Using macro to enter variables to Shell Command

Hi,

I want to run a Shell command to open lots of files.

I can get the basic command working, but I want to open a lot of different files and am seeing if there is a way to save time by having a variable input, rather than having 1000 different shell lines with IF statements.

So...

Instead of

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If possible I want to generate 3 variables based on cells A1, A2 and A3, and have one shell command.

So, let
A1 = documents
A2 = tester
A3 = example1.txt

The command line would now be:

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and would open files from different directories based on inputs.

Is there any way to do this, or, as I imagine, the code must be explicit as it just dumps whatever you write into dos.

If thats the case, I thought a work around might be to enter

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Into, say, B1, and then try and execute the formula in B1.

Can this be done?

Im still pretty new to VBA, so Im sorry if this is an obvious problem, or obviously impossible to solve.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,

Perhaps something like:

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I would think the more normal way to enter text into 3 cells for sequential evaluation would be A1, B1 and C1, then the next file would be described in A2, B2 and C2, then A3, B3, and C3....etc. You could express ALL of those file instructions with a FOR/NEXT Loop, like so:

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Thanks for your help.

I will try it tonight and let you know if it works

Edit - I have just tried it at work on a basic sheet and it seems to work on a basic example.

Will let you know how it works with my full sheet at home.

Actually I should have specified, I want it to work with relative references. Hopefully it still will, but if anyone has any ideas.

I.e. work with current cell, current cell down 1, and current cell down 2 - NB not all cells are in columns A and B so cant use your second iterative approach

Another Edit -

I made a work around by using your code, but inserting the following beforehand:

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This copies the selected cell and the 2 below it to cell A1 thru 3 and then runs your shell cmd on cells 1 thru 3.

Im all ears if there is a more elegant solution.

Last Edit - Apologies for all the edits, Im probably being a little over eager.

My work around works, but I would like it to return back to the cell it copied from, which it currently does not, and I have no idea how to get it to work out which cell it was in.

Any ideas much appreciated, either using my work around with an idea for returning to teh initial cell, or a new approach using relative references in the "shell" line.

This is such a confusing way to try and help. How about you upload a workbook with a complete set of sample data demonstrating all the hurdles, and perhaps mockup a sheet with your desired results so we can see the finish line clearly. That will speed this process up greatly.

Not sure I understand this workbook fully, but maybe this...

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You're going to HAVE to create individualized macros for that. Spotting specific buttons is a more direct, and it's one of those rare things you have to actually select the shape to be able to analyze the text, at least I can't seem to do it without selecting it first.

For Page 1:

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Yes I did some digging on the net and with some modifications and experimentation I came up with:

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This opens c drive\ folder "textbox1"\folder"textbox2"\"textbox3.txt" (I renamed rounded rectangle x, to textbox1,2,3)

I think you may be right in that its not possible to select textboxA where A =(some formula)

But I'll play around some more.