Problem opening PDF files as a link

[neiluk69]

I have created a form with a hyperlink which opens a PDF file.

However when you click the link the file opens briefly and shuts down automatically, I have tried opening diffetrent file type and they work fine it is just the PDF that messes up.

For clarification if I open the PDF from explorer it works fine and I have tried several files.

Any suggestions.

Neil

[missinglinq]

You have inadvertently posted your question in the Articles section rather than in the Forum section of our site, so I have moved it across to the Forum for you.

Welcome to TheScripts!

Linq ;0)>

[puppydogbuddy]

I have created a form with a hyperlink which opens a PDF file.

However when you click the link the file opens briefly and shuts down automatically, I have tried opening diffetrent file type and they work fine it is just the PDF that messes up.

For clarification if I open the PDF from explorer it works fine and I have tried several files.

Any suggestions.

Neil

Neil,

Try using the ShellExecute method. It does not have the limitations that the Shell() function and Application.FollowHyperLink method do.

The following example uses ShellExecute on a button click event:

Dim strPdfWriterPath As String
Dim strFilePath As String
 
'Open File
'strPdfWriterPath is the path to the application object
'strFilePath is the path to the file you want to open
 
strPdfWriterPath = "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe"
strFilePath = Me.FilePath
 
Call Shell(strPdfWriterPath & " " & strFilePath, vbMaximizedFocus)

[neiluk69]

many thanks puppydog, it worked

[zigzag]

Neil,

Just to add, the problem you were seeing originaly is due to an issue with Acrobat reader. If you check you will probably find that it is version 7.0.0.
If you get the latest version it will cure the problem.

Garry

[Kevin Wilcox]

Neil,

Just to add, the problem you were seeing originaly is due to an issue with Acrobat reader. If you check you will probably find that it is version 7.0.0.
If you get the latest version it will cure the problem.

Garry

Just to add to this further, I had the same issue; this only occurred on machines that had both Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader installed, fairly common in our setup. I had to explicitly open the doc in reader. here's a section of the code I used in case it's of use to others, I know it took me days to find the answer on the web!

    fCloseApp ("AdobeAcrobat")
    Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
    MyCaseID = Me.CaseID
 
    'prints case documents where checkboxes are ticked
    If Me.PrintDocs = -1 Then
        Set MyControl = Forms!frmPatients.Form!sfrmCases.Form!sfrmDocuments
        MyControl.SetFocus
        Set ObjRecordSet = MyControl.Form.RecordsetClone
        ObjRecordSet.MoveFirst
        Do Until ObjRecordSet.EOF
            If ObjRecordSet.Print = -1 Then
                MySourceDir = DocPathWay
                MyFileName = ObjRecordSet.FileName
                StrOutputFile = MySourceDir & MyFileName
                strAcroPath = "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe"
                    If fs.FileExists(StrOutputFile) = True Then
                        strAcroPath = strAcroPath & " /t " & StrOutputFile
                        dwReturn = Shell(strAcroPath, vbMinimizedNoFocus)
                        DoCmd.SetWarnings False
                        MySQL = "INSERT INTO tblPrintHistory (EventType, UserID, CaseID, Document, PrintDate) " & _
                        "SELECT 1 as EventType, """ & fosEmpID & """ as UserID, """ & MyCaseID & """ as CaseID, " & _
                        """" & stDocName & """ as document, Now() as PrintDate;"
                        DoCmd.RunSQL MySQL
                        DoCmd.SetWarnings True
 
                    Else
                        MsgBox StrOutputFile & " does not exist"
                    End If
            End If
        ObjRecordSet.MoveNext
        Loop
    End If