functions

bOK, iErrorCode, strErrorText = fhShellExecute(strFileName [, strParams [, strDirectory [, strOperation [, iShowCmd]]]])

strFileName

string: the full path to the file.  Remember that slashes in Lua must be doubled (e.g "C:\\My Documents\\My Program.exe").

strParams

string: parameters.  If strFileName is an executable file, strParams holds the parameters to be passed to it.  Should be empty, or not supplied, if strFileName is a document file.

strDirectory

string: specifies the default (working) directory for the action.  If not supplied, the current working directory is used.

strOperation

string: specifies the action to be performed. The set of available actions depends on the particular file or folder. Generally, the actions available from an object's shortcut menu are available actions. The follow actions are commonly used:

edit	Launches an editor and opens the document for editing.  Will fail if strFileName is not a document file.
explore	Explores a folder specified by strFileName.
find	Initiates a search beginning in the directory specified by strDirectory
open	Opens the item specified by strFileName.  In this case, strFileName can be a file or folder.
print	Prints the file specified by strFileName.  Will fail if strFileName is not a document file.
NULL (or empty string)	The default action is used, if available.  If not, the "open" action is used.  If neither action is available, the system uses the first action listed in the registry.

iShowCmd

integer: Specifies how an application is to be displayed when it is opened.  If not supplied, the value defaults to 1.  The following values are defined:

0	Hides the window and activates another window
1	Activates and displays a window. If the window is minimized or maximized, Windows restores it to its original size and position. An application should specify this flag when displaying the window for the first time.
2	Activates the window and displays it as a minimized window.
3	Activates the window and displays it as a maximized window.
4	Displays a window in its most recent size and position. The active window remains active.
5	Activates the window and displays it in its current size and position.
6	Minimizes the specified window and activates the next top-level window in the Z order.
7	Displays the window as a minimized window. The active window remains active.
8	Displays the window in its current state. The active window remains active.
9	Activates and displays the window. If the window is minimized or maximized, Windows restores it to its original size and position. An application should specify this flag when restoring a minimized window.

bOK

boolean: rets true on success and false on failure

iErrorCode

integer: will be nil if the call succeeded.  If it fails will return an error code between 0 and 32, some of the more common ones are listed below.

Return Code	MS Name	Description
2	ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND	The specified file was not found.
3	ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND	The specified path was not found.
11	ERROR_BAD_FORMAT	The .exe file is invalid (non-Win32 .exe or error in .exe image).
5	SE_ERR_ACCESSDENIED	The operating system denied access to the specified file.
27	SE_ERR_ASSOCINCOMPLETE	The file name association is incomplete or invalid.
32	SE_ERR_DLLNOTFOUND	The specified DLL was not found.
31	SE_ERR_NOASSOC	There is no application associated with the given file name extension. This error will also be returned if you attempt to print a file that is not printable.
8	SE_ERR_OOM	There was not enough memory to complete the operation.
26	SE_ERR_SHARE	A sharing violation occurred.

strErrorText

string: will be nil if the call succeeded.  If it fails, will contain a textual description of the error.  May be less specific than the iErrorCode.  For some unusual error codes strErrorText may just contain the text "An error has occurred".