The SAS/AF error message is caused by:

call send (rng2, '_get_property_', 'ColumnWidth', 20);

If you really want to GET the column width, use a numeric variable for the method parameter:

call send (rng2, '_get_property_', 'ColumnWidth', columnWidth);

But you wrote that you are trying to SET the column width. If that's what you want to do, use the _setProperty() method:

call send (rng2, '_set_property_', 'ColumnWidth', 20);

or as I would code it: rng2._setProperty('ColumnWidth', 20);

Declare the Excel object identifiers as type SASHELP.FSP.HAUTO to use dot notation.

-Randy

-----Original Message----- From: SAS(r) Discussion [mailto:SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of d-dubs Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 1:36 PM To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: SAS OLE for MS Excel

I am trying to apply formating to a Excel file using OLE. I am able to use the font to create a bold font. But not able to change the Column Width and also the Background color. I tried creating Excel macros to do the same thing and tried to implement it in sas but I am not successful yet. Could someone help me in the syntax for ColumnWidth and BackgroundColor using "call send".

APPLYFORMATS: call send(excelobj,'_GET_PROPERTY_','ActiveSheet', wsobj ); call send (wsobj, '_get_property_', 'range', 'a1', 'cv1', rng); call send (rng, '_get_property_', 'font', font); call send (font, '_set_property_', 'FontStyle', 'Bold');

call send (wsobj, '_get_property_', 'range', 'a1','a25', rng2); call send (rng2, '_get_property_', 'ColumnWidth', 20);

return; /********************************************************************/

log:

ERROR: Invalid argument. Arguments passed to SEND: 1 rng2 = 4501 2 (Character Literal) = '_get_property_' Parameters passed to SEND ENTRY: 1 (Character Literal) = 'ColumnWidth' 2 (Numeric Literal) = 20 Program returning prematurely at line 46 AF Program: _0000001.NEW.NEW.SCL