Microsoft® Office Access 2007 VBA

Chapter 24. Using the Windows API

IN THIS CHAPTER

Declaring API Calls 359

Using API Calls 360

API Calls You Can Use from Access 362

Knowing When to Use the Windows API 364

Case Study: Capturing a Filename to Use for Processing 365

Declaring API Calls

One function of an operating system such as Windows is to act as an interface between productivity applications, such as Microsoft Office, and the system hardware. Windows makes the programmer’s job easier because she doesn’t have to write code to control the printer or to control how the screen displays what she needs the user to see. Instead, the programmer just needs to tell Windows what she wants Windows to do, and Windows handles the translation to the hardware.

This means a programmer can use ...