Open an html page in default browser with VBA?

Question

How do I open an HTML page in the default browser with VBA? I know it's something like:

Shell "http://myHtmlPage.com" 

But I think I have to reference the program which will open the page.

Answer 1

You can use the Windows API function ShellExecute to do so:

Option Explicit  Private Declare Function ShellExecute _   Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" ( _   ByVal hWnd As Long, _   ByVal Operation As String, _   ByVal Filename As String, _   Optional ByVal Parameters As String, _   Optional ByVal Directory As String, _   Optional ByVal WindowStyle As Long = vbMinimizedFocus _   ) As Long  Public Sub OpenUrl()      Dim lSuccess As Long     lSuccess = ShellExecute(0, "Open", "www.google.com")  End Sub 

As given in comment, to make it work in 64-bit, you need add PtrSafe in the Private Declare Line as shown below:

Private Declare PtrSafe Function ShellExecute _ 

Just a short remark concerning security: If the URL comes from user input make sure to strictly validate that input as ShellExecute would execute any command with the user's permissions, also a format c: would be executed if the user is an administrator.

Answer 2

You can even say:

FollowHyperlink "www.google.com" 

If you get Automation Error then use http://:

ThisWorkbook.FollowHyperlink("http://www.google.com")