Smartview HypConnect VBA issue

Question

Hi Forum,
I am have created a Smartview based Excel spreadsheet that I would like to connect and retrieve data using a macro enabled button. I am able to successfully create a connection to the database using HypCreateConnection, but I am unable to get HypConnect to associate the sheet and connect to the database without hardcoding the username and password in quotation marks within the code as below;
X = HypConnect(Empty, "Admin", "Password", "EssConnect")
If I just use quotation marks, as below (which I believe should open the connection manager and prompt the user to sign in to the application), I get the return message that there is no connection (Error -4) and no connection manager opens up. This would be the prefered method to utilise security.
X = HypConnect(Empty, "", "", "EssConnect")
If I use a variable, or leave the login credentials without the quotation marks, as below, I get the same return message (Error -4). Incidently, the documentation is in the format of without the quotation marks.
X = HypConnect(Empty, vtUserName, vtPassword, "EssConnect")
I am using 11.1.2 with Excel 2003. Is this a bug or have I missed something fundamental? I have attached my full code below for scrutiny;
Sub Test()
Dim vtUserName As String
Dim vtPassWord As String
Dim X As Long
vtUserName = Sheet1.Range("B1").Text
vtUserName = Sheet1.Range("B2").Text
X = HypCreateConnection(Empty, vtUserName, vtPassword, HYP_ESSBASE, "[URL as provided]", "[Server as provided]", "Applicaton", "Database", "EssConnect", "EssConnect")
X = HypConnect(Empty, vtUserName, vtPassword, "EssConnect")
X = HypRetrieve(Empty)
End Sub
Please note that I used Sheet1("B2") to type the username and Sheet1("B3") to type the password.
I would appreciate any help you may provide.

Answer 1

HypConnect will never show UI. It is up to you to build a UI if you want that kind of interactivity with the user. With that said here is what options I think you have.
1 - Build a UI and pass the user name and password properly to the HypConnect call. If you get an error then you need to tell the user to try again.
2 - Use the HypMenuVConnect() VBA this will show the Smart View panel where the user can proceed to connect. Once connected you can run the rest of your code. You can use HypConnected() to determine if they are connected.
3 - Ask the user to make the connection using the SV UI and then run you code.
Hope that helps.