Programming Reference Manual

Shell

 
Syntax
 
Shell(Name$[, WindowType])
 
Description
Execute program Name$. This is the same as using File|Run from the Program Manager. This instruction can run .COM, .EXE, .BAT and .PIF files. If successful, return the task ID.
 
Parameter
Description
Name$
This string value is the path and name of the program to run. Command line arguments follow the program name. (A long file name containing a space must be surrounded by literal double quotes.) 
WindowType
This controls how the application's main window is shown. See the table below.
 
WindowType
Value
Effect
vbHide
0
Hide Window
vbNormalFocus
1, 5, 9
Normal Window
vbMinimizedFocus
2
Minimized Window (default)
vbMaximizedFocus
3
Maximized Window
vbNormalNoFocus
4, 8
Normal Deactivated Window
vbMinimizedNoFocus
6, 7
Minimized Deactivated Window
See Also
AppActivate, SendKeys, SQL.RunProgram.
Example
 
Sub Main
    X = Shell("Calc") ' run the calc program
    AppActivate X
    SendKeys "% R" ' restore calc's main window
    SendKeys "30*2{+}10=",1 '70
End Sub