Microsoft KB Archive/138723

= XL7: Code to Access MS Excel Does Not Work in Version 7.0 =

Article ID: 138723

Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q138723





SYMPTOMS
In earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, you can create Visual Basic or C/C++ code to allow another application to access a currently running instance of Microsoft Excel. To do this, you use code similar to the code in the following examples:

VB Code Example
Dim myExcelApp As Object Set myExcelApp = GetObject(, "Excel.Application")

C/C++ Code Example
LPOLESTR  lpszProgID = OLESTR("Excel.Application"); LPUNKNOWN pUnk; if (FAILED(CLSIDFromProgID(lpszProgID, &clsid))) return; HRESULT hr =GetActiveObject(clsid,NULL,pUnk); This code will not work with Microsoft Excel version 7.0, even if Microsoft Excel is running.



CAUSE
Earlier versions of Microsoft Excel register the application object in the OLE RunningObjectTable (ROT) on startup. This registration occurs under all circumstances, regardless of whether Microsoft Excel is started by OLE. However, Microsoft Excel 7.0 does not register the application object in the ROT on startup by default.



STATUS
This change in Microsoft Excel 7.0 is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
Microsoft Excel 7.0 DOES register itself in the ROT in the following situations:


 * When it's started by OLE; that is, when a client calls CoCreateInstance, CoGetClassObject, or CreateInstance.
 * When a module is inserted in one of the workbooks.
 * When a WM_USER+18 message is sent to the Main window of Microsoft Excel.

The following VB 4.0 and C/C++ code samples show how to use the WM_USER+18 option to get an OLE Automation object from an already running instance of Excel.

Sample VB Code
Private Declare Function FindWindowA lib "User32" (byval sClass as String, byval xTitle as long) as long

Private Declare Function SendMessageA lib "User32" (byval hwnd as long, byval msg as long, byval wParam as long, byval lParam as long) as long

Private const WM_USER = 1024 Dim myExcelApp As Object

sub KickExcel dim hwnd as long

hwnd = FindWindowA("XLMAIN", 0) if hwnd = 0 then msgbox "No instances of Excel running?" exit sub endif SendMessageA hwnd, WM_USER + 18, 0, 0 Set myExcelApp = GetObject(, "Excel.Application") end sub

Sample C/C++ Code
LPOLESTR  lpszProgID = OLESTR("Excel.Application"); LPUKNOWN pUnk; HWND hExcelMainWnd =0; hExcelMainWnd = FindWindow("XLMAIN",NULL); if(!hExcelMainWnd) MessageBox(NULL,"No instances of Excel running?","Error",MB_OK); SendMessage(hExcelMainWnd,WM_USER + 18, 0, 0); if (FAILED(CLSIDFromProgID(lpszProgID, &clsid))) return; HRESULT hr =GetActiveObject(clsid,NULL,pUnk);

Additional query words: kbinf launched

Keywords: kbnoupdate KB138723

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