PB9 COM Get ActiveDocument in MSWord

[Ian Bayly]

Still struggling with some word functions due to my lack of COM knowledge.
I have worked through creating new docs, opening existing docs but cannot get a handle on the active document in existing word object.
Looking at the inc file I think I have to treat the active document as if it was an application, but all coding attempts have thus far failed.
Any guidance much appreciated.

Ian B

[José Roca]

DIM oDoc AS Int__Document
oDoc = oWordApp.ActiveDocument

[Ian Bayly]

Thanks for that José, but it is a bit cryptic for me.
Here is the code I'm using which opens a new instance of word and reports an error at IsObject(oWordDoc).
Could you comment further please.

Function WordDemo As Long
  Local oWordApp     As Int__Application ' Application Interface
  Local oWordDoc     As Int__Document    ' Document Interface
  Local oWordSel     As Selection        ' Selection Interface
  Local oWordFont    As Int__Font        ' Font inteface
  Local sDocPath     As String           ' Utility for various paths
  Local vDoc         As VARIANT          ' Utility for various document names
  Local sText        As String           ' Utility for various text ietms
  Local vUtility     As VARIANT          ' Utility variant
'   OPEN AN INSTANCE OF WORD
  oWordApp = NEWCOM $PROGID_Application

' OPEN SUCCESSFUL?
  If IsFalse IsObject(oWordApp) Then
    MsgBox "Unable to open or start MSWORD!"
    Exit Function
  End If

oWordDoc = oWordApp.ActiveDocument  '<<< Your suggestion
 ' MAKE WORD VISIBLE AND SHOW IN NORMAL STATE
  oWordApp.Visible = 1
  oWordApp.WindowState = %wdWindowStateNormal
  If IsFalse IsObject(oWordDoc) Then
            MsgBox "MSWORD was not able to get document."
            GoTo Terminate
          End If
MsgBox "About to close"
vUtility = %wdDoNotSaveChanges
oWordApp.Documents.Close vUtility
'   CLOSE ALL INTERFACES
TERMINATE:
oWordApp.Quit
oWordSel = Nothing
oWordDoc = Nothing  
oWordApp  = Nothing

[José Roca]

You need first to load an existing document, or add a new one with oWordApp.Documents.Add. Otherwise, there is not any active document.

[Ian Bayly]

Again thanks José

I think I need to get a reference to an existing word object and get the active document from that.
A 3rd party product produces a Word document which is now sitting in the word window.
The 3rd PP launches the exe I am producing which then carries out considerable manipulation within the document.
You imply that I can only work with an existing document, which I take to mean an already saved doco, or a new empty doco.
I could force the 3rd PP to save the doco as an rtf and then reopen but we are talking of 60 - 100 pages and the overhead of the rtf to word conversion when reopening the doco is not tenable.

Does this extra explanation open any new avenues, or am I still blinded by the newness of PB?

Ian B

[José Roca]

Then use oWordApp = GETCOM $PROGID_Application.

If the director word NEWCOM is specified, a new instance of a COM application is created. With GETCOM, an interface will be opened on an existing, running application, which has been registered as the active automation object for its class. With ANYCOM, the compiler will first try to use an existing, running application if available, or a new instance if not.

[Ian Bayly]

That fixed my problem thanks José.
Ian B