How do I execute other application(*.exe) from VBA(Excel) ?

[Guest]

I am programming by VBA with Excel and I need to execute an executable
application, which is compiled and saved as "Ap1.exe" by other some compiler.

How can I start "Ap1.exe" from a VBA program.
OS: Windows XP,
Application: Excel 2003

 

[robertdeniro]

-*Shell "C:\windows\ap1.exe", vbNormalFocus*-

Unless Ap1.exe is located in a folder that's in the system path, you'll
have to specify the full path to the file.

 

[Guest]

SUZUKI

-*Shell "C:\windows\ap1.exe", vbNormalFocus*-

Thanks a lot.
Your answer is very helpfull and now I can exute "Ap1.exe" from VBA.

Another question arose in using function "shell".

How can I make VBA program wait until Ap1.exe terminates its execution.
Ap1.exe will operate automatically; it will calculate, output the result
to a text file, close the result file, and then terminate its execution
automatically.
It takes about 1 second for an execution of Ap1.exe.
I want to let VBA program wait before proceeding to Line4.
I want to read the result file written by Ap1.exe and process by VBA.
It is needed to repeat this cycle so many times.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Sub test1
Line1: FOR I=1 TO 1000
Line2: cells(1,1)="starting Ap1.exe" ' displaying cell "A1" in Excel
worksheet
Line3: Shell "C:\windows\ap1.exe", vbNormalFocus
Line4: cells(1,1)="terminated execution of Ap1.exe"
Line5: call read_calculation_result_file
Line6: call process_calculation_result
Line7: NEXT I
End Sub
---------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Guest]

SUZUKI




Thanks a lot.
Your answer is very helpfull and now I can exute "Ap1.exe" from VBA.

Another question arose in using function "shell".

How can I make VBA program wait until Ap1.exe terminates its execution.
Ap1.exe will operate automatically; it will calculate, output the result
to a text file, close the result file, and then terminate its execution
automatically.
It takes about 1 second for an execution of Ap1.exe.
I want to let VBA program wait before proceeding to Line4.
I want to read the result file written by Ap1.exe and process by VBA.
It is needed to repeat this cycle so many times.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Sub test1
Line1: FOR I=1 TO 1000
Line2: cells(1,1)="starting Ap1.exe" ' displaying cell "A1" in Excel
worksheet
Line3: Shell "C:\windows\ap1.exe", vbNormalFocus
Line4: cells(1,1)="terminated execution of Ap1.exe"
Line5: call read_calculation_result_file
Line6: call process_calculation_result
Line7: NEXT I
End Sub

----------------------

Can you just try to open the output file, and if an error is detected loop back
and try again ... and again? Maybe wait 1 second first before starting the looping?

Bill

 

[Guest]

SUZUKI

Can you just try to open the output file, and if an error is detected loop back
and try again ... and again? Maybe wait 1 second first before starting the looping?
Bill

Thanks a lot.
I am very glad to know very simple and easy method presented by you.
This method, however, may consume CPU resource, and errors of too many
times may cause some trouble.
Is there more elegant and safe way to let VBA program idle until
Ap1.exe terminates.

 

[Dnereb]

SUZUKI
Thanks a lot.
I am very glad to know very simple and easy method presented by you.
This method, however, may consume CPU resource, and errors of too many
times may cause some trouble.
Is there more elegant and safe way to let VBA program idle until
Ap1.exe terminates.

This would require using API functions to make a snapshot and AP
process functions
you can find information on: URL: 'API page' (http://www.allapi.net/

 

[Guest]

Thanks a lot for infomation on API.
Now, I underatand that I should learn API.

 

[Guest]

Hello,
I also tried this, and initially it appeared to work. my executable is a
compiled fortran program. The executable works ok when I run it outside of
Excel, but when I use the shell command, it doesnt.

Sub run_for()
Dim retApp As Double
retApp = Shell("L:\methods\for.exe", vbMinimizedFocus)

End Sub

The .exe accesses an input file from within L:\methods. When I execute from
the subroutine, does it need a full pathname in the exe as opposed to just
the filename?

Bird