How To Pass Numbers to a Named Range in Excel through DDE

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1995
Article ID: Q45714
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0 and 3.1
  • Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API) included with: 

        - Microsoft Windows NT versions 3.5 and 3.51
    - Microsoft Windows 95 version 4.0

To send an array to Excel via DDE, you must send the array in TEXT, CSV, or BIFF clipboard format.

For example, if you want to send three numbers for one ROW in CSV format, use 1,2,3 (where each number is separated by a comma). If you want to place three numbers in one COLUMN in CSV format, place the CR/LF (Od 0a) (carriage return/line feed) characters after each number in the set.

If you would like to send the numbers via the TEXT format separated into columns, place the CR/LF characters between each number in the set. To organize the numbers into one row, place a TAB (09) character between each number.

In order to send an array of data into a named range, use the following steps:

  1. Highlight the appropriate cells in Excel
2. Set up your typical hot link from Excel, for example: 

   =Service|Topic!Item

  • Instead of hitting Enter after typing the above, hit Ctrl+Shift+Enter. This will cause your data to come in as an array, rather than as a single item.

    NOTE: To do the reverse of this, that is, for a client application to POKE data to Excel, the client will have to specify an item name of say, "R1C1:R1C2" to poke an array of data to the range R1C1..R1C2.

    • Additional reference words: 3.00 3.10 3.50 3.51 4.00 95
    KBCategory: kbui
    KBSubcategory: UsrDde

    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: November 2, 1995
    © 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.