Need to turn on file extension in windows within Access VBA

[CD Tom]

I'm using the ImportZippedFil e to unzip files from within my Access application, however I've run into a problem that I don't know if I can fix.
In the ImportZippedFil e it looks for the extension of the file in order to unzip the it. I had a client that the extension in windows was turned off so the unzip didn't work. I'm wondering is there a way to turn file extensions on from within my application. If you need the full code for the ImportZippedFil e let me know and I'll post it.

Thanks for any help.

[NeoPa]

Can you be a little more precise. I know of configuring extensions but 'turning them on' means nothing to me.

[PhilOfWalton]

This may help.

Basically I think you have to change

HKEY_CURRENT_US ER\Software\Mic rosoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Explorer\Advanc ed registry subkey.

In the registry.

There are lots of examples of how to do this on the web.

Phil

[ADezii]

1. This one is a little tricky, Tom. You can accomplish this by using the WshShell Object which enables you to interact with various aspects of the Windows Shell.
2. The Logic is as follows:
   1. You must query a specific Registry Key is see if the Hide extensions for known file types is ON or OFF (1 or 0). You can use the RegRead() Method of the WshShell Object.
   2. If this Option is ON (1), then you must turn it OFF via the RegWrite() Method of the WshShell Object.
   3. After enabling File Extension and performing your operations(s), you may wish to return it to its prior state.
3. Enough rambling on, the Code to do this is listed below:
   

   Dim WshShell As Object
   Dim strRegKey As String
   
   strRegKey = "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\HideFileExt"
   
   Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
   
   If WshShell.RegRead(strRegKey) Then
     WshShell.RegWrite strRegKey, 0, "REG_DWORD"
   End If

4. Good Luck with your Project.

[CD Tom]

Well that works sometimes, I don't know why. Here's what I did, I went into Explorer and turned off the file extension. Then I ran my program and your code turned the file extension On, I have your code in the ImportZippedfil e routing at the very beginning. I still get the unzip problem because the extension is still off. When I look in the Windows Explorer I see that the file extension is turned On but the file extension of the files don't show. If I turn the file extension off and then on again it works.
Any ideas what I'm doing wrong.

[Rabbit]

You probably need to kill and restart the explorer process.

[ADezii]

A simple Refresh of the Explorer Window (F5) should do the trick. There should be no need to close and re-open Explorer, I think (LOL).

[CD Tom]

is there a way to do a refresh from with the Access VBA.

[ADezii]

You would probably have to retrieve the Window Handle of Windows Explores and send it a Message to Close. Will look into this tomorrow if I have a chance.

[CD Tom]

Thanks, looking forward to seeing how this could be done.

[ADezii]

1. This was a little tougher than I realized, but I do believe that I have come up with a solution. It involves the following Steps:
   1. If Hide file extensions is turned ON, then Reset this Option to OFF.
   2. Find the Explorer Window and retrieve it's Handle.
   3. MAXIMIZE the Explorer Window.
   4. Send the F5 Keystroke (Refresh) to the Explorer Window.
2. Required Declarations:
   

   Declare PtrSafe Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As LongPtr
   Declare PtrSafe Function ShowWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As LongPtr, ByVal nCmdShow As Long) As Long
   Public Const SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED = 3

3. Code Definition:
   

   Dim WshShell As Object
   Dim strRegKey As String
   Dim lngHnd As LongPtr
   Dim lngRetVal As Long
   
   strRegKey = "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\HideFileExt"
   
   Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
   
   If WshShell.RegRead(strRegKey) Then
     WshShell.RegWrite strRegKey, 0, "REG_DWORD"   'Enable File Extensions
     
     lngHnd = FindWindow("CabinetWClass", vbNullString)      'Find Windows Explorer
     lngRetVal = ShowWindow(lngHnd, SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED)        'MAXIMIZE Windows Explorer
   
     WshShell.SendKeys "{F5}"        'Pass the F5 Key to Windows Explorer
   End If
   
   Set WshShell = Nothing

[CD Tom]

This would seem to work except I get an error on the LongPtr do I need some new reference?

[CD Tom]

I still can't get this to work here's the code

Dim WshShell as Object
Dim strRegKey as String
Dim lngHnd As longPtr
dim lngRetVal as long

strRegKey = "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\HideFileExt"
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
If WshShell.RegRead(strRegKey) then
WshShell.RegWrite strRegKey, 1, "REG_DWORD"
lngHnd = FindWindow("CabinetWClass", vbNullString)
lngRetVal = ShowWindow(lnghnd, SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED)
WshShell.Sendkeys "(F5)"
endif
Set WshShell = nothing

I have set the extension in Explorer to 0 manually to test this
As I walk through the program (F8) it seems to go through everything until I get to the WshShell.SendKe ys "(F5)" that command just writes a F5 on the next line of the code. If I look at the options in Explorer the hideFileExt still shows 0. No change.
I also get an error on the LongPtr I've changed it to just Long
I'm about ready to give up on this.
What do you think.

[ADezii]

The correct Syntax for SendKeys is

WshShell.SendKeys "{F5}"

not

WshShell.SendKeys "(F5)"

Let me know how this works out, we're almost there. It works fine on my end, so must be a small adjustment on yours.

[CD Tom]

Well that was some difference I didn't notice the difference at first and was about to tell you it didn't work. when I looked closer I could see they were not ( but { when I made that change it worked. Thank you so much.