ShellExecute (Function)

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Use in service mode
Running an APK file setup
Application in the background: Specific case from Android 10

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ShellExecute (Function)

In french: LanceAppliAssociée

Opens a document in its associated application. The application is opened first, then the specified document.

Remarks:

The application used to open the document is the one associated with the extension of the document in Windows (INI file or registry). This associated application may differ according to the configurations used.
The application used to open the document is the application corresponding to the MIME type associated with the file extension. If several applications correspond to the same type of file, a dialog box will be displayed to select the application to start.
The ShellExecute function is blocking: the application will continue to run only when the document and its associated application are closed.. The document must be on the computer.
To display any page in a browser, you can also use BrowserRunApp.

Example

Syntax

<Result> = ShellExecute(<File name> [, <Verb>])

<Result>: Boolean

if the document exists and if the associated application has been launched.
False otherwise.

<File name>: Character string

Name and full (or relative) path of the document to open. A UNC path can be used.
If space characters are found in the name or path of the document to open, the quotes found around this parameter must be tripled.
This parameter can correspond to a full path, to a relative path or to a URI.
For example:
"/sdcard/photo.png"
"/sdcard/video.3gp".
"http://www.pcsoft.fr": launches the Web browser on the specified page.
"geo:1.44951,43.604363": launches Google Maps or equivalent.
"mailto:pcsoft@pcsoft.fr" starts the application for sending emails.
"sms:0612345678": launches the SMS sending application.
The files found in the application directory (or in one of its sub-directories) are not accessible by most of the external applications. It is advisable to use the ShellExecute function with files located on the device's external memory (e.g. sdcard), as they are accessible from all applications.

<Verb>: Optional character string

Verb that must be used to start the document. The verbs are defined for each application, to indicate the actions that can be performed. The most common verbs are open or print. If this parameter is not specified, the verb used will be the default verb for the type of document.

This parameter is not available.

Remarks

Use in service mode

When ShellExecute is used in service mode, it runs the associated application but the interface of this application is not visible.

Running an APK file setup

From Android 8, to run the setup of an APK file with ShellExecute, it is necessary to modify the permissions required by the application.

Permission required: REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES.

This permission is used to install packages.

For more details (especially for previous versions of WINDEV Mobile), see FAQ 16927: What should I do under Android 8 if installing an APK with the ShellExecute function is no longer allowed?.

Application in the background: Specific case from Android 10

Starting with Android 10, it is no longer possible to open a window when the application is in the background.

ShellExecute can open a window. If this function is used while the application is in the background, a fatal error will occur.

Tips:

It is possible to determine if the application is in the background using InBackgroundMode.
If an application needs to interact with the user while it is in the background, the solution is to display a notification (via the Notification type). The application will be brought back to the foreground when the notification is clicked, if the ActivateApplication property is set to True. You can also open a window from the procedure passed to the ActionClick property.

For more details, see Android 10: Behavior of applications in the background.

Business / UI classification: Neutral code

Component: wd300std.dll