Execute any type of file from excel vba

[lukeshuttlewood]

Is it possible to execute files from Excel VBA?

I know this can be done using hyperlinks via the worksheet object but the code is pretty messy.

Does anyone know a simple way of executing for example, a PDF, Bmp, Doc - any file type as if it were opened from the desktop by a user.


CHeers
Luke

 

[rjp]

Put this into a module, I found it on the web but have lost the original source.

'ShellExecute() works like Shell() but uses the Windows API so that
'the correct helper application is launched when running data files.
'eg. ShellExecute *.doc will open MS Word & the document
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

Sub LaunchFile(fPath As String, fName As String)

    If LCase(Right(fName, 4)) = ".xls" Then
        Workbooks.Open fPath & fName
    Else
        retVal = ShellExecute(1, "Open", fName, vbNullString, fPath, 3)
        If retVal = 31 Then
            'File Type not recognised - warn user
            MsgBox "Couldn't launch " & fName & " as Windows does not know how to open this type of file.", vbInformation + vbOKOnly, "Launch Failed"
        End If
    End If

End Sub

Just call LaunchFile with the path to the file (fPath) including a trailing "\" and the filename (fName). Notice that .xls files are handled differently, can't remember if that's because I run this from a modal userform or not!

Kudos to the original author (and subsequent leechers!)