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Visual Basic 6 definition

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

Visual Basic .NET definition

Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA"(ByVal hwnd As Integer, ByVal lpOperation As String, ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpParameters As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByVal nShowCmd As Integer) As Integer

C# definition

[DllImport("shell32.dll", EntryPoint="ShellExecute")] public static extern int ShellExecuteA(int hwnd, string lpOperation, string lpFile, string lpParameters, string lpDirectory, int nShowCmd)

Description

ShellExecute opens, prints, or executes a file using the Windows shell. When working with a non-executable file, the file is opened using its associated program. ShellExecute can also open Windows Explorer windows. The function returns immediately after opening the file, starting the program, or performing whatever other action was specified.

Return Value

If successful, the function returns a handle to the instance of the application which the function started. If an error occured, the function returns either 0 (indicating a lack of memory) or one of the following flags: ERROR_BAD_FORMAT The specified executable file was somehow invalid. SE_ERR_ACCESSDENIED Access was denied. SE_ERR_ASSOCINCOMPLETE The filename association is either incomplete or invalid. SE_ERR_DDEBUSY The DDE action could not run because other DDE actions are in process. SE_ERR_DDEFAIL The DDE transaction failed. SE_ERR_DDETIMEOUT The DDE transaction was not completed because the request timed out. SE_ERR_DLLNOTFOUND A required DLL file could not be found. SE_ERR_FNF The file could not be found. SE_ERR_NOASSOC There is no program associated with the specified type of file. SE_ERR_OOM Windows has insufficient memory to perform the operation. SE_ERR_PNF The path could not be found. SE_ERR_SHARE A sharing violation occured.

Parameters

hwnd A handle to the window calling the function. lpOperation The operation to perform on lpFile. This can be one of the following strings, although other options are possible, depending on the file being acted upon: "explore" If lpFile is a path name, open it in a Windows Explorer window. "open" Open lpFile using its associated program. Opening an executable file runs it. This is the default action if none is specified. "print" Print lpFile using its associated program. lpFile The name of the file to open, print, execute, or whatever is specified by lpVerb. lpParameters Additional parameters to use to perform the action. This would typically be additional command-line options to use, especially when running an executable file. lpDirectory The path name of the working directory to use. If this is not specified, the current directory is used. nShow One of the following flags specifying how to display any window that might be opened: SW_HIDE Hide the opened window. SW_MAXIMIZE Maximize the opened window. SW_MINIMIZE Minimize the opened window. SW_RESTORE Restore the opened window (not maximized nor minimized). SW_SHOW Show the opened window. SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED Show the opened window maximized. SW_SHOWMINIMIZED Show the opened window minimized. SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE Show the opened window minimized but do not activate the it. SW_SHOWNA Show the opened window in its current state but do not activate it. SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE Show the opened window in its most recent size and position but do not activate it. SW_SHOWNORMAL Show the opened window and activate it (as usual).

Constants

Const ERROR_BAD_FORMAT = 11 Const SE_ERR_ACCESSDENIED = 5 Const SE_ERR_ASSOCINCOMPLETE = 27 Const SE_ERR_DDEBUSY = 30 Const SE_ERR_DDEFAIL = 29 Const SE_ERR_DDETIMEOUT = 28 Const SE_ERR_DLLNOTFOUND = 32 Const SE_ERR_FNF = 2 Const SE_ERR_NOASSOC = 31 Const SE_ERR_OOM = 8 Const SE_ERR_PNF = 3 Const SE_ERR_SHARE = 26 Const SW_HIDE = 0 Const SW_MAXIMIZE = 3 Const SW_MINIMIZE = 6 Const SW_RESTORE = 9 Const SW_SHOW = 5 Const SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED = 3 Const SW_SHOWMINIMIZED = 2 Const SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE = 7 Const SW_SHOWNA = 8 Const SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE = 4 Const SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1

Further Information:

For further information on Windows API functions such as these, and how to use these API's in your C# and VB.NET applications, please refer to the book 'Network programming in .NET' (Buy at Amazon UK) (Buy at Amazon US)

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