel 2002, Windows 2000. I was figuring on just adding the code to Personal.xls, nothing fancy. It's easy enough to start VBScroll with the shell command, no problems there. I just can't figure out how to end it.

Any <s>delicious cookies,</s> ideas, links, what have you?

Oaktree · Sep 21, 2006

Hi, Kristy.

Have a look at Ivan's suggestion here:

http://www.mrexcel.com/board2/viewtopic.php?t=57905

Norie · Sep 21, 2006

Kristy

What I think you need is the FindWindow(Ex?) and SendMessage API functions.

I see in the link Ivan uses PostMessage.

Here's a short discussion on SendMessage vs PostMessage.

Von Pookie · Sep 21, 2006

I'm afraid that Ivan's code isn't working. No error messages--the code runs with no (visible) problems--but VBScroll remains open.

I searched here but somehow never found that thread. I found some code elsewhere that was reminiscent of that--had to put the text that was in the titlebar into the code. It didn't work, either.

What I'm wondering is if the fact that the program does not run in a window isn't the issue, e.g. there is no open window to find and therefore close. If this is indeed the case, wouldn't FindWindow have the same limitation?

Norie · Sep 21, 2006

Kristy

So this VBScroll is in the system tray?

Perhaps what you need is some code that finds all the running processes?

I used to have a great guide to the Window API but lost it, I'll see if I can find it again.

By the way I'm not sure but in the link I posted does it not have code/explanation for using EnumWindows?

I'm sure I had a small application written in VB6 that used that to list all windows in a listbox, and closed them if you double clicked them.

Seem to remember it had problems with some types of windows, plus I think it used a callback function which I don't think is available in VBA.

Legacy 98055 · Sep 21, 2006

Because it's in the tray, I do not know how to close the app properly using SendMessage. It probably does not matter in this case. Just kill it.

End an Application that was Started by the Shell Function

Von Pookie · Sep 21, 2006

Norie:

So this VBScroll is in the system tray?

Yes, it runs in the system tray (looks like I said 'taskbar' above, oops).

The program *does* have an option to automatically start when Windows does, but that is not what I want. This question mainly came about because I keep forgetting to close VBScroll. It doesn't take up much memory, but there is absolutely no reason for it to be running if Excel is not open.

Legacy 98055 · Sep 21, 2006

Slightly edited the example from the link I sent you. It works. Edit the assignment to the Const.

VBScrollVonPookster.zip

<table width="100%" border="1" bgcolor="White" style="filter

rogid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.Gradient(endColorstr='#C0CFE2', startColorstr='#FFFFFF', gradientType='0');"><tr><TD> Option Explicit

 Private Const PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS = &H1F0FFF

 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 Declare Function TerminateProcess Lib "kernel32" _
 (ByVal hProcess As Long, ByVal uExitCode As Long) As Long

 Private ShellReturnValue As Long
 Private Const VBScrollFullname As String = "C:\Documents and Settings\Tom\Desktop\VBScroll.exe"

 Private Sub Workbook_Open()
 ShellReturnValue = Shell(VBScrollFullname)
 End Sub

 Private Sub Workbook_BeforeClose(Cancel As Boolean)
 Call EndShelledProcess
 End Sub

 Private Function EndShelledProcess() As Boolean

 'PURPOSE: End a process started with VB's Shell Statement
 'INPUT: Task ID returned by Shell
 'RETURNS: True if successful, false otherwise

 On Error Resume Next

 Dim hInst As Long
 Dim hProcess As Long
 Dim lExitCode As Long
 Dim lRet As Long

 hInst = ShellReturnValue
 If hInst = 0 Then Exit Function

 'Get handle to process
 hProcess = OpenProcess(PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS, 0&, hInst)
 If hProcess <> 0 Then
 'get exit code
 GetExitCodeProcess hProcess, lExitCode
 If lExitCode <> 0 Then
 'bye-bye
 lRet = TerminateProcess(hProcess, lExitCode)
 EndShelledProcess = lRet > 0
 End If
 End If

 End Function
</td></tr></table><button onclick='document.all("9212006144126468").value=document.all("9212006144126468").value.replace(/ \s\s/g,"");document.all("9212006144126468").value=document.all("9212006144126468").value.replace(/ /g,"");window.clipboardData.setData("Text",document.all("9212006144126468").value);'>Copy to Clipboard</BUTTON><textarea style="position:absolute;visibility:hidden" name="9212006144126468" wrap="virtual">
Option Explicit

Private Const PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS = &H1F0FFF

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 Declare Function TerminateProcess Lib "kernel32" _
(ByVal hProcess As Long, ByVal uExitCode As Long) As Long

Private ShellReturnValue As Long
Private Const VBScrollFullname As String = "C:\Documents and Settings\Tom\Desktop\VBScroll.exe"

Private Sub Workbook_Open()
ShellReturnValue = Shell(VBScrollFullname)
End Sub

Private Sub Workbook_BeforeClose(Cancel As Boolean)
Call EndShelledProcess
End Sub

Private Function EndShelledProcess() As Boolean

'PURPOSE: End a process started with VB's Shell Statement
'INPUT: Task ID returned by Shell
'RETURNS: True if successful, false otherwise

On Error Resume Next

Dim hInst As Long
Dim hProcess As Long
Dim lExitCode As Long
Dim lRet As Long

hInst = ShellReturnValue
If hInst = 0 Then Exit Function

'Get handle to process
hProcess = OpenProcess(PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS, 0&, hInst)
If hProcess <> 0 Then
'get exit code
GetExitCodeProcess hProcess, lExitCode
If lExitCode <> 0 Then
'bye-bye
lRet = TerminateProcess(hProcess, lExitCode)
EndShelledProcess = lRet > 0
End If
End If

End Function</textarea>

VBScrollVonPookster.zip

Von Pookie · Sep 21, 2006

Because it's in the tray, I do not know how to close the app properly using SendMessage. It probably does not matter in this case. Just kill it. Smile

End an Application that was Started by the Shell Function

Oops! Didn't see you there, Tom (s'what I get for not refreshing the page).

That code *does* work. Yippee! The little icon stays in the system tray, but that disappears when I mouseover it. That happens even when I manually end it from the taskmanager, so that's not a problem for me.

Thanks! And a big

for Google for not turning up anything remotely useful even when I entered almost the exact text that is on that page ("End an Application that was Started by the Shell Function").

Norie · Sep 21, 2006

Tom

Nice code.

I don't suppose you know anywhere I can get a decent Windows API guide?

Closing/ending an external program

Von Pookie

MrExcel MVP

Excel Facts

Oaktree

MrExcel MVP

Norie

Well-known Member

Von Pookie

MrExcel MVP

Norie

Well-known Member

Legacy 98055

Guest

Von Pookie

MrExcel MVP

Legacy 98055

Guest

Von Pookie

MrExcel MVP

Norie

Well-known Member

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Share this page

Closing/ending an external program

MrExcel MVP

Excel Facts

MrExcel MVP

Well-known Member

MrExcel MVP

Well-known Member

Legacy 98055

Guest

MrExcel MVP

Legacy 98055

Guest

MrExcel MVP

Well-known Member

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Share this page

We've detected that you are using an adblocker.

Which adblocker are you using?

Disable AdBlock

Disable AdBlock Plus

Disable uBlock Origin

Disable uBlock