#DDE System Topic Call
5 messages in this thread
VB Prog Guide alleges on p355 that a DDE call to a topic named "System" in
a well behaved Windows app will return info from that app on topics it
supports, data formats, etc.
I've tried using X.LinkTopic = "Winword|System" but get only error 285
(foreign app won't perform method) in response. Has anyone figured this one
out? Sample code will be appreciated.
I've checked VB, Word, and Word Tech Ref manuals. Also tried the MSKB, but
have found no examples. Speaking of the MSKB, their DDE examples use "]"
instead of the "|" shown in the VB manuals. When I try "]" I get error 380
(invalid propery value). What gives?
Thanks.
There is 1 Reply.
Hi Ken,
I have a couple questions for you to answer about the DDE problem.
1. Is WinWord already running, or have you 'Shelled' it so it
is running?
2. Is the X.LinkItem also set to 'Topics' for the control to
which you are linking?
I've done more links to Excel than WinWord, but I got a link to WinWord
topics successfully using the same code and substituting 'WinWord' for
'Excel'. I have uploaded a file called VBXLDE.ZIP which is in DL1. It has
code that may be of use to you, and if not I can send you some other
things, just let me know. Here's a sample.
X.LinkTopic = "WinWord|System"
X.LinkItem = "Topics"
X.LinkMode = 2 'cold
X.LinkRequest
Try this with a TextBox that has MultiLine set to true. You should see
System
Path + NORMAL.DOT
Path + Open Doc (if a DOC is open)
Let me know how things turn out.
–Gregg
There is 1 Reply.
Gregg-
X.LinkItem = "Topics" did the trick.
The VB manual says a topic named "System" is supported, but says nothing
(that I see) about an *Item* named "Topics". Where did you find that the
correct LinkItem value is "Topics"?
Also, what's the deal with "]" vs "|" in the DDE examples in the MSKB (that
I described in my previous message)? Just a char translation in the upload
or do they really mean "]"?
THANKS 🙂
There are 2 Replies.
Ken,
There appears to be a translation problem in the Knowledge Base where all |
chars are translated into ] chars. Sometimes I wonder if MS is aware of
this problem because it's fairly serious when it comes to things like DDE
which use the | character quite a bit.
– Ted
Ken-
<Where did you find that the correct LinkItem value is "Topics"? >
I attended the MS development conference in August and one of the
presentations brought it to light.
<Also, what's the deal with "]" vs "|">
I don't know, but I'm sure they mean "|" because that's been working for me
so far. Maybe I'll plug "]" into a working code example and see if it
breaks it.
Glad I could help.
–Gregg