take webcam picture from userform

[RAYLWARD102]

I want to create a button that will capture a picture from the webcam on my my laptop. Just a trigger of some sort. I don't want to use the software that came with the camera if at all possible. Is this going to be really difficult? Any idea's?

 

[RAYLWARD102]

ok....this maybe impossible. I've spent my entire morning looking for ways to achieve this.

How about if I use an application that already exists on the pc. Can I shift focus from excel to the other program and send keys "ctrl N" and then return focus back to excel. If so; how do I do that?

 

[mikerickson]

What machine are you using? What OS and Excel version?

 

[RAYLWARD102]

office 2003......Its a MSI wintop touchscreen pc with a microsoft webcam built in.
XP home.

 

[mikerickson]

Sorry, my thought would only work on a Mac.

 

[RAYLWARD102]

I'm probably going to use the third party app idea in my second post
Wish I could find a command line for taking picture

 

[crook_101]

Hi,

This may get you started......

http://www.shrinkwrapvb.com/dxvidcap.htm

Cheers,
Ian

 

[RAYLWARD102]

OK... I'm getting closer to solving the mystery of capturing a photo using only vba to control a wia device. I found this code online and it seems to almost work. I could use some help with debugging it from the experts.

Before you run the code; you need to do the following:

make sure you've got the wia reference loaded, I'm using Microsoft windows image acquistion library v2.0. The dll is called wiaaut.dll you can get it at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...7a-01b8-4de6-91c2-b7ea32537e29&DisplayLang=en​

once you've downloaded it, unzip the file, then copy the wiaaut.dll file and paste it in c:\windows\system32 folder (assuming you've got winxp). then open up your access database, open the form you are building, open the vb code. Go to 'tools' the 'references' then either scroll throught till you 'microsoft windows image acquisition library v2.0' and check it or 'browse' navigate to the system 32 folder and select it that way.​

On Error GoTo Err_btnTakePicture_click
  Dim tempfile As String
Dim mydevice As WIA.Device
Dim item As WIA.item
Dim imfile As WIA.imagefile
Dim Commondialog1 As WIA.CommonDialog
  'put the path and name for the location of your temp file here.
tempfile = ("c:\filename.jpg")
  'the next 4 lines deletes the old temp file if it exists
Set filesystemobject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If filesystemobject.fileExists(tempfile) Then
    Kill (tempfile)
End If
  'the next two lines set up the configuration
Set Commondialog1 = New CommonDialog
Set mydevice = Commondialog1.ShowSelectDevice
  Set item = mydevice.ExecuteCommand(wiaCommandTakePicture) 'instructs the camera to take the picture
Set imfile = item.Transfer 'transfers the picture from the camera
  'this line saves the picture to a specified file
imfile.SaveFile (tempfile)
 'this sets the picture on the form to show the new picture
OLEUnbound1.Picture = (tempfile)

 MsgBox "Picture taken"
 Exit_btnTakePicture_click:
    Set mydevice = Nothing
    Set item = Nothing
    Exit Sub
 Err_btnTakePicture_click:
    MsgBox err.Description, vbOKOnly + vbCritical, "Error Taking Picture"
    Resume Exit_btnTakePicture_click
 End Sub

 

[RAYLWARD102]

Nevermind!! It works!! I removed the part:
OLEUnbound1.Picture = (tempfile)

it totally works!! Yeehaw!!!!

 

[RAYLWARD102]

ok....Been using the camera code for about 2 weeks now. It's kind of buggy. It works and then for what ever reason; stops working. At that point; I can load another app that uses the camera and see the camera function correctly but am unable to get the camera to function via vba until after the computer reboots. Then the camera works for a number of times until it then; craps out again. I need help debugging this. Anyone have idea's?