XL98: Drawing Tools Not Recorded into AppleScript Script

ID: q176412

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

If you click any of the tools on the Drawing toolbar while recording an AppleScript script, the results of clicking the tools are not recorded into the script.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the drawing system in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition does not support AppleScript.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

AppleScript is manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc., a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

If you need an AppleScript script to be able to insert a drawing object into a worksheet or chart, record or write a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro that performs the required actions. Then, while you are recording the script, run the macro in Microsoft Excel. The command to run the macro will be correctly recorded into the script.

For example, if the macro in Microsoft Excel resembles the following:

   Sub InsertRectangle()
      ActiveSheet.Shapes.AddShape(msoShapeRectangle, 103#, 80#, _
         114#, 66#).Select
   End Sub

and is contained in Workbook1, the recorded script should resemble the following:

   tell application "Microsoft Excel"
      activate
      Evaluate "Workbook1!InsertRectangle()"
   end tell

You can use other Visual Basic macros to perform other drawing-related actions, such as moving drawing objects.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

You can use the AppleScript Script Editor to record scripts that interact with many programs, including Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh. When you record such a script, every action you perform in Microsoft Excel is recorded into the script. You can then run the script, and Microsoft Excel performs the recorded actions.

The exception to this rule involves the drawing tools in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition. Because of the design of the drawing system, it does not respond at all to AppleScript scripts. It is not possible to modify an existing script to use the drawing tools, unless you use the workaround shown above.

REFERENCES

For additional information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications

Additional query words: XL98 AutoShape

Keywords          : kbcode kbmacro kbprg xlvbainfo xldraw 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 17, 1999