Using Visual Basic & DDE/OLE with Other Windows-Based Apps

 Last reviewed: March 29, 1996
Article ID: Q142821
The information in this article applies to:
  • Professional and Enterprise Editions of Microsoft Visual Basic, 16-bit only, for Windows, version 4.0

SUMMARY

Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows can link to a number of Windows applications through dynamic data exchange (DDE). Visual Basic can also, through the addition of custom controls, link to other Windows-based applications through OLE. Custom controls for OLE support are provided with the Microsoft Professional or Enterprise Editions of Visual Basic for Windows, available from Microsoft End User Sales and Service or from your nearest dealer of Microsoft products.

MORE INFORMATION

Visual Basic has built-in support for DDE. Visual Basic can link and share information with any other Windows-based application that also supports DDE.

Additional articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base discuss exactly how to establish a DDE link between Visual Basic and the following applications:

  • Another Visual Basic application
  • Microsoft Word for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows
  • Q+E (shipped with Microsoft Excel)

To locate these articles, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   Visual and Basic and DDE
A Visual Basic application can also use OLE to link with any other Windows application that supports OLE.

OLE controls are not built into Visual Basic itself, but are readily available through the Microsoft Professional or Enterprise Editions of Visual Basic for Windows, available from Microsoft End User Sales and Service or your nearest Microsoft dealer.

A more challenging approach to obtain OLE support is to write your own custom control. With the Visual Basic Control Development Kit (CDK), along with either the Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) and Microsoft Visual C++, you can create a custom control that supports OLE and add it to your Visual Basic application.

Below is a list of applications for Microsoft Windows and their abilities to support DDE and/or OLE: 

   Product                 Version    Supports DDE?   OLE Version
   -------                 -------    -------------   -----------

   Microsoft Access        2.0        Yes             2.0
   Microsoft Publisher     2.0        No              1.0
   Microsoft Visual Basic  3.0        Yes             2.0*
   Microsoft Excel         4.0        Yes             1.0
   Microsoft Excel         5.0        Yes             2.0
   Microsoft PowerPoint    4.0        No              2.0
   Microsoft Project       4.0        No              2.0
   Microsoft Word          2.0        Yes             1.0
   Microsoft Word          6.0        Yes             2.0
   Microsoft Works         3.0        No              2.0
* OLE Automation support is built into the language, but OLE linking and 
  embedding is only supported through the use of a custom control.

Additional reference words: 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 vb4win vb416
KBCategory: kbole kbinterop kbprg
KBSubcategory: IAPOLE IAPDDE

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: March 29, 1996
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.