APP.ACTIVATE

Macro Sheets Only

Switches to an application. Use APP.ACTIVATE to switch to another application that is already running or that you have started by using EXEC.

Syntax

APP.ACTIVATE(title_text, wait_logical)

Important Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh requires system software version 7.0 or later for this function.

Title_text is the name of an application as displayed in its title bar.

• If title_text is omitted, APP.ACTIVATE switches to Microsoft Excel.
• If title_text is not a currently running application, APP.ACTIVATE returns the #VALUE! error value and interrupts the macro.
• Title_text is not necessarily the name of the application file. Use the text that appears in the title bar of the application, which might include the name of the open document and path information.
• In Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, title_text can also refer to the Process Serial Number (PSN) that is returned by an EXEC function.

Wait_logical is a logical value determining when to switch to the application specified by title_text.

• If wait_logical is TRUE, Microsoft Excel waits to be switched to before switching to the application specified by title_text.
• If wait_logical is FALSE or omitted, Microsoft Excel immediately switches to the application specified by title_text.

Remarks

If you are running an application using Microsoft Excel macros, and you want to switch to a third application without switching to Microsoft Excel first, use FALSE as the wait_logical argument. With FALSE, you can use the application title_text without having to switch to Microsoft Excel first.

Examples

The following macro formula switches to Microsoft Word, which is currently displaying the document MONTHRPT.DOC in full screen mode:

APP.ACTIVATE("MICROSOFT WORD - MONTHRPT.DOC")

In Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, the following macro formula switches to Microsoft Word:

APP.ACTIVATE("MICROSOFT WORD")

Tip Use an IF statement with APP.ACTIVATE to run an EXEC function if the application you want to switch to is not yet running.

Related Functions

The first five functions following are only for Microsoft Excel for Windows.

APP.MAXIMIZE Maximizes the Microsoft Excel application window

APP.MINIMIZE Minimizes the Microsoft Excel application window

APP.MOVE Moves the Microsoft Excel application window

APP.RESTORE Restores the Microsoft Excel application window

APP.SIZE Changes the size of the Microsoft Excel application window

EXEC Starts another application

List of DDE/External Functions