Run an External .exe

[Guest]

Is it possible from Excel (using the buttons) to:
1) run an external .exe
2) When the .exe finishes pick up the outputs of the .exe in excel
Thanks again,
Dan

 

[Guest]

You can run external programs using the shell command, but as for picking up
the outputs, are they being stored somewhere or just how do you propose
getting them.

 

[Guest]

Jim,
Thanks,

Could you please provide an example of this "shell" command.

Wrt picking up, the .exe ouputs a text file.
Do I have a way to know when the .exe finished, ie: when this text file is
ready for pick up? I would like to do all this automatically from Excel, in
this way, I could run pre existing .exe routines, which are transparent to
me in excel and then pick up results and post process in excel.

Thx again
Dan

 

[Tom Ogilvy]

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=214248
XL2000: How to Force Macro Code to Wait for Outside Procedure

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=129796
HOWTO: 32-Bit App Can Determine When a Shelled Process Ends

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=147392
XL: How to Force Macro Code to Wait for Outside Procedure

 

[Guest]

Here is how you use the shell command...

Sub RunProgram()
Shell ("C:\Windows\Notepad.exe")
End Sub

You can use a file system object to read the text file and depending you can
try using

DoEvents 'to make sure the process has completed
or
Use OnTime to specify a wait time

 

[Guest]

Very Nice... I never have to wait for outside apps but if I ever do this will
be handy. Thanks Tom... I was very suspicious of whether DoEvents would work.
I had my doubts...