DDE (EXCEL) Question in Forms 6i

Question

Hello,
I need to open excel for showing some data from one table.
I wanted to do it with DDE (I believed it would be better ??), so I've done this procedure:
PROCEDURE show_excel IS
ConvID PLS_INTEGER;
BEGIN
CONVID:=DDE.Initiate('EXCEL.EXE', 'C:\abc.xls');
END;
but this always have the same answer :
106556 - non-ORACLE exception
how could I open a new worksheet and show the data I want to ??
Thanks.

Answer 1

Hellow Henry,
Please check the following Procedures:
Procedure Launch_Excel IS
appl_name VARCHAR2(255);
BEGIN
IF :GLOBAL.application_id IS NOT NULL THEN
MESSAGE('Application is already running.');
ELSE
appl_name := 'C:\MSOffice\Excel\EXCEL.EXE';
:GLOBAL.application_id := DDE.APP_BEGIN(appl_name, DDE.APP_MODE_NORMAL);
END IF;
EXCEPTION
WHEN DDE.DDE_APP_FAILURE THEN
MESSAGE('Could not launch application for DDE operations.');
RAISE FORM_TRIGGER_FAILURE;
WHEN OTHERS THEN
MESSAGE('Error: '| |TO_CHAR(SQLCODE)| |' '| |SQLERRM);
RAISE FORM_TRIGGER_FAILURE;
END Launch_Excel;
PROCEDURE Open_Channel IS
IF :GLOBAL.channel_id IS NOT NULL THEN
MESSAGE('Communication channel already established.');
ELSIF :GLOBAL.application_id IS NULL THEN
MESSAGE('Application must be launched first.');
ELSE
:GLOBAL.channel_id := DDE.INITIATE('EXCEL', 'BOOK1');
END IF;
EXCEPTION
WHEN DDE.DDE_INIT_FAILED THEN
MESSAGE('Could not initialize DDE communication channel.');
RAISE FORM_TRIGGER_FAILURE;
WHEN DDE.DMLERR_NO_CONV_ESTABLISHED THEN
MESSAGE('Could not establish DDE communication channel.');
RAISE FORM_TRIGGER_FAILURE;
WHEN OTHERS THEN
MESSAGE('Error: '| |TO_CHAR(SQLCODE)| |' '| |SQLERRM);
RAISE FORM_TRIGGER_FAILURE;
END Open_Channel;
Procedure Close_Channel IS
channel_id PLS_INTEGER;
BEGIN
IF :GLOBAL.channel_id IS NULL THEN
MESSAGE('No communication channels are open at this time.');
ELSE
channel_id := TO_NUMBER(:GLOBAL.channel_id);
DDE.TERMINATE(channel_id);
:GLOBAL.channel_id := NULL;
END IF;
EXCEPTION
WHEN OTHERS THEN
MESSAGE('Error: '| |TO_CHAR(SQLCODE)| |' '| |SQLERRM);
RAISE FORM_TRIGGER_FAILURE;
END;
Procedure Close_Excel IS
application_id PLS_INTEGER;
BEGIN
IF :GLOBAL.application_id IS NULL THEN
MESSAGE('Cannot terminate an instance that is not initiated by this application.');
ELSE
application_id := TO_NUMBER(:GLOBAL.application_id);
DDE.APP_FOCUS(application_id);
DDE.APP_END(application_id);
:GLOBAL.application_id := NULL;
:GLOBAL.channel_id := NULL;
END IF;
EXCEPTION
WHEN DDE.DDE_APP_NOT_FOUND THEN
MESSAGE('Could not find application for DDE operations.');
RAISE FORM_TRIGGER_FAILURE;
WHEN OTHERS THEN
MESSAGE('Error: '| |TO_CHAR(SQLCODE)| |' '| |SQLERRM);
RAISE FORM_TRIGGER_FAILURE;
END;
Procedure Exit_Form IS
application_id PLS_INTEGER;
BEGIN
IF :GLOBAL.application_id IS NOT NULL THEN
application_id := TO_NUMBER(:GLOBAL.application_id);
DDE.APP_FOCUS(application_id);
DDE.APP_END(application_id);
END IF;
EXIT_FORM;
EXCEPTION
WHEN DDE.DDE_APP_NOT_FOUND THEN
MESSAGE('Could not find application for DDE operations.');
RAISE FORM_TRIGGER_FAILURE;
WHEN OTHERS THEN
MESSAGE('Error: '| |TO_CHAR(SQLCODE)| |' '| |SQLERRM);
RAISE FORM_TRIGGER_FAILURE;
END Exit_Form;
How To use them:
1-In The First Procedure you have to use the path
of ur own app, ex: Excel.
2-To determine the Path all the time
without troubles use the following
PLL File in
C:\orant\TOOLS\DEVDEM60\DEMO\FORMS
File Name: "D2KWUTIL.PLL"
There are some Functions to read/write
registry.
3-Insert intp "Pre-Form" Trigger:
:GLOBAL.application_id := NULL;
:GLOBAL.channel_id := NULL;
4-Once u have launched App, then
Initiate it, using Open_Channel.
5-When Finished, close both channel
and App. to save resources.
6-Excel Registry Entry is at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
|_Software
|_Microsoft
|_Office
|_9.0 --> (for Office 2k)
|_Excel
|_InstallRoot
Look for the Entry "Path".
7-Proc "Exit_Form" isa provided to check if
the Excelinstance is opened by ur app.
And That's It.
However, I do not Recommen d using DDE,
instead u may use "Com Automation".
Hope this Helps,
Tariq
null