open PDF file from query.

[p-rat]

I have an Access front-end and a sql server back-end. One of my data
entry forms is for jobs that we do. We also scan these jobs.
These .pdf files are located on my company's network.

What I would like to have happen is that the files be named by Job
Number such as 10001.pdf. I would like to give the user the ability
from the switchboard to click on 'View Job PDF' button which in turn
opens a form that asks the user "What Job Number?". The user would
type in 10001 and then the application would find the file and open it
up for the user to see or print, etc.

I've read a bit about hyperlink and attachments (access 2007), but I
don't think that would give me what I want. I did add a field on my
back end table named 'link' (varchar(255) NULL), but I could never get
the data type in Access to change to type Hyperlink because of it
being a linked table. I'm willing to try this any number of ways, but
don't want file size to be a problem on back-end. Would rather just be
able to have the application point to and open a file from my network.

Would anyone know how to accomplish this? This is new to me and I'd
appreciate any guidance. Thanks.

 

[RDub]

Have a look at the ShellExecute API function

http://www.mvps.org/access/api/api0018.htm

Rdub

 

[p-rat]

I've seen this, but don't understand it. Not a vba guy so the coding
is greek to me. Could someone explain this?