Can someone please help me with an example of what the code would look like
to open a Word file from a macro in Excel? Is it better to use the shell or
the createobject function?

In my opinion, neither: use automation with the Word object library. Add the
reference to Word to your project and then:

Dim WordApp as Word.Application
Dim WordDoc as Word.Document

Set WordApp = New Word.Application
Set WordDoc = WordApp.Documents.Open("C:\Blah\Blah\MyDoc.doc")
....
WordDoc.Close
WordApp.Quit

--
- K Dales


"lhyer" wrote:

Can someone please help me with an example of what the code would look like
to open a Word file from a macro in Excel? Is it better to use the shell or
the createobject function?

If you want to control the word document, createobject seems better.

If you just want to open the document, you could use shell or even
followhyperlink().

ActiveWorkbook.FollowHyperlink Address:="c:\path\name.doc"

An example saved from a previous post:

Option Explicit
Sub Testme()

Dim WDApp As Object
Dim WDDoc As Object
Dim myDocName As String

myDocName = "s:\lost property master sheets\sheet3.doc"

Set WDApp = CreateObject("Word.Application")
WDApp.Visible = True 'at least for testing!

Set WDDoc = WDApp.documents.Open(Filename:=myDocName)
WDDoc.PrintOut '.printPreview while testing???
WDDoc.Close savechanges:=False

WDApp.Quit

Set WDDoc = Nothing
Set WDApp = Nothing

End Sub





lhyer wrote:

Can someone please help me with an example of what the code would look like
to open a Word file from a macro in Excel? Is it better to use the shell or
the createobject function?

--

Dave Peterson

Dave: Curious - what is the advantage of createobject over the method I have
been using? I have been using it under an assumption that it was always
better to use a more explicit reference to an object rather than more generic
methods of creating and referencing them, and that createobject was a
"weaker" way of doing this, but that was only an assumption and not based on
a very extensive knowledge of the technical aspects behind both methods -
perhaps you can illuminate me?
--
- K Dales


"Dave Peterson" wrote:

If you want to control the word document, createobject seems better.

If you just want to open the document, you could use shell or even
followhyperlink().

ActiveWorkbook.FollowHyperlink Address:="c:\path\name.doc"

An example saved from a previous post:

Option Explicit
Sub Testme()

Dim WDApp As Object
Dim WDDoc As Object
Dim myDocName As String

myDocName = "s:\lost property master sheets\sheet3.doc"

Set WDApp = CreateObject("Word.Application")
WDApp.Visible = True 'at least for testing!

Set WDDoc = WDApp.documents.Open(Filename:=myDocName)
WDDoc.PrintOut '.printPreview while testing???
WDDoc.Close savechanges:=False

WDApp.Quit

Set WDDoc = Nothing
Set WDApp = Nothing

End Sub





lhyer wrote:

Can someone please help me with an example of what the code would look like
to open a Word file from a macro in Excel? Is it better to use the shell or
the createobject function?

--

Dave Peterson

Say you use xl2003 and your users are using xl97-xl2003.

When you explicitly set the reference, then those who don't have the same
version of office as you could have trouble (always have trouble???).

But I would use the reference while developing the code. I get all those
intellisense and autocomplete features in the VBE.

But when I'm ready to release it to others, I'll get rid of the references,
declare any constants I used and fix my DIMs to be more generic (As Object).

I don't think it's weaker--it'll probably be a bit slower (but I can't notice
the difference).

K Dales wrote:

Dave: Curious - what is the advantage of createobject over the method I have
been using? I have been using it under an assumption that it was always
better to use a more explicit reference to an object rather than more generic
methods of creating and referencing them, and that createobject was a
"weaker" way of doing this, but that was only an assumption and not based on
a very extensive knowledge of the technical aspects behind both methods -
perhaps you can illuminate me?
--
- K Dales

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

If you want to control the word document, createobject seems better.

If you just want to open the document, you could use shell or even
followhyperlink().

ActiveWorkbook.FollowHyperlink Address:="c:\path\name.doc"

An example saved from a previous post:

Option Explicit
Sub Testme()

Dim WDApp As Object
Dim WDDoc As Object
Dim myDocName As String

myDocName = "s:\lost property master sheets\sheet3.doc"

Set WDApp = CreateObject("Word.Application")
WDApp.Visible = True 'at least for testing!

Set WDDoc = WDApp.documents.Open(Filename:=myDocName)
WDDoc.PrintOut '.printPreview while testing???
WDDoc.Close savechanges:=False

WDApp.Quit

Set WDDoc = Nothing
Set WDApp = Nothing

End Sub





lhyer wrote:

Can someone please help me with an example of what the code would look like
to open a Word file from a macro in Excel? Is it better to use the shell or
the createobject function?

--

Dave Peterson


--

Dave Peterson