Pop up the Calculator in XP 1

[Golom]

I'm using the following chunk of code to pop up the calculator in Win 98

Public Sub ShowCalculator()
    
    Dim StringLen           As Long
    Dim strWinPath          As String
    Dim strSysFileName      As String
    Static ProgID           As Long
    Dim WindowHandle        As Long
    Dim FSO                 As FileSystemObject

    On Error Resume Next

    AppActivate ProgID, False
    
    If Err.Number <> 0 Then
        Set FSO = New FileSystemObject
        ' Get the path of the Windows\System directory.
        strWinPath = Space$(MAX_FILENAME_LEN)
        StringLen = GetWindowsDirectory(strWinPath, MAX_FILENAME_LEN)
        strWinPath = Left$(strWinPath, StringLen)
        strSysFileName = strWinPath & "\Calc.exe"
        
        If Not FSO.FileExists(strSysFileName) Then
            StringLen = GetSystemDirectory(strWinPath, MAX_FILENAME_LEN)
            strWinPath = Left$(strWinPath, StringLen)
            strSysFileName = strWinPath & "\Calc.exe"
        End If
        
        ProgID = Shell(strSysFileName, vbNormalFocus)
        WindowHandle = GetForegroundWindow()
        Call SetWindowPos(WindowHandle, HWND_TOPMOST, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_NOSIZE Or SWP_NOMOVE)
        Set FSO = Nothing
    End If
End Sub

But it doesn't work in XP because "Calc.Exe" is in Windows\System32 on XP and the GetWindowsDirectory and GetSystemDirectory API calls both return "C:\Windows". Is there an API call (or some other method) that will find the right directory in XP?

 

[DrJavaJoe]

Try this instead:

Shell "calc.exe"

Two strings walk into a bar. The first string says to the bartender: 'Bartender, I'll have a beer. u.5n$x5t?*&4ru!2[sACC~ErJ'. The second string says: 'Pardon my friend, he isn't NULL terminated'.

 

[zemp]

This is what I do and it works in win2000 and winXP. Add a reference to the 'Windows Script Host Object Model' via the Project-Referenced menu. Then add the following variable to your project in a module or form.

'// Object used when viewing the help files.
Public execObject As WshExec

Then in the command button or menu use the following code.

With New WshShell
   Set execObject = .Exec("calc.exe")
End With

zemp

 

[Golom]

zemp

Thanks. That works with a bit of fiddling to force it to be the TOPMOST form. It did seem that, after doing this I had to insert a "DoEvents" to allow windows to add the calculator to the Windows collection so that FindWindow could locate it.

Anyway ... have a star.

 

[zemp]

Thanks Golom. FYI, the reason I like this method, as opposed to Dr J's, is that you can automatically close the other application (calculator) when you close your app with the following code.

   If Not execObject Is Nothing Then execObject.Terminate

With the Shell command the calculator, or any other called app (such as html help files) will remain open.


zemp

 

[dtrinowitz]

Here is another way. 2 short lines

Code: In form only
General Declarations
Public calc As Integer
____________________________________________
cmdCalculator_click()
calc = Shell("calc.exe")
End Sub

this works on Win2k, so it should work on all NT systems including XP.



________________________________________________
Don't get mad!! Get even!!

 

[strongm]

So that'll be the solution DrJavaJoe posted back on Dec 9?

 

[dtrinowitz]

yes pretty much. just looks nicer

 

[johnwm]

A Public variable for no good reason? Looks nicer???

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