Thread: Wait if application open

I am trying to run two auto macros (in different files) one after the other where the run times are unknown. Both macros conclude with "application.quit" I need a function which will allow the second macro start immediately after the first has closed Excel. Is there any means in vba of determining if excel is already open when starting the second file ? Something like "wait if application already open" ?

Any ideas welcome!

Thanks
Astrikor

Hello astrikor,

This macro will allow you to start another application, and resume running your macro after the application closes.

'Written: November 09, 2007
'Author: Leith Ross
'Summary: Starts an Application and waits till it has finished loading before
'         running the remaining macro code.

 Private Declare Function OpenProcess _
   Lib "kernel32.dll" _
     (ByVal dwAccess As Long, _
      ByVal fInherit As Integer, _
      ByVal hObject As Long) As Long
      
 Private Declare Function WaitForSingleObject _
   Lib "kernel32.dll" _
     (ByVal hHandle As Long, _
      ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) As Long
      
 Private Declare Function CloseHandle _
   Lib "kernel32.dll" _
     (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long

Sub StartAndWait(ByVal AppPath As String, ByVal Appname As String)
  
  Const SYNCHRONIZE As Long = 1048576
  Const INFINITE As Long = -1&
  
  Dim Obj As Object
  Dim ProcessID As Long
  Dim ProcessHandle As Long
  Dim Retval As Long
  Dim Services As Object

    Set Services = GetObject("winmgmts:root\cimv2")
    Set Obj = Services.Get("Win32_Process")
    
    Retval = Obj.Create(Appname, AppPath, , ProcessID)
      If Retval Then
         ProcessError (Retval)
         GoTo CleanUp
      End If
      
      If ProcessID <> 0 Then
         ProcessHandle = OpenProcess(SYNCHRONIZE, True, ProcessID)
           Retval = WaitForSingleObject(ProcessHandle, INFINITE)
           Retval = CloseHandle(ProcessHandle)
       MsgBox Appname & " Finished Loading", 64
     Else
        MsgBox "ERROR : Unable to start " & Appname
     End If
     
CleanUp:
   Set Services = Nothing
   Set Obj = Nothing
   
End Sub

Sub ProcessError(ByVal Err_Value As Long)

If Err_Value = 0 Then Exit Sub

ProcessError:
   Select Case Err_Value
    Case 2
      Msg = "Access Denied"
    Case 3
      Msg = "Insufficient Privilege"
    Case 8
      Msg = "Unknown failure"
    Case 9
      Msg = "Path Not Found"
    Case 21
      Msg = "Invalid Parameter"
    Case Else
      Msg = "Unknown Error:" & Str(Err_Value)
  End Select
  
  MsgBox Msg, vbexcalamtion, "WMI Win32_Process Failure"
  
End Sub

Macro Example

Sub StartAndWaitTest()

  StartAndWait "C:\Windows", "Notepad.exe"
  MsgBox "Notepad has closed."

End Sub

Hello astrikor,

Excel does not support this feature natively. You will have to use an outside method.