Re: Launch external file based on cell value

Tim,

You can use the Shell function to run a program. The following code will run "C:\Test\Test.exe" passing it a switch parameter whose value comes from column "C" of the row of the ActiveCell.

Const COLUMN_WITH_SWITCH_DATA = "C"
Shell "C:\Test\Test.exe" & _
" /switch " & ActiveCell.EntireRow.Cells(1, COLUMN_WITH_SWITCH_DATA).Text, _
vbNormalFocus


Note that Shell starts the program and then continues. It does NOT wait for the Shell'd program to finish. If you need to wait for the program to terminate before continuing on in VBA, see http://www.cpearson.com/excel/shellandwait.htm .


--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting LLC
www.cpearson.com
(email on the web site)


"Tim Miller" <tmiller112@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:uoT0h39rHHA.404@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm pulling in external data that updates often....

I want to be able to launch this file via command line code: "C:\Program Files\My Directory\MyFileName.exe"
With a switch added: /switch (always the same)
Then a number value added, but that number value is found in a column and changes from row to row.

So the final command I'm trying to run would be: "C:\Program Files\My Directory\MyFileName.exe" /switch ####

What I'd LIKE is to assign this command to some key combination such that it grabs the value for the #### based on the row that currently has focus.
As an alternative, this could be a button or link that resides in each row, where the value of #### is referenced from a cell in that row, and then that button or link fills down as the data is updated.

I feel like this would be too hard at all... but I'm also seeing that I have no clue. Hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

Thank for any direction!

Tim




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