Hi Randy,

So what you are saying that each program path needs to be in it's own
registry key. I did this, I have the full path saved to the registry.
(c:\directory\whatever\file.exe ,  This is how it's saved in the
registry.)

Now if I save a file like this, and go to the section of my program to
run
or open it, it works. I am using a command button, when clicked it calls
the registry settings and opens the program. But if I leave to another
section of my program to open another program. One that was saved early
I get a message that the file is no good or that can't find it. But if I
go and resave the file and then open it, it works. Now the other program
won't open.

Here is the code I am using to open the programs.

Private Sub cmdRunXwing_Click()

Dim iret As Long

   iret = ShellExecute(Me.hwnd, _
    vbNullString, _
    "" + GetSetting("some key", "myprogram", "some program", "DEFAULT
VALUE 1"), _
    vbNullString, _
    "", _
    SW_SHOWNORMAL)

End Sub

#If Win32 Then
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

#Else
    Private Declare Function ShellExecute Lib _
    "shell.dll" Alias "ShellExecute" _
    (ByVal hwnd As Integer, _
    ByVal lpOperation As String, _
    ByVal lpFile As String, _

ByVal lpParameters As String, _
    ByVal lpDirectory As String, _
    ByVal nShowCmd As Integer) As Integer

#End If

Private Const SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1

I'm also using the savesettings to save the path info

Combo1.Text = "" + UCase(CommonDialog1.filename)
        SaveSetting "some key", "myprogram", "some program", "" +
LCase(CommonDialog1.filename)
        Combo1.AddItem Combo1.Text

Am I doing something wrong here?  Most of the programs that I will be
opening would be dos programs.

Any help would be aprecaited.

Robert

I'm a little confused on your exact intent, but may be able to provide some
generic direction.

To save 16 file paths/names to the registry, you will need to save to 16
different keys (under the same group).  If you scan the registry for "MRU",
you will see examples of how different apps saved the most recently used
file path & names.  No, you so not need a separate common dialog for each
file, but you will need to save the full qualified path to the app, plus
the executable filename, a 1 string for each entry.  With this info,
executing the app should be a matter of retrieving the registry item,
t{*filter*} off unnecessary spaces or nulls, then using the Shell statement of
ShellExecute API to launch the program.

The starting path (the path the launched app initially points to) will
probably be the application folder if the above guidelines are followed.
You can not use App.Path to change another application to a particular
folder; the App object is specific to the instance of the VB application
you are running.

--
Randy Birch, MVP Visual Basic

Moderator, Fidonet Visual Basic Programmer's Conference
VBnet, The Visual Basic Developers Resource Centre
http://www.*-*-*.com/

: Hello everyone,
:
: I have a few questions about a project I am working on. I'm using
: VB 4.0 standard edition.
:
: I need to have my program Save a path to a program's .exe to the
: registry. I can do this without a problem. However when I try to
: open the path, It will only open the last program I saved into the
: registry. I want the program to open up about 16 different programs.
: It seems to me that my program will only open up to the last directory
: of the last saved file.
:
: My question is do I need a different common dialog box for each
: file I try to save? Or do I have to write a code to get the right
: path.app to change to the right directories? I am very confused on
: this. I have been able to save to the registry and get the file to
: start, but only 1 or two of them will open. Unless I resave it and then
: open it.
:
: Any help would be apprecaited
:
: Robert
: --
: Onyx Graphics
: Complete Website, Graphics & Software Development
: ICQ:  1056982
: Phone: 201-484-5628

: Homepage; http://www.*-*-*.com/ ~warfire
: