CREATE automation object statement

(Windows only)

Creates (instantiates) an ActiveX Automation object based on a specified Automation Server connection.

Syntax

CREATE expression1COM-hdl-var
[ CONNECT [ TO expression2 ] ]
[ NO-ERROR ]

expression1

A character-string expression that evaluates to 1) a unique name of a valid Automation object stored in the system registry or 2) the null string ("").

COM-hdl-var

A COM-HANDLE variable that receives the COM handle to the instantiated Automation object.

[CONNECT [ TO expression2] ]

Specifies the connection option, together with expression1. The behavior of each connection option depends on the execution status of the Automation Server. The following table illustrates this behavior.

Automation object connection options

Connection option	Server execution status	Connection behavior
1. Option omitted	Running	Creates a new instance of the Automation object identified by expression1. Launches a new instance of the Server for top-level Automation objects (like Excel.Application).
	Not running	Launches a new instance of the Server, then creates a new instance of the Automation object identified by expression1. Often, both the new Server and the new Automation object instance are invisibly created.
2. CONNECT	Running	Connects to an active (instantiated) Automation object identified by expression1. Works for top-level Automation objects only. For example, this works for Excel.Application but fails for Excel.Sheet and Excel.Chart, which are both lower-level Automation objects.
	Not running	Invalid. Always returns an error.
3. CONNECT TO expression2	Running	Creates or connects to an Automation object specified by expression1 that is associated with the file specified by the pathname in expression2. If more than one instance of the Server is running, this option randomly selects one (generally, the first one started). If the specified file is already open within the selected Server, this option connects to the Automation object that is instantiated for that file. If the file is not already open in the selected Server, this option opens the file and instantiates the specified Automation object for it. If the specified file is already open in a different instance of the Server, this option fails with a "File in Use" error. This option also fails if the expression2 does not specify a valid file.
	Not running	Creates a new instance of an Automation object specified by expression1 that is associated with the file specified by the pathname in expression2. This option starts a new instance of the Server and instantiates the Automation object for the class that is initialized from the contents of the file. Often, the new Server, as well as the new Automation object, are invisibly created. This option fails if expression2 does not specify a valid file.
4. CONNECT TO expression2 WHERE expression1 = ""	Running	Creates or connects to an Automation object that is associated with the file specified by the pathname in expression2. This option determines the identity of the Server (and hence the Automation object) from the file extension given in expression2. If more than one instance of the Server is running, this option randomly selects one (generally, the first one started). If the specified file is already open within the selected Server, this option connects to the Automation object that is instantiated for that file. If the file is not already open in the selected Server, this option opens the file and instantiates the specified Automation object for it. If the specified file is already open in a different instance of the Server, this option fails with a "File in Use" error. This option also fails if the expression2 does not specify a valid file.
	Not running	Creates a new instance of an Automation object that is associated with the file specified by the pathname in expression2. This option determines the identity of the Server (and hence the Automation object) from the file extension given in expression2. This option starts a new instance of the Server and instantiates the Automation object for the class that is initialized from the contents of the file. Often, the new Server, as well as the new Automation object, are invisibly created. This option fails if expression2 does not specify a valid file.

NO-ERROR

The NO-ERROR option is used to prevent the statement from raising ERROR and displaying error messages.

Example

The following procedure demonstrates several Automation object instantiations using the four basic connection options. It tries all of the options with the Microsoft^® Excel Automation Server. Note that not all Automation Servers support all options. For example in Office 95, there is no Automation object for PowerPoint presentations. Thus, the file connection option (Option 3 in Table 1) does not work.

r-crea.p

/* Demonstration of connecting to an Automation Object in Excel using the
   different connection options. */

DEFINE VARIABLE curDir   AS CHARACTER  NO-UNDO.
DEFINE VARIABLE cEditor  AS CHARACTER  NO-UNDO
  VIEW-AS EDITOR SIZE 63 BY 1 LABEL "Result:" FONT 2.
DEFINE VARIABLE wordAppl AS COM-HANDLE NO-UNDO.

DEFINE BUTTON bExit 
  LABEL "Exit" SIZE 16 BY 1.25 AUTO-GO.
DEFINE BUTTON bStart 
  LABEL "Option 1 - Start Excel" SIZE 32 BY 1.25 .
DEFINE BUTTON bConnect 
  LABEL "Option 2 - Connect to Active" SIZE 32 BY 1.25.
DEFINE BUTTON bConPerFile 
  LABEL "Option 3 - Connect per File" SIZE 32 BY 1.25.
DEFINE BUTTON bConnectMon 
  LABEL "Option 4 - Connect by Extension" SIZE 32 BY 1.25.

ASSIGN
  FILE-INFO:FILE-NAME = "."
  curDir              = FILE-INFO:FULL-PATHNAME.

FORM cEditor SKIP(0.5) bStart SPACE bConnect SPACE bConPerFile SPACE
  bConnectMon SKIP(0.5) bExit 
  WITH FRAME a VIEW-AS DIALOG-BOX THREE-D FONT 6.
FRAME a:TITLE = "Testing CREATE Automation Object Statement".

ENABLE ALL WITH FRAME a.

ON CHOOSE OF bStart IN FRAME a DO:
  /* Option 1: CREATE expression1 Com-Handle-Var. */
  DEFINE VARIABLE excelAppl AS COM-HANDLE NO-UNDO.

  CREATE "Excel.Application" excelAppl. 
  excelAppl:Visible = TRUE.
  excelAppl:Workbooks:Add.
  excelAppl:Range("A1"):Value = "testing CREATE".
  ASSIGN cEditor:SCREEN-VALUE = STRING(excelAppl:Range("A1"):Value).
  RELEASE OBJECT excelAppl.
END.

ON CHOOSE OF bConnect IN FRAME a DO:
/* Option 2: CREATE expression1 Com-Handle-Var CONNECT. */
  DEFINE VARIABLE excelAppl AS COM-HANDLE NO-UNDO.

  CREATE "Excel.Application" excelAppl CONNECT.
  excelAppl:Range("A2"):Value = "testing CONNECT".
  MESSAGE "Click me to continue!" VIEW-AS ALERT-BOX.
  ASSIGN cEditor:SCREEN-VALUE = STRING(excelAppl:Range("A2"):Value).
  excelAppl:Workbooks:Item(1):SaveAs(curDir + "\yyy.xls").
  excelAppl:Quit().
  RELEASE OBJECT excelAppl.
END.

ON CHOOSE OF bConPerFile IN FRAME a DO:
/* Option 3: CREATE expression1 Com-Handle-Var CONNECT TO expression2. */
  DEFINE VARIABLE excelAppl AS COM-HANDLE NO-UNDO.
  DEFINE VARIABLE cFileName AS CHARACTER  NO-UNDO 
    INITIAL "\WorkSheets\Xplan.xls".

  CREATE "Excel.Sheet" excelAppl CONNECT TO cFileName. 
  excelAppl:Visible = TRUE.
  excelAppl:Workbooks:Add.
  excelAppl:Range("A3"):Value = "testing CONNECT TO".
  ASSIGN cEditor:SCREEN-VALUE = STRING(excelAppl:Range("A3"):Value).
  RELEASE OBJECT excelAppl.
END.

ON CHOOSE OF bConnectMon IN FRAME a DO:
/* Option 4: CREATE "" Com-Handle-Var CONNECT TO expression2. */
  DEFINE VARIABLE excelAppl AS COM-HANDLE NO-UNDO.
  DEFINE VARIABLE cFileName AS CHARACTER  NO-UNDO 
    INITIAL "\WorkSheets\Xplan.xls".

  CREATE "" excelAppl CONNECT TO cFileName.
  excelAppl:Range("A4"):Value = "testing CONNECT TO where expression1 = ''".
  MESSAGE "Click me to continue!" VIEW-AS ALERT-BOX.
  ASSIGN cEditor:SCREEN-VALUE = STRING(excelAppl:Range("A4"):Value).
  excelAppl:Workbooks:Item(1):SaveAs(curDir + "\zzz.xls").
  excelAppl:Quit().
  RELEASE OBJECT excelAppl.
END.

Notes

• You must ensure that any third-party Automation objects you want to instantiate are installed and correctly listed in the registry. For information on what Automation objects you can instantiate, see the documentation for the third-party product. Generally, these are the same Automation objects instantiated by the Visual Basic CreateObject and GetObject functions. You might also be able to view these Automation objects using the OpenEdge COM Object Viewer tool. For more information, see OpenEdge External Programming Interface Reference.
• The instantiation of an Automation object depends on the implementation of the Automation Server itself. Any Server registered for multiple use (REGCLS_MULTIPLE_USE flag) launches a single instance of the Server that handles multiple Automation object instantiation requests. Any Server registered single use (REGCLS_SINGLE_USE flag) launches a new instance of the Server for each instantiated Automation object.
• The four connection options in Table 1 compare to the following Visual Basic function calls:
  • Option 1 — CreateObject (class) or GetObject ("", class)
  • Option 2 — GetObject (, class)
  • Option 3 — GetObject (pathname, class)
  • Option 4 — GetObject (pathname)
• Once you create or connect to an Automation object, you can reference its properties and methods.

See also

NO-ERROR option, RELEASE OBJECT statement