Reading text files without .txt extensions

I'm working with output files from an in-house finite element program and the solution files are just text files with custom extensions (.bms, .loadcase, .spc, etc.). I'm trying to read these into dictionaries, but I'm having issues getting into the files.

If I navigate to the files outside of VBA, i get the "program not found, please select a program to open with" or whatever it says. If I do this once with NotePad, it's in the system memory and I can then access the one file through VBA, but this would be inefficient to do with almost hundreds of files.

I'd like this to run without opening NotePad, like running an FSO stream or Open...For method.

Currently I'm looping through an output folder containing all the files until I find a specific extension, then attempting to read like this

Code:

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file = dir(dataform.file1) 'user selects a file in the root folder with getopenfilename

do while file <> ""
  if instr(file, ".bms") > 0 then
    open file for Random as #1  ''''''''Kicks me out here''''''''''
    'do things with awesome code
  end if
  file = dir
loop

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Any input is appreciated, thanks!

khu

Code:

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open "G:\OF\Filename.bms" for input as #1
      c00=Input(LOF(1),1)
close

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If there's more than one .bms file, I don't think it'll like using #1 again unless #1 is closed first.
Check out Freefile in excel vba help.

Quote:

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If I do this once with NotePad, it's in the system memory

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I'm not sure why you need to open it with Notepad first since VBA doesn't really care

Code:

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Dim iFileNum as long

file = dir(dataform.file1) 'user selects a file in the root folder with getopenfilename
 
Do While[/COLOR] file <> ""
    If instr(file, ".bms") > 0 Then
        iFileNum=FreeFile
        Open file ForRandom As #iFileNum
          'do things with awesome code
        Close #Ifilename


    Else instr(file, ".load") > 0 Then
        iFileNum=FreeFile
        Open file For Random As #iFileNum
          'do things with awesome code
        Close #Ifilename


        etc.


    End If
    file = dir
Loop

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