Binaryworld - Launch the default browser on a given URL ... [ VB -> Internet ]

The following routine launches the default browser and loads the specified URL in it. The argument doesn't have to include the HTTP:// prefix. If the operation is successful it returns True.

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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

' Open the default browser on a given URL
' Returns True if successful, False otherwise

Public Function OpenBrowser(ByVal URL As String) As Boolean
  Dim res As Long

  ' it is mandatory that the URL is prefixed with http:// or https://
  If InStr(1, URL, "http", vbTextCompare) <> 1 Then
    URL = "http://" & URL
  End If

  res = ShellExecute(0&, "open", URL, vbNullString, vbNullString, _
    vbNormalFocus)
  OpenBrowser = (res > 32)
End Function