Richard, I'm working my way through your imaging seminar.  I see how to store filenames and paths for files in the database.  What if I want to store filenames for non-image files, and then have them open in the native app when double-clicked (as the attachment data type does)?  I know I can shell out and open the native app and pass the file name, but I don't know what the native app will be ahead of time.  The file could be an Excel spreadsheet, a Word document, or it could be an image.  Can I use whatever method Windows uses when you double click a file in Windows Explorer?  Or I suppose I could check the file extension for what program to open it with, but I would prefer having Windows figure this out since it already keeps a list of what program to use to open which file type.  Also, one user could have Word 2007 for example and another have Word 2003, which might have different paths, so specifying the correct app might be difficult.  I don't want to use the attachment data type because I have WAY too many files and they're too big.

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Reply from Richard Rost:

The EASIEST way is to use the Shell command with the "cmd" command interpreter, like this:

Shell "cmd /c C:\Users\Richard\Documents\MyWordDoc.docx", vbHide

This will cause any known (registered with Windows) document types to be opened in whatever the default application is for that type. The vbHide command will hide the Command prompt window but you'll still see your app.

That's the EASIEST way to do it.

Oh, and don't forget your DOUBLE quotes if you have spaces in your path or filenames:

Shell "cmd /c ""C:\Users\Richard\My Documents\Some Other File With Spaces In The Name.xlsx""", vbHide