Inserting Help Documents into an Access Application

[PaulW]

I have several MSWord documents containing help information for my inventory application. What is the best way to integrate them into the Access application?

Specifically, I have a separate Word document for each form and they are of varying lengths. I would like the user to be able to click on a button on each form and have the appropriate help document displayed.

TIA

[HansV]

You could store the Word documents in the same folder as the database, and set the Hyperlink Address property of the command button to the name of the appropriate document. Clicking the button will open the document in Word.

[PaulW]

Hi Hans,

Thank you for the answer. This works, BUT, now I get a "Microsoft Access Security Notice" that states that the location may be unsafe. (Access 2007 in 2002-2003 Format, Windows 7) The Word File is in the same folder with the mdb. I tried a pdf file and get the same inane message. I see that there is a registry change that might correct it, but I don't want to mess with registries. This will be installed on a machine other than my own when completed.

Attached is screen shot of offending message.
TIA

[HansV]

Here is a method to get around it.

Create a new module in the Visual Basic Editor (Insert | Module)
Copy the following code into the module:

Code: Select all

Public Declare Function ShellExecute _
  Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" ( _
  ByVal hwnd As Long, _
  ByVal lpOperation As String, _
  ByVal lpFile As String, _
  ByVal lpParameters As String, _
  ByVal lpDirectory As String, _
  ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long

Public Const SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1
Public Const SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED = 3

Clear the Hyperlink Address property of the button.

Create the following On Click event procedure for the help button:

Code: Select all

Private Sub cmdHelp_Click()
  ShellExecute Application.hWndAccessApp, "Open", _
    "Helpfile.doc", 0&, 0&, SW_SHOWNORMAL
End Sub

where:
- cmdHelp should be replaced by the name of the help button.
- Helpfile.doc should be replaced by the name of the help file.
- Note: if the help file is in the same folder as the database, you don't have to specify the path.
- If you'd like the help file to be opened in a maximized window, change SW_SHOWNORMAL to SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED.

[PaulW]

Hi Hans,

I copied and pasted the module code into a module called "Module1"

I copied and pasted the code into the module _click. I set a trap and tried to execute with a single left click.

The trap showed and I F8'd and nothing happened. I removed the trap, got all the way out of access and then came back in and tried it again. Nothing happened.

I must be missing a library someplace in my references, but nothing is showing up .

Please help.
TIA

[HansV]

No non-standard references are needed for this code.

You should create an event procedure for the On Click event of the command button; it will automatically be in the form's code module, not in a module named _click.

[PaulW]

Hans,

I hate to be a pest but I don't get this code to work.

Private Sub cmdHelp_Click()
ShellExecute Application.hWndAccessApp, "Open", _
"helpfile.doc", 0&, 0&, SW_SHOWNORMAL

End Sub

is the (event) code that the button on the screen activates.

The document (helpfile.doc) is in the same folder as the mbd files. (I have the front end and back end split into two MDB Files):

When I click on the button, nothing happens. If I trap the code, I am executing the call as above.

I can copy and paste with the best of them, but Idon't understand this code and as such can't trouble shoot anything.
TIA

[Rudi]

I'm just taking a chance here??? but I notice that Hans's Public Function:

Public Declare Function ShellExecute _
Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" ( _
ByVal hwnd As Long, _

has "ShellExecuteA"

and the Private Sub has "ShellExecute".

Might this be the problem that the code is not working???

[HansV]

I'm just taking a chance here???

Please don't confuse the issue, Rudi.

ShellExecuteA is the name of the Windows API function in Shell32.dll. This function is declared as ShellExecute, and that is the name to be used in the code.

I have posted this code many times in the Windows Secrets Lounge, and I tested it again before posting it here. It worked correctly.

[HansV]

Hans,

I hate to be a pest but I don't get this code to work.

Could you do the following:
- Create a copy of the database.
- Remove all content that is not relevant to the problem.
- Remove all sensitive information.
- Compact and repair the database.
- Create a zip file with the database. It should be smaller than 256 KB in size.
- Attach the zip file to a reply.

[Mark L]

Hans,

I tried the function as you wrote it and nothing happened. No error, it just didn't do anything. I then made this change and it worked fine:

Private Sub cmdHelp_Click()
ShellExecute Application.hWndAccessApp, "Open", _
CurrentProject.Path & "\Helpfile.doc", 0&, 0&, SW_SHOWNORMAL
End Sub

Apparently the "current" windows directory may not always be the directory the database is in, depending on how you started the database.

[HansV]

Thanks, Mark - I hope that helps!

[PaulW]

Mark, Hans, Rudi -

You guys are awsome! Mark's suggestion works!!!!!

I don't know where you got all this expertise in these languages, but I am very appreciative.

Thanks Again ,

[Rudi]

I guess my awesome-ness must be in my good looks... as i don't think it came from my reply

[Mark L]

Mark, Hans, Rudi -

You guys are awsome! Mark's suggestion works!!!!!

I don't know where you got all this expertise in these languages, but I am very appreciative.

Thanks Again ,

Basically by hanging around places like this, trying to answer questions that people ask. And when we don't know the answer off-hand, we try some things until we've got it figured out.