'This example lets you start any program or batch file through the MS-DOS prompt. 
'The example requires that msvcrt.dll is installed on the system. 
'It also requires that you have a batch file named c:\mybatch.bat that does some processing. 
'Here is how you do it:
'1. create a new project. Choose a standard EXE project.
'2. The project will automatically create a new form.
'3. Add a button to the form. It will automatically be called command1.
'4. Change the caption value of command1 to: Launch batch file.
'5. Add a .bas module. 
'6. Add this code to the new .bas module:

Option Explicit

Public Declare Function system Lib "msvcrt.dll" (ByVal sCommand As String) As Long

'7. Add this code to the command1_click() function 
'(You can open the function by doubleclicking on the command1 button)

Private Sub Command1_Click()
   Dim lTmp As Long
   On Error Resume Next
   lTmp = system("c:\mybatch.bat")
   On Error GoTo 0
   MsgBox "The batch file has terminated! You can now continue the rest of your processing"
End Sub