WD98: WindowStyle Argument of Shell Function Ignored

• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Shell function in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications code, the windowstyle argument fails to function as described in Visual Basic Help.

CAUSE

If you set the pathname argument to a document instead of a program, the windowstyle argument has no effect.

For example, if you execute the following Visual Basic statement in Word, Microsoft Excel starts and opens a saved workbook called Workbook1. Because the windowstyle argument is set to vbMinimizedNoFocus, you would expect Excel to be minimized and Word to remain the active window. However, Excel gets the focus.

   Shell "Macintosh HD:Documents:Workbook1", vbMinimizedNoFocus

   Shell "Macintosh HD:Microsoft Office 98:Microsoft Excel", _
   vbMinimizedNoFocus

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

NOTE: Before running this macro, a reference to the Microsoft Excel 8.0 Object Library must be added. To add a project reference, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click References.

2. Click the "Microsoft Excel 8.0 Object Library" check box.

3. Click OK.

Sample Visual Basic Procedure

   Sub LaunchApp()
      Dim AppObj as Excel.Application
      ' Start Excel. If Excel cannot start, exit this macro.
      On Error GoTo Bye
      Set AppObj = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
      ' Open a workbook. (Replace the pathname argument with the path to
      ' your own workbook.
      AppObj.WorkBooks.Open "Macintosh HD:Documents:Workbook1"
      '
      ' <Other code goes here>.
      '
      ' Quit Excel.
      ' AppObj.Quit
      ' Clear the object from memory.
      ' Set AppObj = Nothing
   Bye:
      If Err <> 0 Then
         MsgBox "Can't run Excel or the requested workbook is not valid."
      End If
   End Sub

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

REFERENCES

For more information about the Shell function, click the Office Assistant in the Visual Basic Editor, type "Shell," click Search, and then click to view "Shell Function."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications