Windows 7: How to run an "Elevated" command line?

In my VBA procedure, I need to run the app "Skitch" and use it to open a JPEG file. This is the command I've been using:

    ReturnValue = Shell("C:\Program Files (x86)\Evernote\Skitch\Skitch.exe " & """" & aPic & """", 1)

...where "aPic" is the path and filename.

After some experimenting, I think I need to run the command as if it were in an Elevated Command window (in other words, run it "as Administrator"). How can I do that?

Thanks.

Hi shawnvw,

I think you need 'ShellExecute'. I have run it with .bat files, but I have never tried it with .exe files directly. In Vista (32 bit and 64 bit), UAC asks for permission to run as administrator, after the command is invoked. See my attached file with code to follow, that deletes the print queue. You may be able to adapt the code to your needs.

Lewis

Option Explicit

'Reference for CONDITIONAL COMPILATION CODE: http://www.jkp-ads.com/articles/apideclarations.asp
'VBA7 / Win64 CONDITIONAL COMPILATION has not been tested.
#If VBA7 And Win64 Then
  ' 64 bit Excel
  'NOTE: The following line is supposed to be RED in 32 bit Excel
  Private Declare PtrSafe Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" ( _
        ByVal hwnd As LongPtr, ByVal lpOperation As String, ByVal lpFile As String, _
        ByVal lpParameters As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As LongPtr
#Else
  ' 32 bit Excel
  Private Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" _
    Alias "ShellExecuteA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpOperation As String, ByVal lpFile As String, _
    ByVal lpParameters As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long
#End If


Sub CreateClearPrintQueueDotBatFile()
  'This creates a text '.bat' file that clears the Windows print queue
  'When the file is executed it needs 'Administrator' privileges to execute (VISTA)
  '
  'NOTE: This only creates a 'new' file.  It will NOT OVERWRITE and existing file
  '
  '
  'The contents of the file are (without the leading 'single quotes':
  '
  '@echo off
  'if NOT exist %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\*.s?? goto END
  'net stop spooler
  'if exist %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\*.shd del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\*.shd /Q
  'if exist %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\*.spl del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\*.spl /Q
  'net start spooler
  ':END
  'exit
  
  Const sFile = "ClearPrintQueue.bat"
  
  Dim sTextFile As String
  Dim iFileNo As Integer


  
  Dim sPath As String
  Dim sPathAndFile As String
  
  'Get the path
  sPath = ThisWorkbook.Path & "\"
  
  'Create the full path and file name
  sPathAndFile = sPath & sFile
  
  
  'Create the file only if the file does not exist
  If (Dir(sPathAndFile) = "") Then
  
    'Allocate a file 'handle'
    iFileNo = FreeFile
  
    'Set error handler to close the file 'handle'
    On Error GoTo CLOSEFILE
  
    'Open the file for writing
    Open sPathAndFile For Output As #iFileNo
  
    'Write to the file
    Print #iFileNo, "@echo off"
    Print #iFileNo, "if NOT exist %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\*.s?? echo The print queue is is empty."
    Print #iFileNo, "if NOT exist %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\*.s?? goto END"
    Print #iFileNo, "net stop spooler"
    Print #iFileNo, "echo Deleting files from the print queue."
    Print #iFileNo, "if exist %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\*.shd del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\*.shd /Q"
    Print #iFileNo, "if exist %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\*.spl del %systemroot%\System32\spool\printers\*.spl /Q"
    Print #iFileNo, "net start spooler"
    Print #iFileNo, ":END"
    Print #iFileNo, "exit"
  
    'Close the file
CLOSEFILE:
    Close #iFileNo
    On Error GoTo 0
  End If


End Sub

Sub SpawnClearPrintQueueDotBatFileAsAdministrator()
  'This tests running a program using 'Administrator' privileges.
  'If UAC is turned on, the user has to AGREEE to run as administrator.

  Const sFile = "ClearPrintQueue.bat"
  
  Dim sPath As String
  Dim sPathAndFile As String
  
  'Get the path
  sPath = ThisWorkbook.Path & "\"
  
  'Create the full path and file name
  sPathAndFile = sPath & sFile
  
  Call LjmRunAsAdministrator(sPathAndFile)
  
End Sub

Sub LjmRunAsAdministrator(sPathAndFileName As String)
  'This will run a file as 'Administrator'
  '
  'NOTE: 'ShellExecute' must be declared as an Alias to library to "shell32.dll"

  ShellExecute 0, "runas", sPathAndFileName, Command & "/admin", vbNullString, vbNormalFocus
  
End Sub

I tried this, based on a similar example I found:

Const SW_SHOW = 1
Const SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED = 3

Public Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "Shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" _
  (ByVal hwnd As Long, _
   ByVal lpOperation As String, _
   ByVal lpFile As String, _
   ByVal lpParameters As String, _
   ByVal lpDirectory As String, _
   ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long

Sub RunYourProgram()
  Dim RetVal As Long
 ' On Error Resume Next
  RetVal = ShellExecute(0, "open", "C:\Program Files (x86)\Evernote\Skitch\Skitch.exe ", "C:\Users\Work\Pictures\ACOF logo.png", _
                        "C:\Users\Work\Pictures", SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED)

' This does open Skitch but it doesn't open the picture. That's what happened with Shell. I think its still not Elevated.



End Sub

However, it once again opens Skitch with a "new" image, not the one I specified, which suggests that it's not Elevating.

Is there something missing from my code that would Elevate it?

When the app is running, is there a way to confirm that it's running Elevated?

Thanks again.

The following worked for me:

Sub RunYourProgramAsAdministrator2()
  
  ShellExecute 0, "runas", "C:\Windows\System32\Notepad.exe", "C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Lew\WindowsBatchFiles\ExcelAndVba\x.txt", "", SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED

End Sub

Vista asks me if I want to run this program as Administrator. The only way around the prompt that I know of on Vista is to turn UAC off and reboot the computer.

The following is the Microsoft specs with 'runas' undocumented:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...=vs.85%29.aspx

See also:
http://ss64.com/vb/shellexecute.html

The ss64 link states:

The runas verb is undocumented but can be used to elevate permissions. When a script is run with elevated permissions several aspects of the user environment may change: The current directory, the current TEMP folder and any mapped drives will be disconnected.

Lewis

When I do that, it asks me for permission to run, so I know it's running Elevated. Thanks.

Unfortuantley, having the picture open still seems to only work part of the time. Sometimes it opens a picture I viewed in a previous session! This means my problem is something else entirely.




Thanks again!