asked on

Access Denied using ShellExecute(

When using ShellExecute with some LNK Files as error 5 ( Access Denied ) error is returned. ( see example below )

However you can run the line below by clicking on
Start-Run and pasting C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office\Microsoft Office Word 2003.lnk

Any help in getting this issue resolved will be appreciated.

Example:
FileName = "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office\Microsoft Office Word 2003.lnk"

iRet = ShellExecute(GetDesktopWindow, "open", FileName, vbNullString, vbNullString, vbNormalFocus)
If lRet = 5 Then
MsgBox "Access Denied" & vbCrLf & "Try pointing directely to the program EXE", , ""
End If

Jared Luker

Is there a reason you don't want to use WshShell.run or WshShell.execute?

Jared Luker

Also, think that if you are going to be running a command, then it's best to point directly to the winword.exe (as your code mentions) so that you are not dependent on shortcuts that may or may not exist.

Phil Chapman

ASKER

What is the synax for using WshShell in vb6?

I'm getting a list of the program from
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs
The program is often referrenced to throught a link file like.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office\Microsoft Office Word 2003.lnk

Jared Luker

Sorry... I thought you were doing it in VBScript.

I would point to the .exe file. Typically located at

c:\program Files\microsoft office\OFFICE11\winword.EXE

Phil Chapman

ASKER

Pointing to the exe works fine. But I will have not way of knowing what programs the user has. Using the LNK files in VB works fine for some programs. and if you run the line form the
Start-Run prompt
All the LNK files work.

What I need to do is find out why all the LNK filds do not work in VB and work out a fix.

nffvrxqgrcfqvvc

I can't say for certain why it's not working for you but you can try my example below it might fix the problem. Only other thing I can think of is permission access or a corrupted association of the .lnk file itself.

Option Explicit
 
Private Const COINIT_APARTMENTTHREADED  As Long = &H2
Private Const COINIT_DISABLE_OLE1DDE    As Long = &H4
    
Private Declare Function CoInitializeEx Lib "OLE32.DLL" ( _
    ByRef pvReserved As Long, _
    ByVal dwCoInit As Long) As Long
 
Private Declare Function ShellExecuteA Lib "shell32.dll" ( _
    ByVal hWnd As Long, _
    ByVal lpOperation As String, _
    ByVal lpFile As String, _
    ByVal lpParameters As String, _
    ByVal lpDirectory As String, _
    ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long
 
Public Function ShellIt(ByVal strPath As String) As Long
    
    Call CoInitializeEx(0, COINIT_APARTMENTTHREADED Or COINIT_DISABLE_OLE1DDE)
    ShellIt = ShellExecuteA(0, "open", strPath, vbNullString, vbNullString, 1)
    
End Function
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    Debug.Print ShellIt("C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Tour Windows XP.lnk")
End Sub

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Phil Chapman

ASKER

I tried the code above but ShellIt returned a status of 5 and the program did not start.

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Phil Chapman

ASKER

Fantastic Work, I was about to give up on it.