Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

Hi pals,

I would like to know how to display the FileName of the selected file in the textbox and open it using FileDialog property. I have imported the necessary reference from the library - Microsoft Office Object Library 10.0. Tks

Control:
TextBox - Display FileName
Button - Open

Code:

VBA:

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

The following code will display a listing of multiple Files selected in a Text Box named txtDisplayFileNames using the FileDialog Object:

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

tks for the prompt reply. However, the selected file cannot be opened when the prog is executed. It just display the name of the selected file in the textbox. What I need further is to open the selected file from the DirList. May I know how can that be achieved?

Logic of the prog:-
The prog should run in such a way, whereby the name of the selected file is displayed in the textbox as well as open upon execution. Tks

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

1. Are you trying to Open Single or Multiple Files?
2. What File Type Extensions do you wish to be limited to? (What File Types are to opened)?
3. Are you sure you want to set MultiSelect = True.
4. What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

1. Are you trying to Open Single or Multiple Files?
2. What File Type Extensions do you wish to be limited to? (What File Types are to opened)?
3. Are you sure you want to set MultiSelect = True?
4. What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

Hi,

What I want to achieve are:

Upon the button click event, the "Browse file" window will be loaded. When I clicked on the "Open" button, the chosen file should be appearing on the "FileName" Listbox, and the file should open. Eventually, the filename should display on the textbox. In addition, the prog should also open any files in the network drive.

What has been accomplished so far is only displaying the selected fileName on the TextBox. tks

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

It seems as though you need the capability to select and Open Files with any File Type Extension (no restrictions on Files). Is this assumption correct? I'm specifically asking you this, because this can easily be done, but involves accessing the API, and I wanted to make sure that you are not in over your head. If this is what you are requesting, just let me know, and I'll gladly post the code with some explanation. Do you need the capability to Open multiple Files at a time (MultiSelect = True) or only allow one File to be Opened at a time (MultiSelect = False). Opening a half dozen or so Files along with the Applications associated with them can get to be real ugly real fast!

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

Tks for your prompt reply once again.

Yes, u are right!

May I know whether it is possible to achieve just using vb and not API. Well, opening a single file should be fine. In addition, may I know whether there is such Function or property called "DirList".

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

1. You will be opening Files with no restrictions whatsoever on their Types (.???). To my way of thinking, there is no way to accomplish this but to Open/Execute the Files by nature of their File Extensions. The Server Application associated with the Extension needs to be executed and the File loaded within it. This can be done exclusively within the confines of VBA, but a single API Call wrapped in a Sub-Procedure is still needed.
2. Going the single File route is an excellent idea.
3. There is no such Function or Property called DirList. What you may be referring to is either the Dir() Function in VB/VBA, or the DirListBox Control available in Visual Basic.
4. Give me a little time to get the applicable code together and tie it all in to the FileDialog code that has already been posted.

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

tecnocraze, here is the solution to your problem. I narrowed it down to 3 steps - follow them exactly, and you'll be OK. The code has been thoroughly debugged and is fully operational as is. I would strongly suggest you not try to modify the Function Procedure or actual call, since it does execute an API Function. Well, here goes:

1. Declare the ShellExecute() API Function in a Standard Code Module. This is what does the 'dirty work' and actually Opens the File based solely on its Extension.
   
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   1. Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" _
   2. Alias "ShellExecuteA" (ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal lpOperation As String, ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpParameters As String, _
   3. ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long
   4.  
2. Copy and Paste the Public Execute_Program() Function into a Standard Code Module. This Function is a 'Wrapper' for the actual ShellExecute() Function. It essentially makes the API Function transparent and shields the User from its intricacies. As you can see, it accepts only 3 Arguments, 2 of which you probably will never use. I would strongly suggest you keep the Error Evaluation code in place and not delete it, since it may prove invaluable should you experience any problems Opening Files.
   
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   1. Public Function Execute_Program(ByVal strFilePath As String, _
   2.     ByVal strParms As String, ByVal strDir As String) _
   3.     As Boolean
   4.  
   5. 'run program ' <R6>
   6. Dim hwndProgram As Integer
   7. hwndProgram = ShellExecute(0, "Open", strFilePath, strParms, strDir, 3)     '3 ==> Show Maximized
   8.  
   9. 'evaluate errors (if any)
   10. Select Case (hwndProgram)
   11.   Case 0
   12.     MsgBox "Insufficient system memory or corrupt program file.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   13.       Execute_Program = False
   14.         Exit Function
   15.   Case 2
   16.     MsgBox "File not found.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   17.       Execute_Program = False
   18.         Exit Function
   19.   Case 3
   20.     MsgBox "Invalid path.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   21.       Execute_Program = False
   22.         Exit Function
   23.   Case 5
   24.     MsgBox "Sharing or Protection Error.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   25.       Execute_Program = False
   26.         Exit Function
   27.   Case 6
   28.     MsgBox "Separate data segments are required for each task.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   29.       Execute_Program = False
   30.         Exit Function
   31.   Case 8
   32.     MsgBox "Insufficient memory to run the program.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   33.       Execute_Program = False
   34.         Exit Function
   35.   Case 10
   36.     MsgBox "Incorrect Windows version.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   37.       Execute_Program = False
   38.         Exit Function
   39.   Case 11
   40.     MsgBox "Invalid program file.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   41.       Execute_Program = False
   42.         Exit Function
   43.   Case 12
   44.     MsgBox "Program file requires a different operating system.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   45.       Execute_Program = False
   46.         Exit Function
   47.   Case 13
   48.     MsgBox "Program requires MS-DOS 4.0.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   49.       Execute_Program = False
   50.         Exit Function
   51.   Case 14
   52.     MsgBox "Unknown program file type.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   53.       Execute_Program = False
   54.         Exit Function
   55.   Case 15
   56.     MsgBox "Windows program does not support protected memory mode.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   57.       Execute_Program = False
   58.         Exit Function
   59.   Case 16
   60.     MsgBox "Invalid use of data segments when loading a second instance of a program.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   61.       Execute_Program = False
   62.         Exit Function
   63.   Case 19
   64.     MsgBox "Attempt to run a compressed program file.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   65.       Execute_Program = False
   66.         Exit Function
   67.   Case 20
   68.     MsgBox "Invalid dynamic link library.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   69.       Execute_Program = False
   70.         Exit Function
   71.   Case 21
   72.     MsgBox "Program requires Windows 32-bit extensions.", 0, "Error running " & strFilePath
   73.       Execute_Program = False
   74.         Exit Function
   75.   Case Else
   76. End Select
   77.   'All is well if we get to this point
   78.   Execute_Program = True
   79. End Function
3. Last but not least, I've made several modifications to the actual code which Opens the File Dialog, allows you to select a File, then Opens/Executes it. Rather than pinpoint the changes, eliminate the original code and substitute this modified version. This code will Open the Office File Dialog Box, and once a selection has been made and OK-ed by the User, the File will be Opened in the 'Registered' Application that is associated with the File's Extension.
   
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   1. Const conVerticalOnly As Integer = 2
   2.  
   3. 'Declare a variable as a FileDialog object.
   4. Dim fd As FileDialog, strFilesSelected As String, blnRetVal As Boolean
   5.  
   6. Set fd = Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFilePicker)
   7.  
   8. 'Declare a variable to contain the path, it must be a Variant because
   9. 'of the For..Each construct requires it
   10. Dim vrtSelectedItem As Variant
   11.  
   12. With fd
   13.   .AllowMultiSelect = False
   14.   .Title = "Browse Files"
   15.      If .Show = -1 Then
   16.         For Each vrtSelectedItem In .SelectedItems
   17.           'Now, will only be 1 since MultiSelect = False
   18.           strFilesSelected = vrtSelectedItem
   19.           blnRetVal = Execute_Program(strFilesSelected, "", "")
   20.         Next vrtSelectedItem
   21.       Else
   22.       'The user pressed Cancel
   23.       End If
   24. End With
   25.  
   26. Set fd = Nothing
   27.  
   28. Me![txtDisplayFileNames].ScrollBars = conVerticalOnly
   29. Me![txtDisplayFileNames] = strFilesSelected
4. Good Luck and let me know how you make out.

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

tks for your prompt reply once again. Very much appreciated

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

tks for your prompt reply. Very much apppreciated

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

Not a problem. It can easily be adapted for multiple file openings also, but I do not think that this would be advisable.

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

It works perfectly well. Great! Tks

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

Glad it worked out for you.

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

Hi,
could you tell me how to include all these codes (these 3 steps) into Access 2003 database?
Thanks in advance

re: Using FileDialog property to open and display FileName in a textbox

What you are attempting is called 'Hijacking' a Thread and is not permitted in this Forum. All the code you need has already been posted, if you are still confused, please create another Thread explaining your needs, and we will be happy to Reply.