1: Sleep

The Sleep function suspends execution for a specified period. It places the running code into an
inactive state for the number of milliseconds passed to the function. Simply declare the function
and then call it as shown from a VBA procedure:

Private Declare Sub Sleep Lib "kernel32" (ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long)

Sleep milliseconds

2: GetUserName
If you need to know who's logged into an Access database, use GetUserName. There are other
ways to do this without calling an API, but this API is so simple, why would you bother writing
your own code? GetUserName retrieves the name of the current system or the current user
logged into the network. Declare it and call it, passing the appropriate information, as follows:

Private Declare Function GetUserName Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias _

"GetUserNameA" (ByVal lpBuffer As String, nSize As Long) As Long
Function apicGetUserName() As String
  'Call to apiGetUserName returns current user.
  Dim lngResponse As Long
  Dim strUserName As String * 32
  lngResponse = GetUserName(strUserName, 32)
  apicGetUserName = Left(strUserName, InStr(strUserName, Chr$(0)) - 1)
End Function

3: GetComputerName
This next function, GetComputerName, is similar to GetUserName except it retrieves the
system's name. Declare it and call it, as follows:

Private Declare Function GetComputerName Lib "kernel32" Alias _

"GetComputerNameA" (ByVal lpBuffer As String, nSize As Long) As Long
Function apicGetComputerName() As String
  'Call to apiGetUserName returns current user.
  Dim lngResponse As Long
  Dim strUserName As String * 32
  lngResponse = GetComputerName(strUserName, 32)
  apicGetComputerName = Left(strUserName, InStr(strUserName, Chr$(0)) - 1)
End Function

4: BringWindowToTop
This API function brings the specified window to the top. If the window is a top-level window,
the function activates it. If the window is a child window, the function activates the associated
top-level parent window. Simply pass the appropriate window handle. If the function fails, it
returns 0; if it's successful, it will return a nonzero value. Use the following declaration:
Private Declare Function BringWindowToTop Lib "user32" _
(ByVal lngHWnd As Long) As Long

When calling the function, pass the window handle value as a Long variable.

5: FindWindow
BringWindowToTop requires a handle value. You'll need FindWindow, another API, for that.
This one can be a bit frustrating because it requires specialized information, and if you don't get
it just right, the function won't work. Specifically, you need the window's class or name, as
shown in the simple call below. This function returns the handle for the Word document,
December2010.docx.

Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" _

(ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Function apicFindWindow(strClassName As String, strWindowName As String)
  'Get window handle.
  Dim lngWnd As Long
  apicFindWindow = FindWindow(strClassName, strWindowName)
End Function

The class names for the three main Office applications are as follows:

 Microsoft Access — OMain

 Microsoft Excel — XLMAIN
 Microsoft Word — OpusApp

The window name (lpWindowName) is usually the window's caption; see the window's title bar.
If you're lucky, passing the object in the following form will work:

object.Caption

For instance, you might try the following statement to return the handle of an Excel userform
named ufrmEmployees:

FindWindow(vbNullString, ufrmEmployees.Caption)

Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out that way. If the function returns 0, it didn't work — a
window handle is never 0. If you omit one of the parameters (both aren't necessary), pass
vbNullString.

If you have trouble getting the lpWindowName property, grab a copy of AutoIt. This tool returns
the exact window name for open windows. Thanks to Stuart McLachlan of Lexacorp for
recommending this neat tool!

6: FindExecutable
Have you ever needed to know what's installed before running a specific Office application?
FindExecutable can retrieve that information. This function requires the name of an existing data
file and a working directory. The function returns the name and path of the application that
Windows would launch if you double-clicked the data file. If the function fails, it returns a value
of 32 or less. Declare it and use the following VBA function to call FindExecutable:

Private Declare Function FindExecutable Lib "shell32.dll" Alias _

"FindExecutableA" (ByVal lpFile As String, ByVallpDirectory As String, _
ByVal lpResult As String) As Long
Function apicFindExecutable(strDataFile As String, strDir As String) As String
  'Resturns exectuable for passed data file.
  Dim lgnApp As Long
  Dim strApp As String
  strApp = Space(260)
  lngApp = FindExecutable(strDataFile, strDir, strApp)
  If lngApp > 32 Then
    apicFindExecutable = strApp
  Else
    apicFindExecutable = "No matching application."
  End If
End Function

You must pass the entire path via strDataFile, not just the name of the data file. The function will
return the path to the executable needed to run the data file.

7: GetActiveWindow
When working with more than one Office application, you'll probably need to consider windows.
Fortunately, there are plenty of API functions for working with them. GetActiveWindow
retrieves the window handle for the currently active window — the new window you last
clicked. If there is no active window associated with the thread, the return value is NULL.
Declare it and call it as follows:

Private Declare Function GetActiveWindow Lib "user32" () As Long

Function apicGetActiveWindow()
  'Return window handle of active window.
  Dim lngWindow As Long
  apicGetActiveWindow = GetActiveWindow()
End Function

You can quickly learn whether a specific form is still the active window using the following
expression if the host application supports a handle property (Access does):

GetActiveWindow() = | <> form.hWND

8: GetTempPath
GetTempPath returns the path to the system's temporary folder. It requires two parameters: the
length of a string to contain the pathname and the string itself. This function returns the length of
the pathname measured in bytes or 0 if the function fails. Declare it and call it as follows:

Private Declare Function GetTempPath Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetTempPathA" _

(ByVal nBufferLength As Long, ByVal lpBuffer As String) As Long
Public Function apicGetTempPath() As String
  'Returns path to system's temporary folder.
  Dim strPath As String * 512
  Dim lgnPath As Long
  lgnPath = GetTempPath(512, strPath)
  apicGetTempPath = Left(strPath, InStr(1, strPath, vbNullChar))
End Function

9: GetTempFileName
This function often works as a companion to GetTempPath. You might not use it often, but when
you need it, you'll find it handy. GetTempFileName creates a name for a temporary file. This
function has four parameters: a string for the path for the file, a string prefix used to begin a
unique filename, a unique number to construct the temporary name, and a string used to return
the filename. Both the path and prefix strings are required and can't be empty. The function
returns the unique number used to create the file name or 0, if there's an error. Declare it and call
it as follows:

Declare Function GetTempFileName Lib "kernel32" Alias "GetTempFileNameA"

(ByVal lpszPath As String, ByVal lpPrefixString As String, ByVal wUnique As

Long, ByVal lpTempFileName As String) As Long

Public Function apicGetTempFileName(str As String) As String
  'Retrun a temporary file name.
  Dim strPath As String * 512
  Dim strName As String * 576
  Dim lngRet As Long
  lngRet = GetTempPath(512, strPath)
  If (lngRet > 0 And lngRet < 512) Then
     lngRet = GetTempFileName(strPath, str, 0, strName)
     If lngRet <> 0 Then
        apicGetTempFileName = Left(strName, _
           InStr(strName, vbNullChar))
     End If
  End If
End Function

The above function combines GetTempPath and GetTempFileName to return a temporary

filename. Simply pass a prefix and the function generates a unique name using the prefix.

10: GetDesktopWindow
This function retrieves a handle to the desktop window, which covers the entire screen. All other
windows are drawn on top of the desktop window. This is one of the easier functions to
implement, as there are no parameters. You'll seldom use it alone; rather, you'll combine it with
other API functions. For instance, you might combine it with others so you can temporarily drop
files onto the desktop or enumerate through all the open windows on the desktop. Declare it and
call it as follows:

Private Declare Function GetDesktopWindow Lib "user32" () As Long

Public Function apicGetDesktopWindow()
  'Retrieves the handle for the desktop.
  apicGetDesktopWindow = GetDesktopWindow
End Function

11: ShowWindow
After retrieving a window's handle using FindWindow, you might want to manipulate the same
window using ShowWindow. There are usually native methods you should use instead, but the
capability exists — and sometimes, the native solutions just don't provide what you want.
Declare it and call it as follows:

Private Declare Function ShowWindow Lib "user32" _

(ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal nCmdSHow As Long) As Long
Function apicShowWindow(strClassName As String, strWindowName As String,
lngState As Long)
  'Get window handle.
  Dim lngWnd As Long
  Dim intRet As Integer
  lngWnd = FindWindow(strClassName, strWindowName)
  apicShowWindow = ShowWindow(lngWnd, lngState)
End Function
The VBA function calls both FindWindow and ShowWindow. The third argument, lngState
passes one of the constants shown in Table A.

Table A

Constant Integer Explanation

Value
SW_FORCEMINIMIZE 11 Minimizes a window.
SW_HIDE 0 Hides the window and activates
another window.
SW_MAXIMIZE 3 Maximizes a window.
SW_MINIMIZE 6 Minimizes the specified window
and activates the next top-level
window.
SW_RESTORE 9 Activates and displays the
window.
SW_SHOW 5 Activates the window.
SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED 3 Activates the window and
displays it as a maximized
window.
SW_SHOWMINIMIZED 2 Activates the window and
displays it as a minimized
window.
SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE 7 Displays the window as a
minimized window (without
activating the window).
SW_SHOWNA 8 Displays the window in its
current size and position
(without activating the window).
SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE 4 Displays a window in its most
recent size and position (without
activating the window).
SW_SHOWNORMAL 1 Activates and displays a
window.

I'd like to thank Stuart McLachlan, FPNGCS, and Jim Dettman, Access MVP for sharing their
favorite APIs with me.