Using DDE to Run a Word for Windows Macro from Access

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0

SUMMARY

This article describes a very simple example of using dynamic data exchange (DDE) to execute a Word for Windows macro from Microsoft Access. The example in this article has very little error checking and assumes a working knowledge of both products.

MORE INFORMATION

The commands used--DDEInitiate, DDEExecute--are very similar between Word and Microsoft Access, so the process should be familiar if you have worked with DDE using Word. One of the challenges of getting this process to work properly is that the command string for running a macro that is sent to Word for Windows is syntactically rigid. The syntax for the macro command in the DDE conversation must be:

   [ToolsMacro .Name = "Macroname", Run]

   c$="[ToolsMacro .Name="+chr$(34)+"macroname"+chr$(34)+", .Run]"

   q$ is defined as ASCII character 34, which is the quotation mark.

   mn$ is the name of the macro that is to be run.

   tm$ is the beginning of the ToolsMacro string, and tme$ is the end of
   that string.

1. In Microsoft Access create a sample database called DDEtest.

2. In this database create a new module called DDEExample.

3. In this module create a new function called runmacro(). The code for runmacro is:

   Function runmacro ()

       Dim chan As Variant
       On Error GoTo Cantstart:
       Macrochan = DDEInitiate("Winword", "System")
       q$ = Chr$(34)
       mn$ = "Amacro"
       tm$ = "[ToolsMacro .name ="
       tme$ = ", .Run]"
   

       cmd$ = tm$ + q$ + mn$ + q$ + tme$
   

       DDEExecute Macrochan, cmd$
       DDETerminate Macrochan
   

   Exit Function

   Cantstart:

       MsgBox "Problem with DDEInitiate"
       Resume Next
   

   End Function

4. Create a Microsoft Access form with a single push button labeled Start that has an Onpush property of "=RunMacro()" (without the quotation marks).

5. Create a Word for Windows macro called "Amacro." For example:

      Sub Main
       Filenewdefault
       Insert "This is from Amacro"
      End Sub
   
   

6. Make sure that Word for Windows is running.

7. To watch the Microsoft Access macro and Word function, tile the windows so that Microsoft Access and Word for Windows are on the screen, simultaneously.

8. Open the form in Microsoft Access and choose the Start button.