asked on 5/14/2011

MS Word macro for opening URL in an open browser

I desperately want a MS Word macro that will look up a highlighted phrase in Google.

I'm currently using the following VBA code:

 Set oIE = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
 oIE.Visible = True
 oIE.Navigate (myURL)

Open in new window

However, this macro opens Internet Explorer in a new window each time I run it. This takes a few seconds and leaves lots of IE windows open after a few searches.

Is there any way of modifying it so that it doesn't open IE in a new window when IE is already open? Also, how would I change the code to use Chrome rather than IE?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

VB Script Microsoft Word

Last Comment

Francisco Igor

5/14/2011

Francisco Igor

5/14/2011

Use the folowing code in a vb module:
(Use the shellexecute API function. For an url, it opens the default system's browser)

Declare Function ShellExecute _
Lib "shell32.dll" _
Alias "ShellExecuteA" ( _
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

Private Sub openurl(url as String)
ShellExecute 0, "OPEN", url, "", "", 0
End Sub

'A direct call example
ShellExecute 0, "OPEN", "http://www.google.com", "", "", 0

docsimple

5/14/2011

ASKER

Many thanks for that code, fraigor.

I created and new macro in Word (File/Macro/View Macros/Create) and pasted the code into the new macro. But when I ran it, I got the following error message:

"Compile error:

Only comments may appear after End Sub, End Function, or End Property."

(and it highlights the Declare Function statement.)

Am I doing something wrong?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Francisco Igor

5/14/2011

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docsimple

5/14/2011

ASKER

Thanks for clarifying that. It's no running fine. Thank you so much for your assistance.

I just have one final question before I close the question: is it possible to modify the statement so that it opens in the currently open tab in the browser (currently, it opens a new tab for each search)?

Francisco Igor

5/14/2011

This option is application specific (not all browsers manage tabs)
In firefox there are options to manage that (Tool/options/tabs)