how to open selected files through the default application of the file in VB 2010?

Question

I have Windows application written in VB 2010.Here, user may select any file from open dialog.So, I want to open the file in corresponding application.for example, suppose user selecting docx file then i have to open the file using msword,suppose,if it is a pdf file, then i have to open with adobe reader or available pdf reader(default application).

Is this possible to do?

Answer 1

Shell and the Windows API CreateProcess() are for starting executable files. If you're loading a document/file then these are handled by ShellExecute() and can be initiated in .NET using the Process.UseShellExecute property:

Private Function ShellExecute(ByVal File As String) As Boolean
  Dim myProcess As New Process
  myProcess.StartInfo.FileName = File
  myProcess.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = True
  myProcess.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = False
  myProcess.Start()
  myProcess.Dispose()
End Function

Taken from the #VB wiki.

Answer 2

Try this:

now with openfiledialog

Dim OpenFileDlg as new OpenFileDialog.

OpenFileDlg.FileName = "" ' Default file name
OpenFileDlg.DefaultExt = ".xlsx" ' Default file extension
OpenFileDlg.Filter = "Excel Documents (*.XLSX)|*.XLSX"
OpenFileDlg.Multiselect = True
OpenFileDlg.RestoreDirectory = True
' Show open file dialog box
Dim result? As Boolean = OpenFileDlg.ShowDialog()

' Process open file dialog box results
for each path in OpenFileDlg.Filenames
    Try
        System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(Path)

    Catch ex As Exception
        MsgBox("Unable to load the file. Maybe it was deleted?")
    End Try
    If result = True Then
        ' Open document
    Else
        Exit Sub
    End If
next

This will work if the file is registered with the OS. Use Try catch because it can throw errors if the file is in use.

Edit: It uses always the default application.