[Vb Programing] - Computers

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Vb Programing
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Posted by: Mizingo

i was wondering how i could use VB to make it run other programs like i want vb to run cmd prompt and msconfig and load add remove progrmas and stuff like that any information would help me out

Posted by: jaeusm

Research .NET's Process class in the System.Diagnostics namespace.

Posted by: Mizingo

thanks

Posted by: Insomniac

well an easy answer for most things is a good ol shell. and if you want specific access you could always make a bat to do other specific things like control panel add/remove programs

Shell "C:\exename.exe"

not sure on my syntax but should be pretty close

Posted by: Snake-Eyes

Put a button on the form. Open the code window. Type
[code]Private Sub Command1_Click()
Shell ("C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe")
End Sub
[/code] That is for command prompt.

Posted by: Stormdev

The ShellExecute API function is a much better way of starting applications than VB's built in Shell command.

It allows you to specify file names or internet resources as the file to shell, and will automatically find the associated executable and start it for you.

Essentially its the same function as called by the Start->Run box

[code]Private Declare Function ShellExecute 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

Private Declare Function ShellExecuteForExplore Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" _
(ByVal hWnd As Long, ByVal lpOperation As String, _ ByVal lpFile As String, lpParameters As Any, _
lpDirectory As Any, ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long

Public Enum EShellShowConstants
essSW_HIDE = 0
essSW_MAXIMIZE = 3
essSW_MINIMIZE = 6
essSW_SHOWMAXIMIZED = 3
essSW_SHOWMINIMIZED = 2
essSW_SHOWNORMAL = 1
essSW_SHOWNOACTIVATE = 4
essSW_SHOWNA = 8
essSW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE = 7
essSW_SHOWDEFAULT = 10
essSW_RESTORE = 9
essSW_SHOW = 5
End Enum

Private Const ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND = 2&
Private Const ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND = 3&
Private Const ERROR_BAD_FORMAT = 11&
Private Const SE_ERR_ACCESSDENIED = 5 ' access denied
Private Const SE_ERR_ASSOCINCOMPLETE = 27
Private Const SE_ERR_DDEBUSY = 30
Private Const SE_ERR_DDEFAIL = 29
Private Const SE_ERR_DDETIMEOUT = 28
Private Const SE_ERR_DLLNOTFOUND = 32
Private Const SE_ERR_FNF = 2 ' file not found
Private Const SE_ERR_NOASSOC = 31
Private Const SE_ERR_PNF = 3 ' path not found
Private Const SE_ERR_OOM = 8 ' out of memory
Private Const SE_ERR_SHARE = 26

Public Function ShellEx( _
ByVal sFIle As String, _
Optional ByVal eShowCmd As EShellShowConstants = essSW_SHOWDEFAULT, _
Optional ByVal sParameters As String = "", _
Optional ByVal sDefaultDir As String = "", _
Optional sOperation As String = "open", _
Optional Owner As Long = 0 _
) As Boolean
Dim lR As Long
Dim lErr As Long, sErr As Long
If (InStr(UCase$(sFIle), ".EXE") <> 0) Then
eShowCmd = 0
End If
On Error Resume Next
If (sParameters = "") And (sDefaultDir = "") Then
lR = ShellExecuteForExplore(Owner, sOperation, sFIle, 0, 0, essSW_SHOWNORMAL)
Else
lR = ShellExecute(Owner, sOperation, sFIle, sParameters, sDefaultDir, eShowCmd)
End If
If (lR < 0) Or (lR > 32) Then
ShellEx = True
Else
' raise an appropriate error:
lErr = vbObjectError + 1048 + lR
Select Case lR
Case 0
lErr = 7: sErr = "Out of memory"
Case ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND
lErr = 53: sErr = "File not found"
Case ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND
lErr = 76: sErr = "Path not found"
Case ERROR_BAD_FORMAT
sErr = "The executable file is invalid or corrupt"
Case SE_ERR_ACCESSDENIED
lErr = 75: sErr = "Path/file access error"
Case SE_ERR_ASSOCINCOMPLETE
sErr = "This file type does not have a valid file association."
Case SE_ERR_DDEBUSY
lErr = 285: sErr = "The file could not be opened because the target application is busy. Please try again in a moment."
Case SE_ERR_DDEFAIL
lErr = 285: sErr = "The file could not be opened because the DDE transaction failed. Please try again in a moment."
Case SE_ERR_DDETIMEOUT
lErr = 286: sErr = "The file could not be opened due to time out. Please try again in a moment."
Case SE_ERR_DLLNOTFOUND
lErr = 48: sErr = "The specified dynamic-link library was not found."
Case SE_ERR_FNF
lErr = 53: sErr = "File not found"
Case SE_ERR_NOASSOC
sErr = "No application is associated with this file type."
Case SE_ERR_OOM
lErr = 7: sErr = "Out of memory"
Case SE_ERR_PNF
lErr = 76: sErr = "Path not found"
Case SE_ERR_SHARE
lErr = 75: sErr = "A sharing violation occurred."
Case Else
sErr = "An error occurred occurred whilst trying to open or print the selected file."
End Select

Err.Raise lErr, , App.EXEName & ".GShell", sErr
ShellEx = False
End If

End Function[/code]

Call the ShellEx function as in the following:

To open a the user's browser at a particular internet site
ShellEx "http://www.dogma.demon.co.uk", , , , , Me.hWnd

To print a document
ShellEx "C:\My Documents\Music\Brown Paper Bag.doc", , , , "print", Me.hWnd

To explore from a folder
ShellEx "C:\My Documents\Music", , , , "explore", Me.hWnd

Posted by: jov_damo86@yaho

what is ShellExecute API function? this is my first time to go like this? How is that ShellExecute API function is?

Posted by: Stormdev

It's right in the code I posted. The ShellExecute function is used to 'Shell' out (Run/Start) and external application from your visual basic application.

In the examples above you can also use program file names like calc.exe for the windows calculator or iexplore.exe etc... etc...

Posted by: jov_damo86@yaho

Ah ok thanks a lot! Got it!

Posted by: Stormdev

Not a problem. ;)