[AccessD] A2K: Using the shell() function

Steve,

I don't know if what I'm doing is similar to what you need to
accomplish, but I've been working on a project that requires data
capture via FTP.  I found a nifty program called WebDrive
(http://www.webdrive.com) that allows you to map FTP sites as drives.
In my db, I'm using a combination of VBA file manipulation functions
(Dir, FileCopy, etc.) and Scripting FSO functionality to get and read
text files via FTP.  You can refer to WebDrives using UNC or specific
drive letters, and user names and passwords can be saved with the
mappings so that they reconnect automatically upon system startup.  Best
$40 I've spent in the last month or so . . .

Hope this helps.

Don McGillivray

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Steven W.
Erbach
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004 7:52 AM
To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
Subject: [AccessD] A2K: Using the shell() function


Dear Group,

I'm in the thick of writing a custom EDI purchase order processing
application in Access 2000. The 850 purchase orders are downloaded from
the VAN (Value Added Network) mailbox using Windows FTP commands in a
DOS batch file, and the additional documents (855 PO Acknowledgment, 856
Advance Ship Notice, 810 Invoice, and 997 Functional Acknowledgment) are
uploaded to the mailbox with another DOS batch file using Windows FTP
commands.

The process works, but I've had to insert MsgBox statements in the
Access code alerting the user that he should wait until the DOS batch
file has completed processing the FTP commands and is closed before
continuing with the Access stuff.

My question is this: do any of you lot have any techniques for 1)
determining when a DOS batch file has finished (that is, the title bar
of the DOS window says "Finished"); and 2) closing those windows without
user intervention?

I'm just about ready to tell my client that he should buy WS_FTP Pro so
that we can set up a macro or whatever you do in WS_FTP to automagically
download and upload and close the WS_FTP program. I'm still not sure
about what to do in Access so that it knows that an external application
has completed its operations. Is this a DDE thing?

I've been experimenting with the FMS Total Visual Sourcebook that I
bought some time ago. It has a class library and some sample code for
logging into an FTP site and selecting and downloading files. I just
know, however, that my client will balk at the additional delay while I
figure out an Access-only method for getting and sending EDI documents.

The DOS batch thing works but there are the additional clicks involved
with closing the DOS window and then clicking the MsgBox OK button to
continue processing. Any ideas?

Regards,

Steve Erbach
Scientific Marketing
Neenah, WI
920-969-0504

"One of the differences in the two parties is that the Republicans
always have problems filling many of the offices that are political,
because most competent people would rather do something other than work
for the government..." - Jerry Pournelle

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