Binaryworld - How to load the default mail client or the default browser and go to a ... [ VB -> Internet ]

API Declarations

Option Explicit

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

Public Enum T_WindowStyle
  Maximized = 3
  Normal = 1
  ShowOnly = 5
End Enum

Module

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Public Sub GoToInternet(Parent As Form, URL As String, WindowStyle As T_WindowStyle)
  Dim lngReturn As Long

  If fsGetBrowserInfo Then
    lngReturn = ShellExecute(Parent.hwnd, "Open", URL, "", "", WindowStyle)
    If lngReturn <= 32 Then ' Error
      MsgBox "Web Page not Opened", vbExclamation, "URL Failed"
    End If
  Else
    '* nope no Browser
    MsgBox "Could not find associated Browser", vbExclamation, "Browser Not Found"
  End If
End Sub

Public Function fsGetBrowserInfo() As Boolean
  Dim strFileName As String, strDummy As String
  Dim strBrowserExec As String * 255
  Dim lngRetVal As Long
  Dim intFileNumber As Integer

  ' Create a HTML file
  strBrowserExec = Space(255)
  strFileName = "C:\TEST.HTM"
  intFileNumber = FreeFile
  Open strFileName For Output As #intFileNumber
  Write #intFileNumber, "<HTML> <\HTML>"
  Close #intFileNumber
  ' Do we have an associated application?
  lngRetVal = FindExecutable(strFileName, strDummy, strBrowserExec)
  MsgBox "Found Browser: " & strBrowserExec
  strBrowserExec = Trim(strBrowserExec)
  ' If an application is found return True
  If lngRetVal <= 32 Or strBrowserExec="" Then ' Error
    fsGetBrowserInfo = False
  Else
    fsGetBrowserInfo = True
  End If
  Kill strFileName
End Function

Usage

Click here to copy the following block

'......................................................................................................................
'Insert two buttons into a form and try them, the first will open the default browser at the specified location, the second will open the default mail client and set the address to the specified send mail address
Option Explicit

Private Sub Command1_Click()
GoToInternet Me, "http://www.welford-costelloe.com", Normal
End Sub

Private Sub Command2_Click()
GoToInternet Me, "mailto:dwc99@home.com?SUBJECT=Hello This is cool", Normal
End Sub