• *LOCALE_GET Function
• a5_close_system_toolbars Function
• A5_OS_INFO Function
• A5_RESOURCE_INFO Function
• a5_system_function_debug Function
• a5_system_short_time_formatter Function
• a5_system_time_formatter Function
• a5_system_toolbar_editor Function
• a5_toggle_setting Function
• API_GETDOMAINNAME Function
• API_GETENVIRONMENTVAR Function
• API_GETMACHINENAME Function
• API_GETUSERNAME Function
• API_UUIDCREATE Function
• API_UUIDSEQCREATE Function
• DISKSPACE Function
• PROCESS_LIST Function
• Run Function
• SYS_EDIT Function
• SYS_EVENT_LOG Function
• SYS_EVENT_LOG_DUMP Function
• SYS_EXPLORE Function
• SYS_FOCUS_PUT Function
• sys_is_foreground Function
• SYS_KEY_DOWN Function
• sys_key_modifiers Function
• SYS_KEYS_ENUM Function
• SYS_METRIC_GET Function
• SYS_OPEN Function
• SYS_PRINT Function
• SYS_PROPERTIES Function
• SYS_SEND_KEYS Function
• SYS_SHELL Function
• sys_shell_result Function
• SYS_SHELL_WAIT Function
• SYS_SHELL_WAIT_RESULT Function
• sys_window_caret Function
• sys_window_movesize Function
• system_event_add Function
• system_event_invoke Function
• system_event_invoke_query Function
• system_variables Function
• systemfonts_apply Function
• UI_INFO Function
• WIN_1394_INFO Function
• WIN_ACCOUNTS Function
• WIN_BATTERY_INFO Function
• WIN_BIOS_INFO Function
• WIN_CREATE_SHORTCUT Function
• WIN_DISK_INFO Function
• WIN_MEMORY_INFO Function
• WIN_MOTHERBOARD Function
• WIN_SERVICES Function
• WIN_SPECIAL_FOLDER Function

SYS_OPEN Function

Syntax

Arguments

Filename

The file you wish to open.

Description

Open a file using the files registered open method.

Discussion

SYS_OPEN() opens the specified Filename, using the program associated with the corresponding file type of filename. The behavior of this command is the same as Double clicking on filename in the Windows Explorer. For example, if filename is " c:\mydata\sales.xls " and the .xls extension is associated with Microsoft Excel, sys_open("c:\mydata\sales.xls") will open Excel and load the file.

Example

A button runs the following script, which retrieves the value in the field Web_site, then opens the specified URL in Internet Explorer.

dim shared v_website as C
dim URL_var as C
dim form_name as C
v_website = topparent:Web_site.value
form_name = topparent.name() + ".this"
URL_var = eval("Var->v_website", form_name)
If at("://", URL_var) = 0 then
    URL_var = "http://"+URL_var
End if
sys_open(URL_var)

This script runs a batch file.

file = "c:\batch files\backup.bat"
sys_open(file)

This script opens a Microsoft Excel file.

file = "c:\mydata\sales.xls"
sys_open(file)

This script opens an Adobe PDF file.

dim prmpt_title as C
dim prmpt_filter as C
dim prmpt_default as C
dim prmpt_flag as C
dim global vpdffile as C
dim global vpath2 as C
DIM SHARED vpdffile as C
var->path2 = ""
t5 = ""
t5 = a_db_current_path
var->Path = t5
prmpt_title = "Select PDF Document"
prmpt_filter = "*.pdf"
prmpt_default = var->path
var->vpdffile = ui_get_file( a5_eval_expression(prmpt_title), prmpt_filter, prmpt_default, "X")
if file.exists(var->vpdffile) then
    sys_open(var->vpdffile)
else
    ui_msg_box("Error Opening File", "File" + var->vpdffile + " does not exist." ,ui_stop_symbol)
end if

The following example shows how to open an image (or any other file type, such as a PDF file) with its Windows associated application. The file's path and name are stored in an ordinary character field named " fileloc ". Put this code under the OnPush event of a button.

DIM filename as C

filename = a5_eval_expression("=Fileloc") 
if file.exists(filename) then 
sys_open(filename) 
else 
ui_msg_box("Error Opening File","File '"+filename+"' does not exist.",ui_stop_symbol) 
end if

Limitations

Desktop applications only.

See Also

• System Functions