VBA Close Avtive pdf doc

[DMT Dave]

Hi Guys, is there a method to close and active pdf document, the obvious answer is re maximise and click X but when there are 100 to be opened individually then closed once data is logged, it would be so much easier for me to close it from the last procedure before we need to close to open new one, or even when opening a new one is an option to close an active one



I have the following but unsure of the correct method

Dim MyFile as String
MyFile = "T:\Folder1\Folder2\" & me.cboPDF & ".pdf"
Close MyFile

[Micron]

You can only transfer data to/from one at a time, yes? So why not open, transfer, close, loop? The only other idea I have is to use API to get the window handle and close a window based on that, but don't see that as viable with so many open windows, nor necessary - unless there is a reason why you need 100 documents open at the same time. You may generate Access error from having too many open connections.
EDIT - just re-read your post. Are you saying you want to do just as I suggested but don't know how?

Lots of posted code in several forums but I don't have any at hand. A search provided these as two of many
https://www.experts-exchange.com/que...-from-VBA.html
http://access.mvps.org/access/api/api0025.htm

[DMT Dave]

Hi Micron, sorry, only 1 document open at any one time, these are opened from a combo box (1 at a time) , minimised while we add data ,then manually maximised to close before opening a new one, I am having to point the mouse to the minimized pdf on the task bar and move to click x each time, when we have potentially 100 documents to do, much quicker for vba to close, even better to do this before a new one is opened from the combo ie: check if pdf is minimised on the task bar and close if there is one open … hope I have explained better

Much appreciated

[Micron]

You probably noticed our posts are crossing. I presume the links will provide a start for you. I see the combo BeforeUpdate running the code to close the pdf window, then the AfterUpdate opening a new one? Hope the links help as it's not something that I've ever needed to do. Maybe someone else will troll by and provide some ready made code...

[rpeare]

maybe describe your process a bit better. Are you actually updating the .PDF file itself? or are you doing a bunch of exporting and every time you export a .pdf it opens the window?

If it's the former can you not just export from your database a 'fresh' .pdf with the updated data?
if it's the latter there is an option to prevent the .pdf window from opening

The AUTOSTART option in the .outputto command can be set to FALSE to prevent it from opening.

.OutputTo (ObjectType, ObjectName, OutputFormat, OutputFile, AutoStart, TemplateFile, Encoding, OutputQuality)

[DMT Dave]

Hi rpeare, thank you for your reply, we have pdf files in a folder uploaded by a customer

current procedure is, select the pdf named ie: 123.pdf
this opens the pdf and adds a new record to db called 123
we look at data on pdf to fill more fields in on access db
so we minimise it to type the data from the minimised pdf
once we have added the data
then we open the minimised pdf from task bar to close it
Done
But rather than having to maximise a pdf to close manually, i like microns idea, add a close active pdf file called 123.pdf on the before event of the same combo that opens the next one (after update event), hoping this makes sense, so the end result is saving a lot of time if we have to sit and open and close 100 pdf docs individually it would be quicker to close the active pdf (123.pdf) via vba..

kindest

[Micron]

Are these pdf forms? That should make it possible to get values from your forms and skip the manual entry. Access vba with pdf form fields is not a common topic but I have seen several examples of it - even in this forum. IIRC, there are threads with solutions, but I have to admit it's not a walk in the park.

Your new procedure could potentially be
- loop through folder, get file name and open hidden
- create your 123 record (a field value that indicates the pdf file name?)
- grab the form values
- if no error, write pdf path to table so it can be opened later from Access form
- close file
Note that the path came after the table write, meaning if there's a path, data transfer was OK.
A button starts the file dialog to navigate to pdf folder; no combo for picking files.

[rpeare]

Yeah, I was going to suggest what Micron did. you can parse PDF's to get data out of them, this manual part is for the birds.

[DMT Dave]

Hi Guy's, thank you so much for your responses, yes there is a field in the database that is called the file name 123.pdf and 536.pdf and 732.pdf etc etc

I think rather than me go through a thourough change, another note is that when field entries are added from the pdf, the database fields changes required data as its being added in which i think i would prefer to open file to 1: check we have the data correct: 2 another procedure is the file is renamed via a done button (can be changed to before update of the combo that opens the pdf) file is renamed 123 Added.pdf 3: when the product is shipped (a consignment moves the file is renamed again to 123 shipped 09-08-19.pdf to a backup folder

So I think with many procedures going on, I love microns idea of before update on the combo that opens the file initially (after update) check if there is a pdf open called (me.cboPDF) which is the file name then if it is, close it and rename it 123.pdf added, the new one opens and the added one closes, obviously cancel event if file not open.. this would be fab

Thank you both again for your kind replies

[Micron]

you're welcome. Hope the search provides some useful code solutions.
Good luck.