I would like to know whether Sesame supports hyperlinks (similar to inserting a hyperlink field in an Access database).  There are three things I want to do:

1)  I want a "static" link which simply has a web-site address of the USPS Zip+4 lookup.  I want it to open the web-site, so I can enter an address, when necessary, to look up the zip+4 zipcode.

2) I want to save an e-mail address in a field and - when I click on the address - I want it to open my e-mail program with the e-mail address in the "TO" block of a new message.

3)  I want a "directions" field with a link to a specific Word document.  When I click on the field, I want it to open the directions saved as a word document.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Bob -

Well that got me "partially" there.  I modified the programming to:

var n as Int  
var vRecipient as String

vRecipient = LE13  
n = @SHELL(@CHR(34) + "C:\Program Files\IncrediMail\bin\IncMail.exe" + @CHR(34) + " /c ipm.note /m " + vRecipient)  

LE13 is the element that contains the e-mail address.  The executable is for Incredimail, the specific e-mail program I use.

When I click on the address it DOES open Incredimail as a new message; however, the "TO" block is empty.  

Unfortunately, I don't understand the programming at all.  What I loved about Q&A is that it had it's own "commands" which were fairly straight-forward and easy to learn.  It seems to me that my biggest problem is using "basic" programming language.  I tried to adjust to it in Access and just found it too unwieldy for my personal taste.

It is nice that I could just cut, paste and modify your code, but it's frustrating that I don't have a clue what it is doing.  lol

The nearest I can figure is that perhaps you included a "switch" with Outlook that allows insertion of the TO block.  Is that so?  If so, perhaps I need a different "switch" for Incredimail but how on earth would I know?

In any event, thanks much for your help.  I'm glad that, at least, I got this far but in order to make it viable, I need the address automatically inserted in the TO block.

Any further suggestions?

I am not familiar with Incredimail, but check out their HELP for command line options, and adjust the code accordingly.  It may be possible that none are available.

Don't forget that Sesame also has a SendMail command which  eliminates the need for an email client. 

Also remember that most browsers have built in email clients, that probably have commmand line switches for that also.......

..... Just some thoughts at this early hour in the morning ........

The link to open Internet Explorer is not working at all.

I used:

var vBrowser as int

vBrowser = @Shell("C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp")

If Not vBrowser = 0 Then
     @Msg("Couldn’t start Browser")

I can see the black screen flash; however, it does not start Internet Explorer nor does it give me the error message)

This is the latest programming I have used to access a specific web-site:

var IEfailure as Int 
 
IEfailure = @shell(@Chr(34) + "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp" + @Chr(34))
IF NOT IEfailure = 0 THEN 
   @Msg("Couldn't open web browser") 
// @Shell returns a 0 if it is successful, a 1 if it fails 

From everything I pieced together it seems to me that this should work.  It doesn't.  I can see the black screen resulting from the @shell command; however the internet site is not opened and I do not get the error message.

Help ... Please ...  Thanks

Ray -

I'll be darned if I can see why the minor variation in programming should make a difference (in other words it appears that the original code should work as well) but IT DOES!  Clicking on the field opens the precise web-page that I want.  THANK YOU!

I am left with two problems, one a little bigger than the other.

The "big" problem is that now I cannot open my database.  When I try to open it I get a "failed to open" message.  Since I am working with a new database and don't have many records in it, I suppose this is not really a major problem.  I can create a new database, I presume, from the .dsr file.  It scares me though to think that this could happen so easily to a heavily populated database.  And yes, of course, I would have a backup of the database, before I started any redesign work.  But still ........

Likewise, if I try to "reconcile" the .dsr file to the .db file I get a similar message: I believe it says that application is in use (even though it is not).

The "other" problem (which may be related) is that when I use Alt/Tab to switch back to Sesame, I am at a screen that says Command.Exe (or something like that).  I want to be back at the form I shelled from .... so that I can copy and paste the address to the USPS zip-lookup web page.

Any suggestions?

Whew - Thank you Ray, I feel much better about the "locked file" situation .... something I had not been aware of.

Also, I very much appreciate your explanation of why the variance in programming makes the difference.  I can see it now.

So, once again, I am making great progress, thank you, but am still left with the one minor problem.

I want to be able to look at the two "forms" (i.e. the USPS web page and the Sesame open record) side by side.  The probem, is that when I alt/tab or otherwise have the Sesame dababase appear, there is a "screen" labeled C:=Windows\system32\cmd.exe.

I found that if I close the web-page, the screen will disappear and my Sesame form reappears; however, I do NOT want to do this, since I need them both open.

I CAN X on the C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe screen and return to my form (with both now visible); however, this is awkward and I prefer to have the unwanted screen disappear automatically.   Can this be done?

Ray -

YOU ARE A GEM!

First of all, I love the simplified programming.   I guess that windows knows what my default browser is, so I don't have to include the cumbersome programming to open Internet Explorer.  This makes it so much easier for me to complete programming to any web-page I want.  THANK YOU!

Also, apparently using the @synchshell (instead of @shell) took care of the unwanted screen. 

I am VERY HAPPY with this solution!  THANK YOU!!!!!

Another untested thought....
Make this into a generic Hyperlink by adding vDestination ?
Make this into a SubRoutine: Hyperlink(vDestination)
SubRoutine results in something like:

var vDestination as String
var vAppfailure as Int

vAppfailure = @asynchshell(@chr(34) + vDestination + @chr(34))

If vAppfailure <> 0 Then
{
 @Msg("Couldn't open application")
} 

Anwhere you want a hyperlink just enter the destination as on field exit programming:

vDestination = value in current field.
GoSub Hyperlink() 

By using the system's "Open With", you should be able to make vDestination any file name, like C:\MyPath\myfile.doc to open up that document in Word. 

Sorry , no time now for correct, clean code.  Just an instant idea.  Busy working on real stuff right now.  Just another untested concept for Ray to clean up with correct punctuation, sub routine header/end, etc. 

Almost there Ray.

I did use "GoSub" but I did mean make a SubRoutine....

Only difference I see is this version of OpenFile(....) is hardcoded.

What I envisioned was enter a value into a LE.  On LE enter (mouse click), call OpenFile() inserting the value of the LE into OpenFile(),    but did not want the user to bother entering " marks,  just common text for path and filename with extension.

Code at LE would be enhanced to only work if LE value is prefixed or suffixed with special character like * so that OpenFile() would only be triggered with * in LE.  Part of programming would be to remove * so it does not trigger every time field is entered.  User trained (Help tag?) to add * to front or back of string in LE to trigger OpenFile()

Hi Spencer --

Good to see you active on the forum. Pleased to see that Ray managed to assist you to find a good solution. He's a canny lad !

Alec

Something tells me that this problem requires the help of RAY THE REAPER. 

I received information from Incredimail on the command line parameters to use to hyperlink to e-mail.  Here's what resulted from that.

The command line parameters they provided me are getting me closer to a solution; however, I still have a problem.   At least now, I get "something" in the "to" block of the message but it has been truncated.  I have a "clue" what is probably going on.  Let me see if  I can explain it well enough to get the solution I need.

First, here is the actual programming I am using:

var n as Int 
var vRecipient as String

vRecipient = EMail Address 
n = @SHELL(@CHR(34) + "C:\Program Files\IncrediMail\bin\IncMail.exe" + @CHR(34) + " /c /n /mailto:" + vRecipient)

EMail Address is the field in my form that contains the address.  For example my record contains:  SWulwick@tampabay.rr.com

The address ("To:" block on my new e-mail) was completed as k@tampabay.rr.com

I noticed that 7 characters had been removed ... so I tried something (but not something I am happy with as a solution).  In my database I changed the address to read:  mailto:SWulwick@tampabay.rr.com 

Sure enough, the same program executed perfectly .... BUT ..... I do not like to have the "mailto:" portion appear in my e-mail address in my database.

Apparently the command line parameters they provided me is EXPECTING the e-mail address to start with "Mailto:" and is automatically "stripping the first 7 characters from the address.

Any solution?

Just out of curiosity, did you try the SendMail command that is built into SBasic?

BY GEORGE, I THINK I'VE GOT IT!!!!

In any event, it "woiks"

Here is my my "final" programming statement:


var n as Int 
var vRecipient as String

vRecipient = EMail Address 
n = @SHELL(@CHR(34) + "C:\Program Files\IncrediMail\bin\IncMail.exe" + @CHR(34) + " /c /n /mailto:" + "mailto:" + vRecipient)

It was my "belief" (right, wrong or otherwise) that "mailto:" was needed as a command parameter; HOWEVER, it was also being EXPECTED as the first 7 characters of the email address .... so I put it in there both ways ... and WALLA!!!!!

My logic may or may not be right, but at least it works!!!  Yippee!!

Once, again, thanks ALL for providing such incredible support.

Hi Bob -

The only command line switches I received from IncrediMail are the ones that I incorporated in my programming.

Actually - to be truthful - I don't even know what they mean ... but I do know that they work and that's all that mattered to me.

If you need something specific let me know, and I'll be happy to try to find out for you.

Speaking of the hyperlink field, I discovered a little "bug" in my programming.  It works flawlessly when there is an e-mail address in the "hyperlink" field.  If, however, the field is blank and I click on (or tab to) it, the @shell is still executed, leaving me at a new (To box blank) e-mail message which I don't want at all. 

To fix that, I added a "condition" to my programming.  Once again, here's the "final"  (as of now - lol) programming I am using.

var n as Int 
var vRecipient as String

If not @isblank(EMail Address) then {
vRecipient = EMail Address 
n = @SHELL(@CHR(34) + "C:\Program Files\IncrediMail\bin\IncMail.exe" + @CHR(34) + " /c /n /mailto:" + "mailto:" + vRecipient)
}