Opening non-FMP files

[VicMasters]

How would one script to open an exterior msword file with a button within a database. Unfortunately, scipting to a url is not an option, as the msword file has to be located in a specific area.

[danjacoby]

As "DDE Execute" is only available on Windows, if you're on a Mac (as your icon suggests), I suggest using AppleScript.

Frankly, I don't know AppleScript (never had a need for it, as almost all my clients are Windows-based), so I don't know if you'd have the same problem with defining a pathname. But it seems to me that no matter what you do, you'll have the same problem -- computers are literal-minded and stupid; they can only do exactly what they're told to do.

[DykstrL]

You could also use 'Set DDE Execute' to open a Word file - but you will still have the same problem - either the file will need to be placed in the current active folder, or you will have to specify a specific path to the file.

[VicMasters]

It also turns out that you can use the 'send message' script to send an open file message to the cpu. If the database and file are both on a shared space, anyone can open the file.

thanks all