Using Shell Statement to Access MS-DOS Prompt from WinWord

ID: Q79696

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0
Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

From within Microsoft Word, you can use the WordBasic or Visual Basic for Applications Shell statement to access the MS-DOS prompt. You can assign this macro to a key, a menu, or a button.

MORE INFORMATION

The following steps create a macro to access the MS-DOS prompt from within Word.

Word 97

On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.

In the Macro Name box, type dosprompt, and click Create.

In the macro editing window, type the following macro text:

Shell "command.com", 1

On the File menu, click "Close and Return to Microsoft Word."

For more information about adding macros to toolbars, menus, or keystrokes: from the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "add toolbar keyboard menu command," click Search, and then click to view the appropriate topic.

Word for Windows Versions 6.0, 7.0

On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.

In the Macro Name box, type dosprompt, and click Create.

In the macro editing window, type the following macro text:

Shell "command.com", 1

On the File menu, click Close. Click Yes when prompted to save changes to the macro.

On the Tools menu, point to Customize, and select the Keyboard, Menu, or Toolbar Category to assign this macro to a key combination, menu, or toolbar button.

Word for Windows Version 2.0

From the Tools menu, choose Macro.

In the Macro Name box, type dosprompt, and then choose the Edit button.

In the macro editing window, type the following macro text:

Shell "command.com", 1

From the File menu, choose Close. Choose the Yes button when prompted to save changes to the macro.

From the Tools menu, choose Options, and select the Keyboard, Menu, or Toolbar Category to assign this macro to a key combination, menu or tool bar button.

For more information on the Shell statement, search for "WordBasic Programming Language" and "Shell" using the Help menu.

Word for Windows Version 1.x

From the Macro menu, choose Edit.

In the Edit Macro Name box, type dosprompt, and press the OK button.

In the macro editing window, type the following macro text:
```
      Sub MAIN
      Shell "command.com", 1
      End Sub 
```
Note: In the Shell line, the following arguments can be used:

0 for minimized window
1 for normal window
3 for maximized window
4 for deactivated window

From the File menu, choose Close. Choose the Yes button when prompted to save changes to the macro.

From the Macro menu, you can choose the Assign to Key, or Assign to Menu commands to assign this macro to a key sequence or menu.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word for Windows and OS/2 Technical Reference," page 257

Additional query words: 1.x 2.0 word6 7.0 word95 winword word7 winword2 6.0 word8 word97 8.0

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:1.0,1.1,1.1a,2.0,2.0a,2.0a-CD,2.0b,2.0c,6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :