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How To Open Document Of Unknown Type From VBA?

I've got a UNC.

It's something like H:\CDL\Attachments\Deal000023.InitialOffering.doc.

I want to feed that UNC to MS Windows and let Windows worry about selecting
which application to use to open it. If there's no app defined for that UNC's
particular suffix, that's ok... we'll live with it.

Seems like a FileSystemObject should be able to do this, but I can't find such a
method.

'Shell' wants an executable.

Maybe an API call?
--
PeteCresswell
Aug 9 '06 #1
7 7490
"(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalidwrote in
news:4a********************************@4ax.com:
I've got a UNC.

It's something like H:\CDL\Attachments\Deal000023.InitialOffering.doc.

I want to feed that UNC to MS Windows and let Windows worry about
selecting which application to use to open it. If there's no app
defined for that UNC's particular suffix, that's ok... we'll live with
it.

Seems like a FileSystemObject should be able to do this, but I can't
find such a method.

'Shell' wants an executable.

Maybe an API call?
FollowHyperlink "H:\CDL\Attachments\Deal000023.InitialOffering.doc "

?

--
Lyle Fairfield
Aug 9 '06 #2
Per
I found this code on an other site and have tried it, it works. So
here's the complete code, including the copyright notices:
---
' This code was originally written by Dev Ashish.
' It is not to be altered or distributed,
' except as part of an application.
' You are free to use it in any application,
' provided the copyright notice is left unchanged.
'
' Code Courtesy of
' Dev Ashish
'
Private Declare Function apiShellExecute 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

'***App Window Constants***
Public Const WIN_NORMAL = 1 'Open Normal
Public Const WIN_MAX = 3 'Open Maximized
Public Const WIN_MIN = 2 'Open Minimized

'***Error Codes***
Private Const ERROR_SUCCESS = 32&
Private Const ERROR_NO_ASSOC = 31&
Private Const ERROR_OUT_OF_MEM = 0&
Private Const ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND = 2&
Private Const ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND = 3&
Private Const ERROR_BAD_FORMAT = 11&

'***************Usage Examples***********************
'Open a folder: ?fHandleFile("C:\TEMP\",WIN_NORMAL)
'Call Email app:
?fHandleFile("mailto:da****@hotmail.com",WIN_NORMA L)
'Open URL: ?fHandleFile("http://home.att.net/~dashish",
WIN_NORMAL)
'Handle Unknown extensions (call Open With Dialog):
' ?fHandleFile("C:\TEMP\TestThis",Win_Normal)
'Start Access instance:
' ?fHandleFile("I:\mdbs\CodeNStuff.mdb", Win_NORMAL)
'************************************************* ***

Function fHandleFile(stFile As String, lShowHow As Long)
Dim lRet As Long, varTaskID As Variant
Dim stRet As String
'First try ShellExecute
lRet = apiShellExecute(hWndAccessApp, vbNullString, _
stFile, vbNullString, vbNullString, lShowHow)

If lRet ERROR_SUCCESS Then
stRet = vbNullString
lRet = -1
Else
Select Case lRet
Case ERROR_NO_ASSOC:
'Try the OpenWith dialog
varTaskID = Shell("rundll32.exe
shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL " _
& stFile, WIN_NORMAL)
lRet = (varTaskID <0)
Case ERROR_OUT_OF_MEM:
stRet = "Error: Out of Memory/Resources. Couldn't
Execute!"
Case ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND:
stRet = "Error: File not found. Couldn't Execute!"
Case ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND:
stRet = "Error: Path not found. Couldn't Execute!"
Case ERROR_BAD_FORMAT:
stRet = "Error: Bad File Format. Couldn't Execute!"
Case Else:
End Select
End If
fHandleFile = lRet & _
IIf(stRet = "", vbNullString, ", " & stRet)
End Function
---

/Per
Lyle Fairfield wrote:
"(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalidwrote in
news:4a********************************@4ax.com:
I've got a UNC.

It's something like H:\CDL\Attachments\Deal000023.InitialOffering.doc.

I want to feed that UNC to MS Windows and let Windows worry about
selecting which application to use to open it. If there's no app
defined for that UNC's particular suffix, that's ok... we'll live with
it.

Seems like a FileSystemObject should be able to do this, but I can't
find such a method.

'Shell' wants an executable.

Maybe an API call?

FollowHyperlink "H:\CDL\Attachments\Deal000023.InitialOffering.doc "

?

--
Lyle Fairfield
Aug 9 '06 #3
"Per" <pa**********@gmail.comwrote in
news:11*********************@m73g2000cwd.googlegro ups.com:
I found this code on an other site and have tried it, it works. So
here's the complete code, including the copyright notices:
---
' This code was originally written by Dev Ashish.
' It is not to be altered or distributed,
' except as part of an application.
' You are free to use it in any application,
' provided the copyright notice is left unchanged.
'
' Code Courtesy of
' Dev Ashish
'
Private Declare Function apiShellExecute 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

'***App Window Constants***
Public Const WIN_NORMAL = 1 'Open Normal
Public Const WIN_MAX = 3 'Open Maximized
Public Const WIN_MIN = 2 'Open Minimized

'***Error Codes***
Private Const ERROR_SUCCESS = 32&
Private Const ERROR_NO_ASSOC = 31&
Private Const ERROR_OUT_OF_MEM = 0&
Private Const ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND = 2&
Private Const ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND = 3&
Private Const ERROR_BAD_FORMAT = 11&

'***************Usage Examples***********************
'Open a folder: ?fHandleFile("C:\TEMP\",WIN_NORMAL)
'Call Email app:
?fHandleFile("mailto:da****@hotmail.com",WIN_NORMA L)
'Open URL: ?fHandleFile("http://home.att.net/~dashish",
WIN_NORMAL)
'Handle Unknown extensions (call Open With Dialog):
' ?fHandleFile("C:\TEMP\TestThis",Win_Normal)
'Start Access instance:
' ?fHandleFile("I:\mdbs\CodeNStuff.mdb", Win_NORMAL)
'************************************************* ***

Function fHandleFile(stFile As String, lShowHow As Long)
Dim lRet As Long, varTaskID As Variant
Dim stRet As String
'First try ShellExecute
lRet = apiShellExecute(hWndAccessApp, vbNullString, _
stFile, vbNullString, vbNullString, lShowHow)

If lRet ERROR_SUCCESS Then
stRet = vbNullString
lRet = -1
Else
Select Case lRet
Case ERROR_NO_ASSOC:
'Try the OpenWith dialog
varTaskID = Shell("rundll32.exe
shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL " _
& stFile, WIN_NORMAL)
lRet = (varTaskID <0)
Case ERROR_OUT_OF_MEM:
stRet = "Error: Out of Memory/Resources. Couldn't
Execute!"
Case ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND:
stRet = "Error: File not found. Couldn't Execute!"
Case ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND:
stRet = "Error: Path not found. Couldn't Execute!"
Case ERROR_BAD_FORMAT:
stRet = "Error: Bad File Format. Couldn't Execute!"
Case Else:
End Select
End If
fHandleFile = lRet & _
IIf(stRet = "", vbNullString, ", " & stRet)
End Function
---

/Per
Lyle Fairfield wrote:
>"(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalidwrote in
news:4a********************************@4ax.com :
I've got a UNC.

It's something like
H:\CDL\Attachments\Deal000023.InitialOffering.doc.

I want to feed that UNC to MS Windows and let Windows worry about
selecting which application to use to open it. If there's no app
defined for that UNC's particular suffix, that's ok... we'll live
with it.

Seems like a FileSystemObject should be able to do this, but I
can't find such a method.

'Shell' wants an executable.

Maybe an API call?

FollowHyperlink "H:\CDL\Attachments\Deal000023.InitialOffering.doc "

?

--
Lyle Fairfield
Thanks. That certainly helps me understand those 25000 lines of code
claims.

--
Lyle Fairfield
Aug 9 '06 #4
Br

Lyle Fairfield wrote:
"Per" <pa**********@gmail.comwrote in
news:11*********************@m73g2000cwd.googlegro ups.com:
I found this code on an other site and have tried it, it works. So
here's the complete code, including the copyright notices:
---
' This code was originally written by Dev Ashish.
' It is not to be altered or distributed,
' except as part of an application.
' You are free to use it in any application,
' provided the copyright notice is left unchanged.
'
' Code Courtesy of
' Dev Ashish
'
Private Declare Function apiShellExecute 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

'***App Window Constants***
Public Const WIN_NORMAL = 1 'Open Normal
Public Const WIN_MAX = 3 'Open Maximized
Public Const WIN_MIN = 2 'Open Minimized

'***Error Codes***
Private Const ERROR_SUCCESS = 32&
Private Const ERROR_NO_ASSOC = 31&
Private Const ERROR_OUT_OF_MEM = 0&
Private Const ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND = 2&
Private Const ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND = 3&
Private Const ERROR_BAD_FORMAT = 11&

'***************Usage Examples***********************
'Open a folder: ?fHandleFile("C:\TEMP\",WIN_NORMAL)
'Call Email app:
?fHandleFile("mailto:da****@hotmail.com",WIN_NORMA L)
'Open URL: ?fHandleFile("http://home.att.net/~dashish",
WIN_NORMAL)
'Handle Unknown extensions (call Open With Dialog):
' ?fHandleFile("C:\TEMP\TestThis",Win_Normal)
'Start Access instance:
' ?fHandleFile("I:\mdbs\CodeNStuff.mdb", Win_NORMAL)
'************************************************* ***

Function fHandleFile(stFile As String, lShowHow As Long)
Dim lRet As Long, varTaskID As Variant
Dim stRet As String
'First try ShellExecute
lRet = apiShellExecute(hWndAccessApp, vbNullString, _
stFile, vbNullString, vbNullString, lShowHow)

If lRet ERROR_SUCCESS Then
stRet = vbNullString
lRet = -1
Else
Select Case lRet
Case ERROR_NO_ASSOC:
'Try the OpenWith dialog
varTaskID = Shell("rundll32.exe
shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL " _
& stFile, WIN_NORMAL)
lRet = (varTaskID <0)
Case ERROR_OUT_OF_MEM:
stRet = "Error: Out of Memory/Resources. Couldn't
Execute!"
Case ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND:
stRet = "Error: File not found. Couldn't Execute!"
Case ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND:
stRet = "Error: Path not found. Couldn't Execute!"
Case ERROR_BAD_FORMAT:
stRet = "Error: Bad File Format. Couldn't Execute!"
Case Else:
End Select
End If
fHandleFile = lRet & _
IIf(stRet = "", vbNullString, ", " & stRet)
End Function
---

/Per
Lyle Fairfield wrote:
"(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalidwrote in
news:4a********************************@4ax.com:

I've got a UNC.

It's something like
H:\CDL\Attachments\Deal000023.InitialOffering.doc.

I want to feed that UNC to MS Windows and let Windows worry about
selecting which application to use to open it. If there's no app
defined for that UNC's particular suffix, that's ok... we'll live
with it.

Seems like a FileSystemObject should be able to do this, but I
can't find such a method.

'Shell' wants an executable.

Maybe an API call?

FollowHyperlink "H:\CDL\Attachments\Deal000023.InitialOffering.doc "

?

--
Lyle Fairfield

Thanks. That certainly helps me understand those 25000 lines of code
claims.

--
Lyle Fairfield
Hehe.

I have some code (not on me right now) that will lookup the registry
and get the program associated with the filename extension. Not sure if
it'd work any better/worse than the above....

regards,

Br@dley

Aug 10 '06 #5

The code quoted is the correct way to do it (in Win32 terms), it works by
looking in the registry for the file extension and then looks at the verb
(passed in lpOperation) to carry out the appropriate action for the file.

In the example below as lpOperation is set to vbNullstring this means that
it will perorm the default operation, this is generally "Open".
--

Terry Kreft
"Br@dley" <br*****@comcen.com.auwrote in message
news:11*********************@m73g2000cwd.googlegro ups.com...
>
Lyle Fairfield wrote:
"Per" <pa**********@gmail.comwrote in
news:11*********************@m73g2000cwd.googlegro ups.com:
I found this code on an other site and have tried it, it works. So
here's the complete code, including the copyright notices:
---
' This code was originally written by Dev Ashish.
' It is not to be altered or distributed,
' except as part of an application.
' You are free to use it in any application,
' provided the copyright notice is left unchanged.
'
' Code Courtesy of
' Dev Ashish
'
Private Declare Function apiShellExecute 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
>
'***App Window Constants***
Public Const WIN_NORMAL = 1 'Open Normal
Public Const WIN_MAX = 3 'Open Maximized
Public Const WIN_MIN = 2 'Open Minimized
>
'***Error Codes***
Private Const ERROR_SUCCESS = 32&
Private Const ERROR_NO_ASSOC = 31&
Private Const ERROR_OUT_OF_MEM = 0&
Private Const ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND = 2&
Private Const ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND = 3&
Private Const ERROR_BAD_FORMAT = 11&
>
'***************Usage Examples***********************
'Open a folder: ?fHandleFile("C:\TEMP\",WIN_NORMAL)
'Call Email app:
?fHandleFile("mailto:da****@hotmail.com",WIN_NORMA L)
'Open URL: ?fHandleFile("http://home.att.net/~dashish",
WIN_NORMAL)
'Handle Unknown extensions (call Open With Dialog):
' ?fHandleFile("C:\TEMP\TestThis",Win_Normal)
'Start Access instance:
' ?fHandleFile("I:\mdbs\CodeNStuff.mdb", Win_NORMAL)
'************************************************* ***
>
Function fHandleFile(stFile As String, lShowHow As Long)
Dim lRet As Long, varTaskID As Variant
Dim stRet As String
'First try ShellExecute
lRet = apiShellExecute(hWndAccessApp, vbNullString, _
stFile, vbNullString, vbNullString, lShowHow)
>
If lRet ERROR_SUCCESS Then
stRet = vbNullString
lRet = -1
Else
Select Case lRet
Case ERROR_NO_ASSOC:
'Try the OpenWith dialog
varTaskID = Shell("rundll32.exe
shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL " _
& stFile, WIN_NORMAL)
lRet = (varTaskID <0)
Case ERROR_OUT_OF_MEM:
stRet = "Error: Out of Memory/Resources. Couldn't
Execute!"
Case ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND:
stRet = "Error: File not found. Couldn't Execute!"
Case ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND:
stRet = "Error: Path not found. Couldn't Execute!"
Case ERROR_BAD_FORMAT:
stRet = "Error: Bad File Format. Couldn't Execute!"
Case Else:
End Select
End If
fHandleFile = lRet & _
IIf(stRet = "", vbNullString, ", " & stRet)
End Function
---
>
/Per
Lyle Fairfield wrote:
>"(PeteCresswell)" <x@y.Invalidwrote in
>news:4a********************************@4ax.com :
>>
I've got a UNC.
>
It's something like
H:\CDL\Attachments\Deal000023.InitialOffering.doc.
>
I want to feed that UNC to MS Windows and let Windows worry about
selecting which application to use to open it. If there's no app
defined for that UNC's particular suffix, that's ok... we'll live
with it.
>
Seems like a FileSystemObject should be able to do this, but I
can't find such a method.
>
'Shell' wants an executable.
>
Maybe an API call?
>>
>FollowHyperlink "H:\CDL\Attachments\Deal000023.InitialOffering.doc "
>>
>?
>>
>--
>Lyle Fairfield
Thanks. That certainly helps me understand those 25000 lines of code
claims.

--
Lyle Fairfield

Hehe.

I have some code (not on me right now) that will lookup the registry
and get the program associated with the filename extension. Not sure if
it'd work any better/worse than the above....

regards,

Br@dley

Aug 10 '06 #6

Terry Kreft wrote:
The code quoted is the correct way to do it (in Win32 terms), it works by
looking in the registry for the file extension and then looks at the verb
(passed in lpOperation) to carry out the appropriate action for the file.

In the example below as lpOperation is set to vbNullstring this means that
it will perorm the default operation, this is generally "Open".
Terry

How does this differ from FollowHyperLink?
Is one less efficient?
Will one find more run operations with the one than the other?
Something else?

Aug 10 '06 #7
Lyle,
I wasn't trying to say this is better than FollowHyperLink, I was trying to
make the point that ShellExecute does the looking up in the registry that
one poster said they had code for.

Answering your questions:-
I wouldn't know, but I would guess the FollowHyperLink mehod to some
extent uses ShellExecute to find the registered app.
Quite possibly but considering the use both methods are put to, this is
almost certainly irrelevant.
IIRC FollowHyperLink attempts to use IE if it can't find the registered
app, whereas if you use ShellExecute you have to build in a method of your
own to handle this.
Almost certanly.

--

Terry Kreft
"Lyle Fairfield" <ly***********@aim.comwrote in message
news:11*********************@75g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...
>
Terry Kreft wrote:
The code quoted is the correct way to do it (in Win32 terms), it works
by
looking in the registry for the file extension and then looks at the
verb
(passed in lpOperation) to carry out the appropriate action for the
file.

In the example below as lpOperation is set to vbNullstring this means
that
it will perorm the default operation, this is generally "Open".

Terry

How does this differ from FollowHyperLink?
Is one less efficient?
Will one find more run operations with the one than the other?
Something else?

Aug 10 '06 #8

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