PRB: DDE with IE Does Not Work As Expected

• Microsoft Internet Explorer (Programming), versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When executing a DDE transaction with Internet Explorer (IE, 16-bit or 32- bit), IE does not seem to communicate to the application as expected.

CAUSE

Internet Explorer's DDE implementation is based upon the Spyglass SDI spec, which mandates that all specified quoted strings use the \" character combination. Not correctly prefixing a string with the \" character combination when IE expects a quoted string, could cause this problem.

RESOLUTION

When specifying a quoted string, whether as an application, topic, item name, or as an argument, always use the \" character combination.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The Spyglass SDI specification defines a standard notation to indicate argument types. Specifically, all names prefixed with qs, indicating a quoted string, should use the \" character combination to embed a quote character within a quoted string.

To obtain more information on the standard notation for various other argument types, please refer to the "Notation" section of the Spyglass SDI specification.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Establish a DDE communication with Internet Explorer, specifying:

         application Name: iexplore
         topicName:        WWW_RegisterURLEcho
   
   

2. Note how the Spyglass SDI specification specifies the arguments for this particular topic:

         RegisterURLEcho ( TO Web browser )
         Topic: WWW_RegisterURLEcho
         Item: qsApplication
         Transaction: XTYP_REQUEST
         Data: bSuccess
   

   Note how the ItemName specified is prefixed with qs, indicating a quoted string, as described above.

3. Set up an XTYP_REQUEST transaction with DdeClientTransaction, specifying:

         itemName: \"DDESERVER\"
   

   This should cause the DDESERVER application to be notified of URLEcho events, as specified in the Spyglass SDI specification. Note That incorrectly specifying "DDESERVER" without the \" character combination required of quoted strings causes no such notifications to be sent to the DDESERVER application.

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q160957
   TITLE     : DDE with Internet Explorer