Reference the active sheet

[joe]

If I run the following code and I have an open spreadsheet with existing
sheets, I get another instance of Excel w/no sheets. How can I reference
the active spreadsheet(w/o knowing the filename?)

Dim oXL as object
Dim xlWorksheet as object

Set oXL = GetObject("", "Excel.Application")
Set xlWorkSheet = oXL.Worksheets.Add

 

[Chip Pearson]

If you don't know the filename, you cannot control with instance
of Excel GetObject is going to return.



--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com

 

[James]

Then perhaps I shouldn't be running GetObject at all? I just need a
reference (from Word VBA) to the active Excel document, without knowing
its name. Is this possible?

 

[Jimmy]

Then perhaps I shouldn't be running GetObject at all? I just need a
reference (from Word VBA) to the active Excel document, without knowing
its name. Is this possible?

 

[Chip Pearson]

Jimmy,

GetObject is used to get a reference to an existing running
instance of Excel. It will fail and return Nothing if there is no
running instance of Excel. If there is more than one instance
running, you have no control over which instance to which you
will get a reference. Perhaps code like the following will work:

Dim XL As Excel.Application
Dim WB As Excel.Workbook
On Error Resume Next
Set XL = GetObject(,"Excel.Application")
If XL Is Nothing Then
Set XL = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
End If
If Not XL.ActiveWorkbook Is Nothing Then
Set WB = XL.ActiveWorkbook
End If


--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com

 

[Jimmy]

If I know only one document is running, will
Set XL = GetObject(,"Excel.Application")
return a reference to that doc?

 

[Chip Pearson]

Jimmy,

No, GetObject will not return a reference to the active workbook.
It returns a reference to the Excel Application. Look at the code
I posted. The variable WB is set to the active workbook.



--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com

 

[Jimmy]

Flogging a dead horse here, if I have 7 excel workbooks open but only 1 is
active, there is no way from Word VBA that I can get a reference to that
active workbook/sheet if I don't have the name?

 

[Chip Pearson]

As shown in the code I posted, you can get the ActiveWorkbook
with code like

Set WB = XL.ActiveWorkbook


--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft MVP - Excel
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com

 

[Dave Peterson]

Just to jump in to muddy the waters!

Add a line to this portion of Chip's code:

If Not XL.ActiveWorkbook Is Nothing Then
Set WB = XL.ActiveWorkbook
End If

make it look like:

If Not XL.ActiveWorkbook Is Nothing Then
Set WB = XL.ActiveWorkbook
msbox wb.name
End If

And you'll see WB is what you want.