StartApp Question

Hello All,

Ok, I am trying to open a PDF in a specific folder and add an argument to navigate to a bookmark or page. I know this can be done using outlook for example:

 (startapp "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office12\\OUTLOOK.EXE"
 [email="email@server.com"]mailto:email@server.com[/email])) 

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Matt

Hello All,

 

Ok, I am trying to open a PDF in a specific folder and add an argument to navigate to a bookmark or page. I know this can be done using outlook for example:

 

 (startapp "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office12\\OUTLOOK.EXE"
[email="email@server.com"]mailto:email@server.com[/email])) 

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

Matt

You must add the location of outlook.exe to the AutoCAD Search Support Path in your options.

You could also do this: http://www.afralisp.net/archive/Tips/code107.htm

I've delved into interfacing with Adobe using OLE Automation in the past to no avail, but I believe some of the application string do work.

However, to open PDF files, I've always found this to be reliable:

[i][color=#990099];;----------------------=={ Open File }==---------------------;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;                                                            ;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;  Uses the 'Open' method of the Shell Object to open the    ;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;  specified file.                                           ;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;------------------------------------------------------------;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;  Author: Lee McDonnell, 2010 - www.lee-mac.com             ;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;                                                            ;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;  Copyright © 2010 by Lee McDonnell, All Rights Reserved.   ;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;  Contact: Lee @ lee-mac.com                                ;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;  Forums: Lee Mac @ TheSwamp.org, CADTutor.net, AUGI.com    ;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;------------------------------------------------------------;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;  Arguments:                                                ;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;  filename - filename of file to open                       ;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;------------------------------------------------------------;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;  Returns:  T if file opened successfully, else nil         ;;[/color][/i]
[i][color=#990099];;------------------------------------------------------------;;[/color][/i]

[b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]defun[/color][/b] LM:OpenFile [b][color=RED]([/color][/b] filename [b][color=BLUE]/[/color][/b] Shell result [b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
 [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vl-load-com[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
 [i][color=#990099];; © Lee Mac 2010[/color][/i]
 
 [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] Shell [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vla-getInterfaceObject[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vlax-get-acad-object[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=#a52a2a]"Shell.Application"[/color][/b][b][color=RED]))[/color][/b]

 [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] result
   [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]and[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]setq[/color][/b] filename [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]findfile[/color][/b] filename[b][color=RED]))[/color][/b]
     [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]not[/color][/b]
       [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vl-catch-all-error-p[/color][/b]
         [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vl-catch-all-apply[/color][/b]
           [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]function[/color][/b] [b][color=BLUE]vlax-invoke[/color][/b][b][color=RED])[/color][/b] [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]list[/color][/b] Shell [b][color=DARKRED]'[/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]Open[/color][/b] filename[b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
         [b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
       [b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
     [b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
   [b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
 [b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
 
 [b][color=RED]([/color][/b][b][color=BLUE]vlax-release-object[/color][/b] Shell[b][color=RED])[/color][/b]
 result
[b][color=RED])[/color][/b]

Well,

I use this quite often to open a file, my problem is i need to then navigate to a specific page:

(startapp "Explorer" "M:\\Standards\\Admin-Reference Material\\Documentation\\Plumbing - User Manual.pdf")

As an example.

Matt

Ok, I think I have something working...

You can find the location of the shell command string which can be used to open the pdf document in the registry, under:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.pdf

This will point you to another location under HKCR, something like 'AcroExch.Document'. Navigate to the Shell Open Command Key under this entry:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\AcroExch.Document\\Shell\\Open\\Command

There you will find the command string to open the pdf document, something like:

"C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe" "%1"

Where "%1" is the filename of the PDF.

Now, after a bit of research, there are quite a few PDF Open parameters you can use with this string, so to open to a specific page (page 3 in this case), you can use:

(startapp "\"C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe\" /A \"page=3\" \"C:\\MyPDF.pdf\"")

Lee

Maybe this info will help?

http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/acrobat/PDFOpenParameters.pdf

I've delved into interfacing with Adobe using OLE Automation in the past to no avail, but I believe some of the application string do work.

 

However, to open PDF files, I've always found this to be reliable:

Is there any advantage to using

(vla-getInterfaceObject (vlax-get-acad-object) "Shell.Application")

over

(vlax-create-object "Shell.Application")

?

I've used vlax-create-object to successfully open files, on many occasions.

Now, Lee that is exactly what i am looking for, now thank you for bringing up the registry items for opening the PDF not everyone has the same program. Just brilliant, brilliant! Alright this is what i have:

(setq opdoc (vl-registry-read "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.pdf"))
(setq opstr (vl-registry-read (strcat "HKEY_CLASsES_ROOT\\" OPDOC "\\shell\\open\\command"))) 

Now I would like to get the path of the executable only, how would i go about that?

Matt

Is there any advantage to using

(vla-getInterfaceObject (vlax-get-acad-object) "Shell.Application")

over

(vlax-create-object "Shell.Application")

?

 

I've used vlax-create-object to successfully open files, on many occasions.

I'm not sure there is too much difference, but I've noticed a difference with ObjectDBX Objects on some versions. Well, that said, I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be able to point out the difference

Now I would like to get the path of the executable only, how would i go about that?

Maybe something similar to this?

(defun GetAdobePath ( / AcroDoc AcroPath )
 (vl-load-com)

 (if
   (and
     (setq AcroDoc (vl-registry-read "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.pdf"))
     (setq AcroPath
       (vl-registry-read
         (strcat "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\" AcroDoc "\\Shell\\Open\\Command")
       )
     )
   )
   (car (LM:str->lst AcroPath "\""))
 )
)



;;-------------------=={ String to List }==-------------------;;
;;                                                            ;;
;;  Separates a string into a list of strings using a         ;;
;;  specified delimiter string                                ;;
;;------------------------------------------------------------;;
;;  Author: Lee McDonnell, 2010                               ;;
;;                                                            ;;
;;  Copyright © 2010 by Lee McDonnell, All Rights Reserved.   ;;
;;  Contact: Lee Mac @ TheSwamp.org, CADTutor.net             ;;
;;------------------------------------------------------------;;
;;  Arguments:                                                ;;
;;  str - string to process                                   ;;
;;  del - delimiter by which to separate the string           ;;
;;------------------------------------------------------------;;
;;  Returns:  A list of strings                               ;;
;;------------------------------------------------------------;;

(defun LM:str->lst ( str del / pos )
 ;; © Lee Mac 2010
 (if (setq pos (vl-string-search del str))
   (vl-remove "" (cons (substr str 1 pos) (LM:str->lst (substr str (+ pos 1 (strlen del))) del)))
   (list str)
 )
)

I'm not sure there is too much difference, but I've noticed a difference with ObjectDBX Objects on some versions. Well, that said, I'm sure someone with more knowledge will be able to point out the difference

Interesting. OK.

I think the rule would be: If you want it to run within AutoCAD, then vla-getinterfaceobject (such as for BrowseForFolder/ObjectDBX), else vlax-get-or-create-object/vlax-create-object (such as for Excel apps etc) - but that's just a guess tbh.

I think the rule would be: If you want it to run within AutoCAD, then vla-getinterfaceobject (such as for BrowseForFolder/ObjectDBX), else vlax-get-or-create-object/vlax-create-object (such as for Excel apps etc) - but that's just a guess tbh.

Hard to say. I've seen the same function executed with both.

As always inspired from Master Lee the general function for every app

;; ext - application files extension (e.g. for excel use xlsx) ;;



(defun GetAppPath ( ext / AppDoc AppPath )
 (vl-load-com)

 (if
   (and
     (setq AppDoc (vl-registry-read (strcat "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\." ext)))
     (setq AppPath
       (vl-registry-read
         (strcat "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\" AppDoc "\\Shell\\Open\\Command")
       )
     )
   )
   (car (LM:str->lst AppPath "\""))
 )
)

What is your question ? 

Also, please use Code Tags (<> in the reply toolbar) in the future.