switching between workbooks not allowed in Excel

[nandibhatla]

Hi,

I am using a VB Script to show a Bar Graph in our GUI through excel
workbook.

The call I am using in VB Script to create Excel Object is:
....
set ExcelObject = GetObject("", "Excel.Application")
....
Its working well when there is no Excel instance running previously.

If there is an existing excel sheet already open (opened manually and
unrelated to the GUI & VB Script), the GUI's Excel is taking control
of the Excel and I am unable to switch back to the Excel Sheet which
is opened manually. I can only switch to the previously running Excel
sheet only when I minimize the excel sheet in the GUI.

Could someone help me to overcome this or is this intended if so, any
justification for this ?

Steps which lead to a problem:
1. launch Excel manually from start -> run -> excel.exe
2. launch Excel in the my own GUI with the VBScript which is using
GetObject() call

At this point, I am not able to switch to the Excel instance which is
opened in step 1.

Thanks in advance,
Ravi Nandibhatla.

 

[paul.robinson]

Hi
don't know about VB Script but in VBA you might use

On Error Resume Next
Err.Clear
Set ExcelObject1 = GetObject(, "Excel.Application") 'If
Excel is already open, flag it with Boolean
If Err.Number <> 0 Then ExcelWasRunning = False Else
ExcelWasRunning = True
On Error GoTo 0
Err.Clear 'keep err tidy
If Not ExcelWasRunning Then
set ExcelObject2 = GetObject("", "Excel.Application")
End If

Now you can refer to the two instances of Excel, if there are two.
regards
Paul

 

[nandibhatla]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for the reply.

I am having the problem with one excel instance opened manually from
Windows start -> run prompt and other excel opened from the GUI using
a VB Script. I do not want to refer to the previously opened excel
instance in my VB Script.
steps to reproduce are:
a. open excel.exe from windows -> start -> run prompt
b. launch my GUI which in turn shows an Excel chart using VB Script
c. Now at this point, I am unable to switch back to the excel.exe
opened in step a.

Is this good enough to understand my problem ?

Thanks,
Ravi Nandibhatla.