XL2000: How to Find Open Programs That Are DDE-Capable

In Microsoft Excel, you can discover which of your currently open programs are capable of dynamic data exchange (DDE) by using the DDEInitiate method in a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro.

You can display a DDE dialog box that lists all of the open programs and topics to which Excel can open a DDE channel.

TIP: You can then use the DDEExecute method to send commands to another program.

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To create a Visual Basic macro that you can use to list all of the open programs to which Excel can open a DDE channel, follow these steps:

1. Start Excel, and then press ALT+F11 to start the Visual Basic Editor.
2. On the Insert menu, click Module.
3. In the module sheet, type the following sample code:

   SUB Initiate_DDE ()
      ChanNum = Application.DDEInitiate("", "")
   End Sub
   					

4. Press ALT+F11 to return to Excel.
5. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.
6. In the Macro name list, click Initiate_DDE, and then click Run. A dialog box appears with a list of all of the open programs to which Excel can open a DDE channel.

For more information about the DDEInitiate method, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type ddeinitiate method in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

For more information about the DDEExecute method, in the Visual Basic Editor, click Microsoft Visual Basic Help on the Help menu, type ddeexecute method in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.