XL: Visual Basic Example Using the Verb Method

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Excel you can use the Verb method to activate an embedded OLE object. For example, you can use the verb Open or Primary (represented by the xlOpen and xlPrimary constants, respectively).

MORE INFORMATION

When you use the Open verb (xlOpen is the constant for this verb), it opens the application in its own window. When you use the Primary verb (xlPrimary is the constant for this verb) it activates the object and prepares it for in-place editing. The following example uses a Microsoft Word version 6.0 object.

Sample Visual Basic Code

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The following Visual Basic procedures use both the xlOpen and xlPrimary constants. The example also includes a subroutine that clears out the embedded Word object.

Sub Embedded_Ole_Object_Using_xlPrimary()
   'Activates the object
   ActiveSheet.DrawingObjects("Picture 1").Verb (xlPrimary)
      Set myobj = CreateObject("word.basic")  'Creates a Word Basic object
      With myobj
         .Insert "Hello"                      'Word Basic commands
         .Insertpara
         .Insertpara
         .Insert "Goodbye"
      End With

      Set myobj = Nothing                      'clears the object
      Range("a1").Select                       'selects cell A1
End Sub


Sub Embedded_Ole_Object_Using_xlOpen()
   'Opens up Word
   ActiveSheet.DrawingObjects("Picture 1").Verb (xlOpen)
      Set myobj = CreateObject("word.basic")  'creates a Word Basic object
      With myobj
          .Insert "Hello"                     'Word Basic commands
          .Insertpara
          .Insertpara
          .Insert "Goodbye"
      End With

   'Sends keystrokes to close Word
   SendKeys "%fx{TAB}{ENTER}", True
   Set myobj = Nothing                        'clears the object
   Range("a1").Select                         'selects cell A1
End Sub

Sub Clearit()
   'Activates the object
   ActiveSheet.DrawingObjects("Picture 1").Verb
   'Creates a Word Basic object
      Set myobj = CreateObject("word.basic")
      With myobj
         .EditSelectAll                       'Word Basic commands
         .EditClear
      End With

      Set myobj = Nothing 'clears the object
      Range("a1").Select 'selects cell A1
End Sub

1. In Microsoft Excel, from the Insert menu, choose Object.

2. Select the Create New tab. On the Create New tab, select Microsoft Word 6.0 Document from the Object Type list, and choose OK.

3. To return focus to Microsoft Excel, click any cell on the worksheet.

REFERENCES

The Microsoft Press book: "Excel 5 Visual Basic for Applications Reference," version 5.0, page 708

For more information about the Verb Method, choose Contents in Help, then choose Programming With Visual Basic and choose Search, and type:

   verb