Excel

Select Program to Open a File

Ease of Use

Easy

Version tested with

2000, 2002 

Submitted by:

Justinlabenne

Description:

Select the program you want to open a certain file with 

Discussion:

When opening a certain file, you may want to select a certain program to open the file with. This code shows the "Open With" dialog allowing the user to select what program to use when opening a pre-selected file. The example workbook contains the code workbook, and an example text file which designated as the file to open. 

Code:

instructions for use 

			
Option Explicit 
 
Sub OpenHow() 
     '   String for the file path:
    Dim szFileToOpen As String 
    szFileToOpen = ThisWorkbook.Path & "\tester.txt" 
     
     
     '   String for RunDll:
    Dim szOpenWith As String 
    szOpenWith = "rundll32.exe shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL " & szFileToOpen 
     
     
     '   Variable for the shell:
    Dim vRun As Variant 
    vRun = Shell(szOpenWith, vbMaximizedFocus) 
End Sub

How to use:

  1. Open an Excel Workbook
  2. Copy the code
  3. Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor (VBE)
  4. Select INSERT > MODULE from the menubar
  5. Paste code into the right pane
  6. Press Alt+Q to return to Excel
  7. Save workbook before any other changes
 

Test the code:

  1. The example uses a text file that is assumed to be in the same location as the Excel workbook and is named {tester.txt}
  3. You can incorporate any fixed file path or browse for file routine into the code to allow for selecting of other files.
  5. Go to TOOLS > MACRO > MACROS
  6. When the dialog appears, select {OpenHow}
  7. Press Run
 

Sample File:

RunWithIt.zip 6.5KB 

Approved by mdmackillop


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