Script to open an External Application on the background but keep MS Access on foregr

[RogerT]

I am able to open an external application from my access database with scripting. The problem is it becomes the active application (on foreground) and my access is in the background. I would only like it to open on the background and keep my access database on the foreground. How can I accomplish this? Thanks in advance.

[June7]

Interesting, I inherited a db that included Excel component for data entry/edit. Seems the problem was Excel opened behind Access and users had to go find it. Very annoying. One reason I eliminated Excel component.

I don't know if VBA procedure can use API to set focus on an application so I searched Bing: vba api focus application

Maybe this is adaptable http://support.microsoft.com/kb/186431

[RogerT]

Thanks for the response, but I don't know if this will work because as soon as I open the external application, I lost focus to access. The only way to go back is to click on the Ms Access icon. What I want is to keep my access database open after the external application is launched.

[June7]

Seems I faced that same conundrum in the situation I described. Couldn't bring Excel to front. Gave up. It was a bad design anyway, just reinforced my decision to eliminate Excel component.

Sorry.

[ItsMe]

I am pretty sure I have used FindWindowA to do things like minimize and maximize an app I launched, Outlook. I think as long as you do not exit the procedure you could use Access' Window handle to maximize and bring it up front. I think I have done it before. The hard part is getting the handle and just don’t end the procedure with focus on the new app.