DeScribe 5 - Tips and Techniques

Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Messaging

This is a brief summary of the Dynamic Data Exchange commands available in OS/2, and how these commands can be accessed using DeScribe. This information will be useful if you are constructing a custom application which will support Dynamic Data Exchange, and will be linking data to DeScribe files.

You can download a DDE application (includes source code) that sends messages to DeScribe using DDE.

DeScribe uses several types of Dynamic Data Exchange messaging, and can accept both client and server commands.

Standard OS/2 WM DDE EXECUTE messages are:

1. POKE - Pass data to another application.
   PEEK - Look at data in another application.
   NOTIFY - Inform when data has changed.
   GET - Acquire data from other applications.
   EXECUTE - Execute commands listed below.
   

DDE Messaging to DeScribe

DeScribe expects a WM DDE EXECUTE message containing one or more commands. Each command must be enclosed in square brackets. All commands take a file name as a parameter. The file name must be enclosed in parenthesis and quotes, and must immediately follow the command name. Below are some examples of complete commands:

Execute commands recognized by DeScribe:

1. New window - Open a file in a new main window.
   Open - Open a file in an existing main window.
   Print - Print a file. If the file isn't already open, open the file, print, and close it.
   Run - Execute a macro.
   Close - Close a currently open file.
   

Examples

Single instructions:

1. [New window("")]
   [Open("C:\directory\document")]
   [Print("C:\directory\document")]
   [Run("Test.macro")]
   [Close("C:\directory\document")]

Combined instructions:

1. [Open("C:\directory\document")][Run("Test.mac")]

All material contained in these pages is the exclusive property of DeScribe, Inc.
All rights reserved.