Date:         Thu, 3 Sep 1998 05:32:56 -0400
Reply-To:     Tra <Tra@PROTEUS.CO.UK>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         Tra <Tra@PROTEUS.CO.UK>
Subject:      Reading Excel files using OLE/DDE

     I have a SAS program which opens and reads a series of Excel files
     using the DDE command interface.
 
     I want to do something similar using OLE as,
     (i) the OLE automation object gives more control over Excel
     (ii) the DDE command interface is based on old style Excel 4.0 macros,
     which are poorly documented, and I have heard are not supported by the
     latest version of Excel such as Excel 97.
 
     I have some AF applications which successfully use the OLE interface,
     so I know how to do it and I have some SCL methods I can reuse.
 
     Is there a way to communicate with an OLE automation object from
     within SAS code, or do I need to port the whole program into AF.  More
     generally, is there a way to send commands to an AF application from
     within SAS code?
 
     Any thoughts or experiences would be welcome.
 
     Thanks
 
     Tim Auton
     Proteus Molecular Design Ltd
     tra@proteus.co.uk