Intro to API 101 type question - can someone help a newbie

[SBendBuckeye]

Working at this level is way beyond what I usually do, so please bear with my questions. I am using Access as an automation server to control a process that Imports Excel files, validates the data and then saves it to a specified network drive for a non Microsoft process to pick up. It runs in the background on a users machine.

I would like to pop a message at certain times in the process where user intervention is required. I know I could setup an Outlook task but I have never done that and I was hoping there was an API call that will simply popup with a message and an OK button. I have worked with some code to call the Windows File Browser so I can at least work my way through some of this stuff if I have something to follow.

Am I way off base on this? Is there a better way that I am totally missing? Is a task message the quickest way to do this?

Feedback and/or suggestions (sample code even better) would be greatly appreciated!

Have a great day!

 

[vb5prgrmr]

To display a message to a user all you need to do is display a message box using the MsgBox function (you can find it in help). However if you are wanting to display a message and not stop code execution waiting on user input you could create your own form for the task or even controls on a current form (in such a case as a progress bar or the like). Now for creating an outlook task I belive you can do that through the outlook object model. I belive in access you need to goto tools>references and select the outlook object model to be able to access its functionality.

Good Luck

 

[SBendBuckeye]

But if I am running in the background and (maybe hidden) can I ensure the message box be seen by the user. I like the idea of just popping a small non modal form, I'm just not sure it will be seen.

Thanks for the suggestion and have a great daY!

 

[vb5prgrmr]

I believe (hey spelled it right that time) that the message box would be seen even if you are hidden. On the other hand I am not sure that a small form would be seen unless you make the app visable.

Good Luck