How to determine if instance of Excel is running

  • Thread starter Thread starter anandmr
  • Start date Start date
A

anandmr

I am trying to use excel from Visual basic.

I am having the probelm when a second instance of the VB is opened. Th
sheet will hidden behind sme application and I am able to see only th
tool bars which are on top. I have closed all the workbooks befor
opening another.

Is there any method to know if a excel instance is running. Please hel
with a solution.

Thanks in Advance

Anan
 
anandmr said:
I am trying to use excel from Visual basic.

I am having the probelm when a second instance of the VB is opened. The
sheet will hidden behind sme application and I am able to see only the
tool bars which are on top. I have closed all the workbooks before
opening another.

Is there any method to know if a excel instance is running. Please help
with a solution.
Click to expand...

The easiest way is to attempt to use automation to connect to
an existing instance and only create a new instance if that fails.
Its is possible to use the win32 API's to get a list of running
processes but its complex.


The following function will attach to a current instance
or create a new one

Public Function open_excel (xlapp as Excel.Application) as Boolean


' First lets find out if Excel is already running

On Error GoTo excel_start:
Set xlapp = GetObject(, "Excel.Application")

' Make sure Excel is visible
xlapp.Application.Visible = True

open_excel = True
Exit Function

' Excel not running error handler
excel_start:

On Error GoTo No_excel_err:
Set xlapp = New excel.Application

open_excel = True
xlapp.Application.UserControl = True

= "Starting Excel"
Splash_scrn.Show
Exit Function

' Excel not found error handler
No_excel_err:
msg = "Fatal Error - Unable to start Excel " & Chr$(10) & _
"Please check your installation"
MsgBox msg, vbCritical
open_excel = False
Exit Function

End Function


Keith
 
Hi, Keith.

Is it possible to run my own Excel instance, so that no one can bind to my
instance?

Yury.
 
Yury Lobanov said:
Hi, Keith.

Is it possible to run my own Excel instance, so that no one can bind to my
instance?

Yury.
Click to expand...

You can certainly instantiate a separate Excel invocation
but as far as I know there's no way to prevent another app
connecting to it.

Keith
 
"Application.IgnoreRemoteRequests = True" will keep your instance private.
Be sure to set it back to False before you shut down that instance.

Regards,
Vic Eldridge
 
Hi Vic,
"Application.IgnoreRemoteRequests = True" will keep your instance private.
Be sure to set it back to False before you shut down that instance.
Click to expand...

FWIW, that will only stop DDE requests (such as when launching a file from
Explorer), but won't stop OLE requests (such as when double-clicking an Excel
file embedded in a Word document or using any other application that uses
GetObject() to find a running instance of Excel to use.

Regards

Stephen Bullen
Microsoft MVP - Excel
www.BMSLtd.co.uk
 
FWIW, that will only stop DDE requests (such as when launching a file from
Explorer), but won't stop OLE requests (such as when double-clicking an Excel
file embedded in a Word document or using any other application that uses
GetObject() to find a running instance of Excel to use.
Click to expand...


Oh no, foiled again!

Perhaps if Yury is keen he can look into the RevokeActiveObject API
which will remove an object's entry in the Running Object Table,
(which is where GetObject() goes to do it's work). I wish him the
very best of luck!

Here's a start...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;155690


Regards,
Vic Eldridge
 
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