PRB: NetDDE Fails to Connect Under Windows 95

• Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API) included with:

      - Microsoft Windows 95 version 4.0
  

SYMPTOMS

An application using Network Dynamic Data Exchange (NetDDE) fails to connect to another DDE application on another computer.

CAUSE

One of the reasons could be that NETDDE.EXE (a system component) is not running.

Network Dynamic Data Exchange (NetDDE) allows two DDE applications to communicate with each other over the network. In Windows for Workgroups, the NETDDE.EXE (a system component) was loaded by default. However under Window 95, NETDDE.EXE is not loaded by default.

RESOLUTION

An application using the netDDE services should check if the netDDE system component is loaded. if NETDDE.EXE isn't running, the application should run it.

Sample Code

The following sample code checks to see if NETDDE.EXE is loaded and tries to load it if necessary. The sample code works for both 32-bit and 16-bit applications.

BOOL IsNetDdeActive() { HWND hwndNetDDE;

// find a netDDE window

// if exists then NETDDE.EXE is running

   {
   UINT  uReturn;
   // otherwise launch the NETDDE.EXE with show no active
   uReturn = WinExec("NETDDE.EXE", SW_SHOWNA);
   // if unsucessful return FALSE.
   if(uReturn <= 31)
      return FALSE;
   }
// NetDDE is running

STATUS

This behavior is by design.