ShellExecute  0IBYF8 

The ShellExecute function opens or prints a specified file. The file can be an executable file or a document file. See ShellExecuteEx28RU_HC also.

HINSTANCE ShellExecute(

    HWND hwnd,

// handle to parent window

    LPCTSTR lpOperation,

// pointer to string that specifies operation to perform

    LPCTSTR lpFile,

// pointer to filename or folder name string

    LPCTSTR lpParameters,

// pointer to string that specifies executable-file parameters

    LPCTSTR lpDirectory,

// pointer to string that specifies default directory

    INT nShowCmd

// whether file is shown when opened

   );

 

 

Parameters

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:

String

Meaning

 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:

Value

Meaning

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 STARTUPINFOD.KH8S structure passed to the CreateProcess5FBJ_XX 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.

 

Return Values

If the function succeeds, the return value is the instance handle of the application that was run, or the handle of a dynamic data exchange (DDE) server application.

If the function fails, the return value is an error value that is less than or equal to 32. The following table lists these error values:

Value

Meaning

0

The operating system is out of memory or resources.

ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND

The specified file was not found.

ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND

The specified path was not found.

ERROR_BAD_FORMAT

The .EXE file is invalid (non-Win32 .EXE or error in .EXE image).

SE_ERR_ACCESSDENIED

The operating system denied access to the specified file.

SE_ERR_ASSOCINCOMPLETE

The filename association is incomplete or invalid.

SE_ERR_DDEBUSY

The DDE transaction could not be completed because other DDE transactions were being processed.

SE_ERR_DDEFAIL

The DDE transaction failed.

SE_ERR_DDETIMEOUT

The DDE transaction could not be completed because the request timed out.

SE_ERR_DLLNOTFOUND

The specified dynamic-link library was not found.

SE_ERR_FNF

The specified file was not found.

SE_ERR_NOASSOC

There is no application associated with the given filename extension.

SE_ERR_OOM

There was not enough memory to complete the operation.

SE_ERR_PNF

The specified path was not found.

SE_ERR_SHARE

A sharing violation occurred.

 

Remarks

The file specified by the lpFile parameter can be a document file or an executable file. If the file is a document file, the ShellExecute function opens or prints it, depending on the value of the lpOperation parameter. If the file is an executable file, the ShellExecute function opens it, even if lpOperation specifies printing.

You can use ShellExecute to open or explore a shell folder. To open a folder, use either of the following calls:

ShellExecute(handle, NULL, path_to_folder, NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);

or

 

ShellExecute(handle, "open", path_to_folder, NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);

 

To explore a folder, use the following call:

ShellExecute(handle, "explore", path_to_folder, NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);

 

If lpOperation is NULL, the function opens the file specified by lpFile. If lpOperation is  open  or  explore , the function will force an open window or explorer.

See Also

FindExecutable, ShellExecuteEx