Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 25, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Macros are a wonderful way to expand the functionality of a program such as Excel. You may, however, want to expand that functionality even more by executing a DOS batch file from your macro. Excel allows you to do this by using the Shell command. The general syntax for the command is as follows:
dRetVal = Shell("myfile.bat", mode)
Within the quote marks you can place the full path name and file name of the file you want to execute. On some systems you may experience problems if you use a path name with the file specification. (This seems to crop its ugly head if you have complex path names or if the path name includes spaces.) If you have this problem, then simply use the ChDir command just prior to Shell in order to change the directory used by Excel. You can then execute Shell using just a file name.
The mode indicator simply tells Excel how you want the window opened for the file to appear. The mode indicator can be any of the following:
Value | Variable Nam | Meaning | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
0 | vbHide | Window is hidden and has focus. | ||
1 | vbNormalFocus | Window is the normal size and has focus. | ||
2 | vbMinimizedFocus | Window is minimized and has focus. | ||
3 | vbMaximizedFocus | Window is maximized and has focus. | ||
4 | vbNormalNoFocus | Window is normal size, but doesn't have focus. | ||
6 | vbMinimizedNoFocus | Window is minimized, but doesn't have focus. |
The Shell command returns a value that indicates the program ID of the file you executed, or else a zero. If a zero is returned, then there was an error executing the file.
You should remember that when you use Shell, the target file is executed right away, and it is executed independently of Excel. This means that the next macro command, in your Excel macro, is immediately executed without waiting for the Shell target file to finish. If you need a way around this behavior, you may be interested in this page at Chip Pearson's website:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/ShellAndWait.aspx
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9843) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: DOS From Macros.
Professional Development Guidance! Four world-class developers offer start-to-finish guidance for building powerful, robust, and secure applications with Excel. The authors show how to consistently make the right design decisions and make the most of Excel's powerful features. Check out Professional Excel Development today!
Need to pull a list of words from a range of cells? This tip shows how easy you can perform the task using a macro.
Discover MoreWhen creating user forms for use in Excel, you are provided with a range of controls you can add, including check boxes. ...
Discover MoreOpen up a workbook, and Excel normally runs the macros associated with that workbook. You can disable the automatic ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2021-12-25 10:50:12
J. Woolley
My Excel Toolbox includes the following function to create a hyperlink that will run a Shell command:
RunCommandLink(Command_Line, [Friendly_Name], [Screen_Tip])
If Command_Line begins with HIDE:: (ignoring alphabetic case), the remainder will be run in a hidden Shell window (vbHide); otherwise, vbNormalFocus will apply. The function returns Friendly_Name (like the HYPERLINK and SuperLink functions) and adds a hyperlink Screen_Tip (like the SuperLink function). Here are three cell formula examples:
="Click to run "&RunCommandLink("myfile.bat","my batch file")
=RunCommandLink("Notepad.exe ""My Note.txt""",,"Click to run")
=RunCommandLink("Hide::cmd /k dir > ""Dir.txt"" && Notepad ""Dir.txt""")
See https://sites.google.com/view/MyExcelToolbox/
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments