Is ShellExecute() a good or bad method for accessing a URL?

[czardas]

If I use the ShellExecute() function to access a URL, it opens IE and directs the browser to the page. This method seems to work flawlessly, but I was wondering whether it would be better to open the link using a different method, or if there is a preferred method? If anyone can advise me on this, I'd be grateful. Thanks.

Edited January 6, 2013 by czardas

[JohnOne]

You could use IE.udf or Run("Pathtobrowser.exe www.website.ext")

[czardas]

Thanks JohnOne, I know these alternatives, but I don't need to do anything other than access an online resource, which is just a page link (for now at least). I wanted to know if there was anything wrong with using ShellExecute(). If not, then I think I'd prefer it. You have more experience with IE functions because I hardly ever use them. It appears to me that UDF functions are not really needed for such simple a task.

Edited January 6, 2013 by czardas

[JohnOne]

I see, there's nothing wrong with what you are using unless you want

to open the webpage in a browser other than your default, and you don't

mind it opening in another window/instance.

[czardas]

It's not a web application, so the default browser would be best. The message will suggest the user opens the link in their default browser by clicking a button, if they are missing a particular resource. Go and download it. Thanks for the tips.

Edited January 6, 2013 by czardas

[guinness]

  On 1/6/2013 at 12:09 AM, 'JohnOne said:

You could use IE.udf or Run("Pathtobrowser.exe www.website.ext")

So long as the browser supports a URL being passed as a commandline parameter. Haven't come across a major browser not supporting this as of yet.

[icuurd12b42]

The preferred method is

ShellExecute ( "http://www.google.com" ,"" ,"", "open");