You can use the DDE EXECUTE statement to send commands for the DDE server to execute, as shown in Initiatinga conversation. Typically, you send server commands in a conversation opened for the System topic of the server application. However, the server might support commands for any topic that it provides. For example, Excel lets you select a range of cells (data items) in a worksheet topic. In effect, server commands are data items that it executes when sent with the DDE EXECUTE statement. For a more complete example of this type of exchange, see ClosingDDE conversations.

The System topic for your server application might also provide other data items that you can read or set using request and send exchanges. These data items typically provide server options or status information to the client.