#### Using a Microsoft Excel Worksheet as an OLE Object

This topic demonstrates how to use an Excel worksheet as an OLE object and how to interact with it. The following topics merely give you a taste of things you could do with OLE objects inside of your report or form. How you put this knowledge to use in your own situation is up to you.

These topics assume you have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer.

Adding the OLE Object

1. Access the Form editor.

2. Select the OleObject icon from the Object Bar, and drag a box in the editor. When you release the mouse the Insert Object dialog box appears:

Insert Object dialog box

3. From the Object Type list, select Microsoft Office Excel Worksheet.

4. Choose a worksheet. If you have an existing worksheet that you want to work with, choose Create from File option, otherwise, start with a new worksheet by choosing the Create New option.

5. Click OK. PC-DMIS inserts the OLE object. Notice that your form now contains a fully editable worksheet. In fact, even Excel's toolbars

This dialog box is the same dialog box that appears if you choose to insert an external object into the Edit window by using Insert | Report Command | External Object. Consult the "Inserting External Objects" topic from the "Inserting Report Commands" section if you need more information on this dialog box.

Referencing a Cell

Changing Properties of a Cell

Adding a Formula

Moving Cell Data to Another Control

Other Simple Functions

PR 239903

<< Joe Zink -- 04/17/06 09:54:52>>

I suggest that Help include an example on how to add an Excel OLE object and then interact with it. For example, it would be nice to see how to reference a cell, add a formula to a cell, extract data from a cell and move it to another control (e.g. a Text object or a TextVar object). change properties of a cell (e.g. background color, border, etc.) and in general show how to do some of the simple Excel functions.

I think another good example could be the use of the Microsoft PowerPoint Slide OLE object or a Video Clip. I think this could be an effective way of presenting part setup information.

For an ActiveX control, I suggest that Help include an example using a Calendar Control.

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