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
 
Public Function RunApp(ByVal sFile As String, Optional ByVal hWnd As Long = 0, _
  Optional ByVal sParam As String = "") As Boolean
 
  ' externe Anwendung starten
  Dim nResult As Long
  Dim bResult As Boolean
 
  bResult = True
 
  nResult = ShellExecute(hWnd, "open", sFile, sParam, "", 1)
  If nResult < 33 Then
    On Error Resume Next
    Shell Chr$(34) & sFile & IIf(Len(sParam) > 0, " " & sParam, "") & Chr$( _
      34), vbNormalFocus
    bResult = (Err.Number = 0)
    On Error GoTo 0
  End If
 
  RunApp = bResult
End Function

If Not RunApp("file") Then
  MsgBox "Die Datei ... konnte nicht autom. gestartet werden...",
End If

_________________________
Professionelle Entwicklerkomponenten
www.tools4vb.de