Microsoft KB Archive/113270

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PRJ: Err Msg: "Cannot Run 'WINPROJ.EXE'" Using DDE Initiate

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Q113270

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Project for Windows, versions 3.0, 3.0a, 4.0

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SYMPTOMS
If you use the DDE Initiate command to run Microsoft Project from Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word for Windows, and Project is not running, you receive one of the following error messages:

Microsoft Excel
Cannot run 'WINPROJ.EXE'. The program or one of its components is damaged or missing.

-or-

Microsoft Word for Windows
Cannot initiate link

CAUSE
If Microsoft Project is not included in the PATH statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, you receive one of the error messages listed above when you use the DDE Initiate command in a Microsoft Excel macro or a Word for Windows macro when Project is not running.

NOTE: When you install Microsoft Project version 3.0 or 4.0, the application does not get added to the PATH statement in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

WORKAROUNDS
To start or activate and send commands to Microsoft Project from another application without receiving the error messages listed above, do any of the following:


 * Start Microsoft Project before running the DDE Initiate command.
 * Include the directory in which you installed Microsoft Project in the PATH statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
 * If you are starting and sending commands to Microsoft Project version 4.0, from an application that uses Visual Basic (Standard, Professional, or Applications Edition), such as Microsoft Excel version 5.0, you can access Microsoft Project as an OLE Automation object without first starting Microsoft Project, and without including Project in the PATH statement.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior
NOTE: The following steps assume that Microsoft Project is not running and is not included in the PATH statement.

 Start Microsoft Excel version 5.0. In a new Macro sheet, enter the following:

'''A1: Run_Project

A2: channel=INITIATE("winproj","system")

A3: =EXECUTE(channel,"Alerts .Show=[No]")

A4: =TERMINATE(channel)

A5: =RETURN''' Select cell A1, and choose Name from the Insert menu, and then choose Define. Under Macro, select the Command option, and choose OK.  From the Tools menu, choose Macro. From the Macro Name/Reference list, select Run_Project and choose Run.

The following message appears:

Remote data not accessible. Start application 'WINPROJ.EXE'?

  Choose Yes.

The following error message appears:

Cannot run 'WINPROJ.EXE'. The program or one of its components is damaged or missing.

