Public Enum ShellExMask
      SEE_MASK_DEFAULT = &H0
      SEE_MASK_CLASSNAME = &H1
      SEE_MASK_CLASSKEY = &H3
      SEE_MASK_IDLIST = &H4
      SEE_MASK_INVOKEIDLIST = &HC
      SEE_MASK_ICON = &H10
      SEE_MASK_HOTKEY = &H20
      SEE_MASK_NOCLOSEPROCESS = &H40
      SEE_MASK_CONNECTNETDRV = &H80
      SEE_MASK_NOASYNC = &H100
      SEE_MASK_DOENVSUBST = &H200
      SEE_MASK_FLAG_NO_UI = &H400
      SEE_MASK_UNICODE = &H4000
      SEE_MASK_NO_CONSOLE = &H8000
      SEE_MASK_ASYNCOK = &H100000
      SEE_MASK_HMONITOR = &H200000
      SEE_MASK_NOZONECHECKS = &H800000
      SEE_MASK_WAITFORINPUTIDLE = &H2000000
      SEE_MASK_FLAG_LOG_USAGE = &H4000000
      SEE_MASK_FLAG_HINST_IS_SITE = &H8000000
   End Enum
   
   Type SHELLEXECUTEINFO
      cbSize As Long
      fMask As Long
      hwnd As Long
      lpVerb As String
      lpFile As String
      lpParameters As String
      lpDirectory As String
      nShow As Long
      hInstApp As Long
      lpIDList As Long
      lpClass As String
      hkeyClass As Long
      dwHotKey As Long
      hIcon As Long
      hProcess As Long
   End Type
   
   Public Declare Function ShellExecuteEx Lib "shell32.dll" _
   (lpExecInfo As SHELLEXECUTEINFO) As Long

Public Function KeyboardOpen()
  Dim shInfo As SHELLEXECUTEINFO

   With shInfo
      .cbSize = Len(shInfo)
      .lpFile = "C:\Windows\Sysnative\cmd.exe" 'best to use Known folders here
      .lpParameters = "/c start osk.exe"
      .lpDirectory = "C:\windows\system32" 'best to use Known folders here
      .lpVerb = "open"
      '.fMask = ShellExMask.SEE_MASK_INVOKEIDLIST 'or ShellExMask.SEE_MASK_NO_CONSOLE 'tried using masks, but they either had no effect or crashed Access
      .nShow = 0
   End With
   Call ShellExecuteEx(shInfo)
End Function