Terry's API Corner - Print or Exe

The windows shell32.dll has many functions. One of them is "ShellExecuteA" that either prints or launches a document or file. Terry Brownell ============ a: %/c/winnt/system32/shell32.dll ;path to shell32.dll b: load/library a c: "ShellExecuteA" R: make routine! [ hwnd [integer!] IpOperation [string!] IpFile [string!] IpParameters [string!] IpDirectory [string!] nShowCmd [integer!] ] b c ; The following prints the document "the-doc.txt" R 0 "print" "C:\the-doc.txt" "NULL" "C:\" 0 ;don't forget to free up the libarary when done... free b ;The nShowCmd input requires an integer!, but shows as a string! in the docs below. Through trial and error I've found that each of the strings <i>usually</i> has a corresponding integer! SW_HIDE being 1, SW_MAXIMIZE being 2 and so on, but it is untested in this case. ============ · hwnd Specifies a parent window. This window receives any message boxes that an application produces. For example, an application may report an error by producing a message box. · lpOperation Pointer to a null-terminated string that specifies the operation to perform. The following operation strings are valid: open The function opens the file specified by lpFile. The file can be an executable file or a document file. The file can be a folder to open. print The function prints the file specified by lpFile. The file should be a document file. If the file is an executable file, the function opens the file, as if "open" had been specified. explore The function explores the folder specified by lpFile. The lpOperation parameter can be NULL. In that case, the function opens the file specified by lpFile. · lpFile Pointer to a null-terminated string that specifies the file to open or print or the folder to open or explore. The function can open an executable file or a document file. The function can print a document file. · lpParameters If lpFile specifies an executable file, lpParameters is a pointer to a null-terminated string that specifies parameters to be passed to the application. If lpFile specifies a document file, lpParameters should be NULL. · lpDirectory Pointer to a null-terminated string that specifies the default directory. · nShowCmd If lpFile specifies an executable file, nShowCmd specifies how the application is to be shown when it is opened. This parameter can be one of the following values: SW_HIDE Hides the window and activates another window. SW_MAXIMIZE Maximizes the specified window. SW_MINIMIZE Minimizes the specified window and activates the next top-level window in the Z order. SW_RESTORE Activates and displays the window. If the window is minimized or maximized, Windows restores it to its original size and position. An application should specify this flag when restoring a minimized window. SW_SHOW Activates the window and displays it in its current size and position. SW_SHOWDEFAULT Sets the show state based on the SW_ flag specified in the STARTUPINFO structure passed to the CreateProcess function by the program that started the application. An application should call ShowWindow with this flag to set the initial show state of its main window. SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED Activates the window and displays it as a maximized window. SW_SHOWMINIMIZED Activates the window and displays it as a minimized window. SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE Displays the window as a minimized window. The active window remains active. SW_SHOWNA Displays the window in its current state. The active window remains active. SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE Displays a window in its most recent size and position. The active window remains active. SW_SHOWNORMAL Activates and displays a window. If the window is minimized or maximized, Windows restores it to its original size and position. An application should specify this flag when displaying the window for the first time. If lpFile specifies a document file, nShowCmd should be zero.