(Windows only)
Creates (instantiates) an ActiveX Automation object based on a specified Automation Server connection.
Connection option | Server execution status | Connection behavior |
---|---|---|
1. Option omitted | Running | Creates a new instance of the Automation object identified by expression1. Launches a new instance of the Server for top-level Automation objects (like Excel.Application). |
Not running | Launches a new instance of the Server, then creates a new instance of the Automation object identified by expression1. Often, both the new Server and the new Automation object instance are invisibly created. | |
2. CONNECT | Running | Connects to an active (instantiated) Automation object identified by expression1. Works for top-level Automation objects only. For example, this works for Excel.Application but fails for Excel.Sheet and Excel.Chart, which are both lower-level Automation objects. |
Not running | Invalid. Always returns an error. | |
3. CONNECT TO expression2 | Running | Creates or connects to an Automation object specified by
expression1 that is associated with the file specified by
the pathname in expression2. If more than one instance of
the Server is running, this option randomly selects one (generally, the first
one started). If the specified file is already open within the selected
Server, this option connects to the Automation object that is instantiated for
that file. If the file is not already open in the selected Server, this option
opens the file and instantiates the specified Automation object for it. If the specified file is already open in a different instance of the Server, this option fails with a "File in Use" error. This option also fails if the expression2 does not specify a valid file. |
Not running | Creates a new instance of an Automation object specified by
expression1 that is associated with the file specified by
the pathname in expression2. This option starts a new
instance of the Server and instantiates the Automation object for the class
that is initialized from the contents of the file. Often, the new Server, as
well as the new Automation object, are invisibly created. This option fails if expression2 does not specify a valid file. |
|
4. CONNECT TO expression2 WHERE expression1 = "" | Running | Creates or connects to an Automation object that is associated with the file
specified by the pathname in expression2. This option
determines the identity of the Server (and hence the Automation object) from
the file extension given in expression2. If more than one
instance of the Server is running, this option randomly selects one
(generally, the first one started). If the specified file is already open
within the selected Server, this option connects to the Automation object that
is instantiated for that file. If the file is not already open in the selected
Server, this option opens the file and instantiates the specified Automation
object for it. If the specified file is already open in a different instance of the Server, this option fails with a "File in Use" error. This option also fails if the expression2 does not specify a valid file. |
Not running | Creates a new instance of an Automation object that is associated with the file
specified by the pathname in expression2. This option
determines the identity of the Server (and hence the Automation object) from
the file extension given in expression2. This option starts
a new instance of the Server and instantiates the Automation object for the
class that is initialized from the contents of the file. Often, the new
Server, as well as the new Automation object, are invisibly created. This option fails if expression2 does not specify a valid file. |
To check for errors after a statement that uses the NO-ERROR option:
If the statement does not include the NO-ERROR option, you can use a CATCH end block to handle errors raised by the statement.
Some other important usage notes on the NO-ERROR option:
The following procedure demonstrates several Automation object instantiations using the four basic connection options. It tries all of the options with the Microsoft® Excel Automation Server. Note that not all Automation Servers support all options. For example in Office 95, there is no Automation object for PowerPoint presentations. Thus, the file connection option (Option 3 in Table 1) does not work.
r-crea.p
/* Demonstration of connecting to an Automation Object in Excel using the different connection options. */ DEFINE VARIABLE curDir AS CHARACTER NO-UNDO. DEFINE VARIABLE cEditor AS CHARACTER NO-UNDO VIEW-AS EDITOR SIZE 63 BY 1 LABEL "Result:" FONT 2. DEFINE VARIABLE wordAppl AS COM-HANDLE NO-UNDO. DEFINE BUTTON bExit LABEL "Exit" SIZE 16 BY 1.25 AUTO-GO. DEFINE BUTTON bStart LABEL "Option 1 - Start Excel" SIZE 32 BY 1.25 . DEFINE BUTTON bConnect LABEL "Option 2 - Connect to Active" SIZE 32 BY 1.25. DEFINE BUTTON bConPerFile LABEL "Option 3 - Connect per File" SIZE 32 BY 1.25. DEFINE BUTTON bConnectMon LABEL "Option 4 - Connect by Extension" SIZE 32 BY 1.25. ASSIGN FILE-INFO:FILE-NAME = "." curDir = FILE-INFO:FULL-PATHNAME. FORM cEditor SKIP(0.5) bStart SPACE bConnect SPACE bConPerFile SPACE bConnectMon SKIP(0.5) bExit WITH FRAME a VIEW-AS DIALOG-BOX THREE-D FONT 6. FRAME a:TITLE = "Testing CREATE Automation Object Statement". ENABLE ALL WITH FRAME a. ON CHOOSE OF bStart IN FRAME a DO: /* Option 1: CREATE expression1 Com-Handle-Var. */ DEFINE VARIABLE excelAppl AS COM-HANDLE NO-UNDO. CREATE "Excel.Application" excelAppl. excelAppl:Visible = TRUE. excelAppl:Workbooks:Add. excelAppl:Range("A1"):Value = "testing CREATE". ASSIGN cEditor:SCREEN-VALUE = STRING(excelAppl:Range("A1"):Value). RELEASE OBJECT excelAppl. END. ON CHOOSE OF bConnect IN FRAME a DO: /* Option 2: CREATE expression1 Com-Handle-Var CONNECT. */ DEFINE VARIABLE excelAppl AS COM-HANDLE NO-UNDO. CREATE "Excel.Application" excelAppl CONNECT. excelAppl:Range("A2"):Value = "testing CONNECT". MESSAGE "Click me to continue!" VIEW-AS ALERT-BOX. ASSIGN cEditor:SCREEN-VALUE = STRING(excelAppl:Range("A2"):Value). excelAppl:Workbooks:Item(1):SaveAs(curDir + "\yyy.xls"). excelAppl:Quit(). RELEASE OBJECT excelAppl. END. ON CHOOSE OF bConPerFile IN FRAME a DO: /* Option 3: CREATE expression1 Com-Handle-Var CONNECT TO expression2. */ DEFINE VARIABLE excelAppl AS COM-HANDLE NO-UNDO. DEFINE VARIABLE cFileName AS CHARACTER NO-UNDO INITIAL "\WorkSheets\Xplan.xls". CREATE "Excel.Sheet" excelAppl CONNECT TO cFileName. excelAppl:Visible = TRUE. excelAppl:Workbooks:Add. excelAppl:Range("A3"):Value = "testing CONNECT TO". ASSIGN cEditor:SCREEN-VALUE = STRING(excelAppl:Range("A3"):Value). RELEASE OBJECT excelAppl. END. ON CHOOSE OF bConnectMon IN FRAME a DO: /* Option 4: CREATE "" Com-Handle-Var CONNECT TO expression2. */ DEFINE VARIABLE excelAppl AS COM-HANDLE NO-UNDO. DEFINE VARIABLE cFileName AS CHARACTER NO-UNDO INITIAL "\WorkSheets\Xplan.xls". CREATE "" excelAppl CONNECT TO cFileName. excelAppl:Range("A4"):Value = "testing CONNECT TO where expression1 = ''". MESSAGE "Click me to continue!" VIEW-AS ALERT-BOX. ASSIGN cEditor:SCREEN-VALUE = STRING(excelAppl:Range("A4"):Value). excelAppl:Workbooks:Item(1):SaveAs(curDir + "\zzz.xls"). excelAppl:Quit(). RELEASE OBJECT excelAppl. END. |