While using Shell to open a new instance of same database, using vbHide to Hide the new instance fails.

[midlothian]

I have some long Excel routines that I would like to run from my
database in a hidden, second instance of the same Access db.

The macro I pass to the shell command to open the second instance
contains code to 'Hide' the database (from Dev's site) and also the
code which runs the Excel routine. It then quits the database when the
code has finished running.

Here is my code to open a new instance of my db:

NewDBID = Shell(AccessDir & "msaccess.EXE " & strFileName & ShellMacro,
vbNormal)

This works fine -- except that I get the flash on the screen before the
macro passed in the argument fires, hides the window, and begins the
Excel export routine.

When I change the Shell window argument to 'vbHide,' it hides the first
instance of the db(which fired the shell command) and brings me to the
main menu of the second instance -- not what I want. The first instance
should have the focus at all times, while the second runs hidden.

I would like to find a way to avoid this flashing when the second db
opens, just before the 'Hide' code runs -- any ideas?