DDE Channel Not Closed After DDE Time-Out in Word for Windows

 Last reviewed: July 30, 1997
Article ID: Q86471
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, and 2.0a
  • Microsoft Windows operating system, versions 3.0 and 3.1

SUMMARY

If you link a Microsoft Word for Windows document to a cell of information in version 3.0 or 4.0 of Microsoft Excel for Windows and you choose the No button in response to the prompt "DDE timed out. Continue waiting?," the channel between the two applications will remain open, even after you close Word for Windows. Word for Windows should close the channel to Excel after you to the prompt.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

  1. Start Excel and open a previously opened spreadsheet (for example, SHEET1.XLS).

  2. Type text in cell R1C1 in Sheet1, but do not press ENTER (leave the cell in active edit mode).

  3. Minimize Excel.

  4. Start Word for Windows. From the File menu, choose New, then choose the OK button.

  5. Press CTRL+F9 to create a field. Type the following information between the field braces:

    DDE Excel <filename> R1C1

For version 1.x of Word for Windows, follow steps 6-10 to reproduce the problem. For version 2.0 or 2.0a of Word for Windows, follow steps 6a-9a to reproduce the problem.

  1. With the insertion point in the DDE field, press F9 to update the field. The error message "DDE Timed Out. Continue Waiting?" appears. Choose the No button.

  2. A second, unnecessary "DDE Timed out..." message appears. Choose the No button again.

  3. After the second "DDE Timed out..." message appears, the message "Cannot obtain data from Excel for Sheet1, R1C1." appears. Choose the OK button.

  4. From the File menu, choose Exit. Choose the No button when prompted to save changes to the document.

  5. Try to run Word for Windows again.

The message "Word is already running" appears on the screen. This is not correct. The first instance of Word has been terminated. Exiting Word should have terminated the DDE link. 

 6a. With the insertion point in the DDE field, press F9 to update the
     field. The error message "This task is taking longer than expected. Do
     you want to continue waiting?" appears. Choose the No button.

 7a. A second, unnecessary "This task is..." message appears. Choose
     the No button again.

 8a. After the second "This task is..." message appears, the message
     "Cannot obtain data from Excel for Sheet1, R1C1." appears. Choose the
     OK button.

 9a. From the File menu, choose Exit. Choose the No button when
     prompted to save changes to document.
Word stops the system as it tries to exit.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, and 2.0a of Word for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

Reference(s):

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Reference," version 1.x, pages 177-179

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, page 806

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory: kbfield
Additional query words: 1.0 1.10 1.10a 2.0 2.0a freeze winword2
winword crash

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Last reviewed: July 30, 1997
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