C# Signature:

[DllImport("shell32.dll")]
static extern IntPtr FindExecutable(string lpFile, string lpDirectory, [Out] StringBuilder lpResult);

VB Signature:

<DllImport("shell32.dll")> _
Private Shared Function FindExecutable(ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByRef lpResult As StringBuilder) As IntPtr
End Function

VBA Signature:

Private Declare Function FindExecute Lib "shell32.dll" Alias _
"FindExecutableA" (ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpDirectory _
As String, ByVal lpResult As String) As Long

User-Defined Types:

None.

Notes:

1) When using VB, one cannot place the declaration for FindExecutable within

the code portion of a form. If one needs to search for an executable from

within a form, though, it is easy enough to open a module and place the

declaration there. From the form code, make a call to a function in the

module. Within the module function, execute FindExecutable and return any

results to the form routine. steveapub@pineclifftech.com

2) Make sure the following references are available:

Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
Imports System.Text

Tips & Tricks:

Error Codes that can be returned:

    Public Enum FindExecutableErrorCodes
    ''' <summary>The specified file was not found.</summary>
    SE_ERR_FNF = 2

    ''' <summary>There is no application associated with the given file name extension. This error will also be returned if you attempt to print a file that is not printable. </summary>
    SE_ERR_NOASSOC = 31

    ''' <summary>There was not enough memory to complete the operation.</summary>
    SE_ERR_OOM = 8
    End Enum

Sample Code:

Please add some!!

Alternative Managed API:

Do you know one? Please contribute it!

********** Win32API.cs **********

using System;

using System.Text;

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

namespace QuickTool

{

    public class Win32API
    {
        [DllImport("shell32.dll", EntryPoint="FindExecutable")]
        public static extern long FindExecutableA(
            string lpFile, string lpDirectory, StringBuilder lpResult);

        public static string FindExecutable(
            string pv_strFilename)
        {
            StringBuilder objResultBuffer =
                new StringBuilder(1024);
            long lngResult = 0;

            lngResult =
                FindExecutableA(pv_strFilename,
                string.Empty, objResultBuffer);

            if(lngResult >= 32)
            {
                return objResultBuffer.ToString();
            }

            return string.Format(
                "Error: ({0})", lngResult);
        }
    }

}

********************************

******** Form1.cs ********

private void mnuDynamic_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)

{

    MenuItem theMenuItem = (MenuItem) sender;
    MessageBox.Show(Win32API.FindExecutable(theMenuItem.Text));

}

**********************************

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