Unable to run BAT file using VBA

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Hi,

I have a friend who is trying to run a VBA macro which should run a bat file.

The code below works:

Code:

Sub TestShell()

	Dim RetVal

	RetVal = Shell("C:WINDOWSsystem32CALC.EXE", 1)	' Run Calculator.

  End Sub

But this fails on his windows vista/Office 2003 setup, where it used to work on a different system (don’t know the specs unfortunately):

Code:

  Sub TestShellWithBAT()

Dim RetVal

ChDir ("C:Ftrade")

  RetVal = Shell("otherfunds.bat", 1)

  End Sub

Any idea what gives?

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Replies

What happens if you use

RetVal = Shell(Environ(“comspec”) & ” /k “”otherfunds.bat”””, 1)

or

RetVal = Shell(Environ(“comspec”) & ” /k “”C:Ftradeotherfunds.bat”””, 1)

This should leave the command window open so that you can view error messages, if any.

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I’ll ask Hans, thanks.

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Hi Hans,

Nothing appears to happen in ether case.

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It’s probably a security problem – you’d need to run the batch file as administrator, but I have no idea how to do that using Shell.

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Maybe turning off UAC might help, I’ll suggest that.

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No change yet, but the user reports he is using windows XP, not Vista.

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Security isn’t likely to be a problem then. I’m sorry, I have no idea why it would fail.

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We’re currently looking at comatibility mode, Seems to have an effect on the workings of parts of what the BAT file does. I’ll be dissecting the BAT file, shouldn’t be anything in there VBA can’t do I expect.

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