How To: Troubleshooting a Network DDE Link with WFWG

Last reviewed: December 11, 1997
Article ID: Q91197

3.10 3.11 WINDOWS kbusage kbdisplay kbtool kbtshoot

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

In Windows for Workgroups, the Windows Clipboard Viewer was completely rebuilt as ClipBook Viewer, which includes capabilities to transfer information over the network (called network dynamic data exchange [DDE]).

MORE INFORMATION

To test network DDE, both machines should be running the same video driver, such as VGA (16 colors), which shipped with Windows for Workgroups.

Network DDE works like object-linking-and-embedding (OLE) over a network. There are several logical steps to troubleshoot a network DDE problem:

Make sure that the machines can communicate with each other. To test this, try to copy a file from one machine to another. Remember that a Windows for Workgroups machine needs to be in enhanced mode and have 4 megabytes (MB) of memory to have server functionality.
To make sure that the problem is not application-related, do a network DDE link using Paintbrush and Write. The steps are as follows:
a. Open a bitmap in Paintbrush and copy it to the Clipboard.
b. Open ClipBook. From the Edit menu, choose Paste. This brings
```
      up a dialog box that asks for a Page (Share) Name.
```
c. Type "test" (without the quotation marks) as the Page Name and
```
      choose OK. (Make sure the Share Item Now box is selected.)
```
d. When the next dialog box comes up, choose Start Application
```
      On Connect.
```
e. From the Client machine, open ClipBook. From the File menu,
```
      choose Connect.
```
f. Select the server name from the list, then select the "test"
```
      file.
```
g. From the Edit menu, choose Copy.
h. Start Write. From the Edit menu, choose Paste Link. This should
```
      create a Network DDE link from Paintbrush on the server machine
      to Write on the client machine.
```
i. Test the link by drawing in Paintbrush on the server and see
```
      if Write is updated on the client.
```

If Write isn't updated, there is a problem with Network DDE. If the above steps work, the problem is in one or both of the applications that were having the original problem.

Each of the applications can be tested with Write or Paintbrush to determine which application is at fault. Some applications may have to be upgraded to work properly with Network DDE. Check with the application vendor for more information on a specific application.

KBCategory: kbusage kbdisplay kbtool kbtshoot
KBSubcategory: wfw wfwg
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.1 netdde win31 tshoot 3.11

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Last reviewed: December 11, 1997
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