Code for Call the program in Visual Basic

Question

Seyha Eng 0 Newbie Poster

21 Years Ago

Hi,
How can I call the program that have exetension *.pps(PowerPoint Show) ? Not .exe!
thanks! :sad:

visual-basic

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Latest Post 19 Years Ago Latest Post by tupadjia

Dani AI

Generated 10 Months Ago

Several valid routes already appear in the thread (thanks to , and ). The two recurring problems are path resolution (running inside the IDE vs the compiled EXE, and different drive letters when running from a CD) and whether PowerPoint is available or the .pps file association is correct. The snippets below avoid repeating earlier code and show two practical helpers: a robust way to get the EXE folder and a reliable method to open a .pps by automating PowerPoint (works even when the EXE and .pps are burned to a CD together).

' Late-bound PowerPoint automation (VB6)
Dim ppApp As Object
Dim ppPres As Object
Dim sFile As String

sFile = GetExeFolder() & "aa.pps"   ' change aa.pps as needed
If Dir$(sFile) = "" Then
    MsgBox "Presentation not found: " & sFile
Else
    Set ppApp = CreateObject("PowerPoint.Application")
    Set ppPres = ppApp.Presentations.Open(sFile, False, False, True)
    ppPres.SlideShowSettings.Run
    ' Optional cleanup when done:
    ' ppPres.Close: ppApp.Quit: Set ppPres = Nothing: Set ppApp = Nothing
End If

' Robust EXE-folder helper (VB6)
Public Declare Function GetModuleFileName Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetModuleFileNameA" _
    (ByVal hModule As Long, ByVal lpFilename As String, ByVal nSize As Long) As Long

Function GetExeFolder() As String
    Dim buf As String, ret As Long
    buf = String$(260, vbNullChar)
    ret = GetModuleFileName(0, buf, Len(buf))
    If ret > 0 Then
        buf = Left$(buf, ret)
        GetExeFolder = Left$(buf, InStrRev(buf, "\"))
    Else
        GetExeFolder = CurDir$ & "\"
    End If
End Function

Notes and troubleshooting: automation requires PowerPoint on the machine and should be tested with the compiled EXE (the IDE can use a different working folder). For CD-distribution place the .pps in the same folder as the EXE so the path built by GetExeFolder finds it regardless of drive letter. If relying on the system file association instead, ShellExecute or WScript.Shell (as suggested earlier by and ) are valid alternatives but offer less programmatic control than automation.

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big_k105 11 PFO Founder

21 Years Ago

I dont have the code you would use on me but it would be something like call powerpoint first with an argument of calling the file you want it to open. if i find the code i have to open word docs i will give it to you but the pc its on isnt booting up right now so i dont know if i will beable to help you but that should give you an idea of what to do :)

found it

Dim shell, fso
 Set shell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
 Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
 shell.Run """C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\WINWORD.exe"" file.doc"

im sure if you modify that to open powerpoint instead of word and then put the file you want at the end it should work, good luck :)

Comatose 290 Taboo Programmer

21 Years Ago

in a module

Public 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

then in your button or whatever

retval = shellexecute(0&, "whatever.pps", vbnullstring, vbnullstring, 1)

It's off the top of my head, but that should work.

Comatose 290 Taboo Programmer

21 Years Ago

oops, sorry

retval = ShellExecute(Form1.hwnd, "Open", "whatever.pps", 0&, 0&, 1)

don't forget to change "Form1" to the name of your form (any form you have), and change "whatever.pps" to whatever file you want to open.

Comatose 290 Taboo Programmer

21 Years Ago

I don't understand what you are asking. you can change "whatever.pps" to "c:\myfile.pps" or whatever.... and it will still work. Is that what you are asking? (the answer is yes... you can specify a path and file name)

Comatose 290 Taboo Programmer

21 Years Ago

Ah.... pretty sure:

retval = ShellExecute(Form1.hwnd, "Open", app.path & "\whatever.pps", 0&, 0&, 1)

app.path references any location that your program is run from. So, if you make sure whatever.pps is in the same folder as your exe, it will work fine.

if you are unsure how the string looks for app.path, just do a msgbox on it.

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Seyha Eng 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 1 · 2005-02-13T06:38:59+00:00

Sorry, I don't understand your code. Can you explian it more for me please?
Or can you create it for me please? Thanks!
-------
This is your code:
Dim shell, fso
Set shell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
shell.Run """C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\WINWORD.exe"" file.doc"
-------
Oh! do you know some code that can call file beside *.exe.

seyha

Seyha Eng 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 2 · 2005-02-15T07:39:53+00:00

Sorry, Your code it doesn't work. It said "Argument not optional".
Can you hepl me with this problem?
thanks!
Seyha

in a module

Public 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

then in your button or whatever

retval = shellexecute(0&, "whatever.pps", vbnullstring, vbnullstring, 1)

It's off the top of my head, but that should work.

Seyha Eng 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 3 · 2005-02-16T08:27:04+00:00

I have one more question. Can you help me please?
If I have file on drive C and my file my is aa.pps so on whatever.pps is C:\aa.pps, that is right? My question is I want to make it to aa.exe and I put it on the CD (I copy file aa.pps and aa.exe on CD too, I do have file on my drive C anymore) What Code I should change on whatever.pps?
Thanks!

Seyha

oops, sorry
retval = ShellExecute(Form1.hwnd, "Open", "whatever.pps", 0&, 0&, 1)
don't forget to change "Form1" to the name of your form (any form you have), and change "whatever.pps" to whatever file you want to open.

Seyha Eng 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 4 · 2005-02-16T11:54:02+00:00

Sorry, that I ask you the question not clear. I want to ask you about the code for chang drive, because when I compile to exe and I want to put it on the CD but it doesn't work because I don't have file *.pps on the drive C:.
Thanks!
seyha

I don't understand what you are asking. you can change "whatever.pps" to "c:\myfile.pps" or whatever.... and it will still work. Is that what you are asking? (the answer is yes... you can specify a path and file name)

Seyha Eng 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 5 · 2005-02-19T04:25:29+00:00

Can you help me again?
I did the same you told me but it don't happen anything when I run. Do you know why?
And try to do the msgbox, it said "False". What is it mean?
Thank you!

Ah.... pretty sure:
retval = ShellExecute(Form1.hwnd, "Open", app.path & "\whatever.pps", 0&, 0&, 1)
app.path references any location that your program is run from. So, if you make sure whatever.pps is in the same folder as your exe, it will work fine.
if you are unsure how the string looks for app.path, just do a msgbox on it.

Comatose 290 Taboo Programmer Team Colleague · Answer 6 · 2005-02-19T04:46:08+00:00

It probably couldn't find whatever.pps in the same folder you were running the program from. You did change whatever.pps, to the name of your presentation, right? And you did change form1.hwnd to a form name in your project right?

And Uh, You do have powerpoint installed, right?

Seyha Eng 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 7 · 2005-02-19T13:00:53+00:00

Yes, I have every thing change and have powerpoint too. but I don't know why it doesn't work. Can you test it, it work or not? if it work can you save the fine and send to me please?
thanks so much! I hope to hear from you soon!

It probably couldn't find whatever.pps in the same folder you were running the program from. You did change whatever.pps, to the name of your presentation, right? And you did change form1.hwnd to a form name in your project right?
And Uh, You do have powerpoint installed, right?

Comatose 290 Taboo Programmer Team Colleague · Answer 8 · 2005-02-19T17:44:59+00:00

Unfortunately I don't use office. I'll make a copy of it, and attach it that loads a notepad txt document, and you can modify the minor file name change and let me know how it works. You do, however, need to ensure that the .pps file is in the same folder as the EXE being run. It's a good idea to compile the program to an EXE (don't test it in VB) and make sure the EXE and the file you want to run are in the same folder.

Seyha Eng 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 9 · 2005-02-20T09:13:06+00:00

This what I test:
Don't work:
retval = ShellExecute(Form1.hwnd, "Open", App.Path & "\vbcode\aa.pps", 0&, 0&, 1)
Work:
retval = ShellExecute(Form1.hwnd, "Open", "C:\vbcode\aa.pps", 0&, 0&, 1)

I don't know why it is look very the same but one work and one not.
Please help me! Thanks alot! :sad:

Unfortunately I don't use office. I'll make a copy of it, and attach it that loads a notepad txt document, and you can modify the minor file name change and let me know how it works. You do, however, need to ensure that the .pps file is in the same folder as the EXE being run. It's a good idea to compile the program to an EXE (don't test it in VB) and make sure the EXE and the file you want to run are in the same folder.

Comatose 290 Taboo Programmer Team Colleague · Answer 10 · 2005-02-20T09:56:53+00:00

because you do not have aa.pps in the same folder as your program.... they MUST be in the SAME FOLDER in order for it to work.... when you click "file, make exe" you have to put that exe, and aa.pps in the same folder..... if they are not in the same folder, it will not work with app.path

Seyha Eng 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 11 · 2005-02-21T02:05:49+00:00

Thank you so much so much! now it is working. :D
I can't done with you help!!!!!

because you do not have aa.pps in the same folder as your program.... they MUST be in the SAME FOLDER in order for it to work.... when you click "file, make exe" you have to put that exe, and aa.pps in the same folder..... if they are not in the same folder, it will not work with app.path

uniquestar 26 Posting Whiz in Training · Answer 12 · 2005-02-26T05:52:04+00:00

The easiest way i find of opening an outside file is this:

shell "C:\file.extesntion"

that is it, just one line, it calls the requested file into the window shell, thereofre running it.

just make sure to change "file.extension" the path and name of the file you want to start.

let me know if you get his working
cheers
uniquestar

Comatose 290 Taboo Programmer Team Colleague · Answer 13 · 2005-02-26T06:29:37+00:00

Actually, Uniquestar, if you look through this thread, you'll notice that shell has been tried in both WScript and VB, and the solution to make it launch the EXE associated with the .extention was to use shellexecute.

tupadjia 0 Newbie Poster · Answer 14 · 2007-02-05T11:50:15+00:00

this is awesome. i came across this thread by accident, and learned so much! mind you, i am new to this.
i do have a quick question tho.
lets say i design a form on a windows form where i can write down customer info, for example, now, how can i save that so that when opened, by double clicking, i can view that certain record and maybe even edit it on the spot?
if anyone can answer that i'd appreciate it, or maybe even show me an example!
thanks in advance.

Code for Call the program in Visual Basic

Dani AI

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