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DDE - getting started.

I'm trying to get started on writing some DEE apps but have not found much doc. on this topic in VC++. Can someone give me some sample code to get started, say to communicate with excel and pass some variables to and from excel from my app. I'm not sure how many points this would be worth as I do not know the complexity of such a task in VC++, so I'll start off low at 50.

Malek103197

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Edited text of question.

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chensu

To communicate with Excel, DDE is not recommended. You should use Automation instead. Anyway, DDEML documentation is in the Platform SDK. See online version at

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/sdkdoc/winbase/ddemlib_743d.htm

And there are a lot of technical articles about DDE in the MSDN Library. Go to MSDN Online Library (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/), see the Technical Articles\Windows Platform\Base Services\DDE

You can also search Microsoft KB article for Excel AND DDE at http://search.microsoft.com/us/dev/.

If you want to do Automation, check out the Compiler COM Support samples that come with Visual C++. And

Automating Office with VC++: Knowledge Base Articles
http://www.microsoft.com/officedev/tips/autovc.htm

Office Automation with MFC
http://support.microsoft.com/support/officedev/mfckb.asp

mrmzxwfl

Make a new class.It can base on MFC or not.
In the new class, you can proceeding DDE routine.
I have done this before.

Malek103197

ASKER

For VCGuru:

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I've tried implementing the code you provided and have been reading up on the DDEML, however, I did not make it to first base. I placed the following function you provided in the InitInstance and got an "Unrecognized command", do I need to place a specific #include statement ?

Did not recognize this function:
DdeInitialize(&pidInst,NULL,APPCMD_CLIENTONLY,0);

thanks

Malek103197

ASKER

For VCGuru,

Ignore that last comment, I discovered I needed to #include "Ddeml.h"

Malek103197

ASKER

For VCGuru,

Thanks for the help. One thing I find difficult is translating the interactive commandsm, say in progman, to instructional commands from my VC++ code (eg. AddItem(C:/WINDOWS/CALC.EXE, Calculator)) how do i know to pass 2 variables and how would i know to pass the working directory and the Name?

Malek103197

ASKER

For VCGuru,
A basic question. I have a dialog based app. called MyProg. I wish to pop up a MessageBox in a the InitInstance of MyProgApp. I've tried using the AfxMessageBox("Connction Failed"); but it does not get launched. Any ideas?

Thanks