PRB: Excel Does Not Repaint Highlighted Cells Correctly in a MFC MDI Active Document Container

• The Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), included with:
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, version 6.0

SYMPTOMS

When an AppWizard-generated MFC MDI Active Document Container has an Excel spreadsheet embedded in one of its views, and another view open at the same time, any highlighted cells in the Excel spreadsheet is not repainted correctly when the other view is dragged over the spreadsheet view.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the Excel document server does not "unhighlight" the cells after the document has lost focus. The MFC Active Document Container calls the function IOleInPlaceActiveObject::OnDocWindowActivate(FALSE) from CMDIChildWnd::OnMDIActivate to notify the Active Document Server that it should deactivate the document. The implementation of the Excel document server deactivates the document, but does not unhighlight the cells. Excel unhighlights the cells when its view is redrawn after it has lost focus. Therefore, the Excel document server must be notified to redraw itself after it has lost focus.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, override CView::OnSetFocus() to redraw all views and their embedded servers.

The following steps should be taken to work around this problem:

1. Add the following function to the CView derived class's header file in the protected section:
   

   
   void DoRedraw(); 




2. Implement this function as follows in the CView derived class's .cpp file:
   

   
   void CMyAXDocContView::DoRedraw()
   {
     //  This function causes the embedded Active Document Server to be redrawn 
     //  Iterate document templates...
      POSITION posTmpl = AfxGetApp()->GetFirstDocTemplatePosition();
      while(posTmpl != NULL){
         CDocTemplate *pTmpl = AfxGetApp()->GetNextDocTemplate(posTmpl);
         //  Iterate documents in this template.
         POSITION posDoc = pTmpl->GetFirstDocPosition();
         while(posDoc != NULL) {
            COleDocument *pDoc = (COleDocument *)pTmpl->GetNextDoc(posDoc);
   
            //  Iterate views of each document.
            POSITION posView = pDoc->GetFirstViewPosition();
            while(posView != NULL) {
               CView *pView = pDoc->GetNextView(posView);
               // Completely redraw.
               pView->RedrawWindow(NULL, NULL, RDW_ERASE|RDW_INVALIDATE|RDW_UPDATENOW|RDW_FRAME|RDW_ALLCHILDREN);
            }
         }
      }
   }
    




3. Override the OnSetFocus() function to call the DoRedraw() function in the CView derived class as follows:
   

   
   void CMyAXDocCont1View::OnSetFocus(CWnd* pOldWnd)
   {
   	COleClientItem* pActiveItem = GetDocument()->GetInPlaceActiveItem(this);
   	if (pActiveItem != NULL &&
   		pActiveItem->GetItemState() == COleClientItem::activeUIState)
   	{
   		// Need to set focus to this item if it is in the same view.
   		CWnd* pWnd = pActiveItem->GetInPlaceWindow();
   		if (pWnd != NULL)
   		{
   			pWnd->SetFocus();   // Don't call the base class.
   			DoRedraw();         // Redraw Server
   			return;
   		}
   	}
   	DoRedraw();  //  Redraw Server.
   
   	CView::OnSetFocus(pOldWnd);
   }
    

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Generate an MFC MDI Active Document Container with Visual C++ 6.0.



2. On the Build menu, click Run.



3. On the Edit menu, click Insert New Object, and insert a Microsoft Excel Worksheet.



4. On the File menu, click New to open a new view.



5. Highlight some cells in the Excel view.



6. Drag the second view over the highlighted cells and then drag it away.
   
   Notice the highlighted cells are not repainted.

REFERENCES

© Microsoft Corporation 1999, All Rights Reserved.
Contributions by Bret Bentzinger, Microsoft Corporation

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kbActiveDocs kbActiveX kbContainer kbExcel kbMFC kbVC600 
Version           : winnt:6.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbprb 

Last Reviewed: March 5, 1999