topic Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property in LabVIEW

Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

DrNO23 — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 13:56:03 GMT

Hello All,

I've created different LabVIEW VI's that import data from excel but I would like to create one that runs a macro (can't use the Report Generation Toolbox). I have the basic code but I'm not sure how to access the VBProject property of the Workbook I'm referencing. Does anyone know how I obtain this block?

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

nyc_(is_out_of_here) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 14:13:56 GMT

@DrNO23 wrote:

Hello All,

I've created different LabVIEW VI's that import data from excel but I would like to create one that runs a macro (can't use the Report Generation Toolbox). I have the basic code but I'm not sure how to access the VBProject property of the Workbook I'm referencing. Does anyone know how I obtain this block?

Learn how to translate VBA to LabVIEW. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/194611

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

DrNO23 — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 14:18:57 GMT

nyc,

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. The point of writting this VI is so that I can vary a couple of parameters and then translate that into a macro which will completely format an Excel Workbook for me but I just can't seem to find the 'Workbook' object that has the VBProject property listed under it.

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

nyc_(is_out_of_here) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 14:29:22 GMT

@DrNO23 wrote:

nyc,

I'm not exactly sure what you mean. The point of writting this VI is so that I can vary a couple of parameters and then translate that into a macro which will completely format an Excel Workbook for me but I just can't seem to find the 'Workbook' object that has the VBProject property listed under it.

Post your VI.

The fact that you cannot find the VBProject property indicates an error in your code.

You need to know understand the Excel Object Model to program it in LabVIEW.

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

DrNO23 — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 14:56:57 GMT

nyc,

I see what you're saying. I've learned how to use ActiveX by basically taking the property and invoke nodes from other VI's I've found and making it work the way I need it to. My problem is that I can't find the Excel Application Object Library which will give me the propty and invoke blocks I need. Do you know what that file name is or what the library is called under the "Type Libaray"

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

nathand — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 16:06:47 GMT

Try the Microsoft Excel object library; the version will vary depending on what version of Office you have installed. You probably want to open a reference to the Application object, then use invoke and property nodes from there to get a reference to a workbook.

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

DrNO23 — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 17:47:01 GMT

I found the solution. If you can't find the Excel Object Library under the dropdown of all the installed object libraries its becuase apparently the Excel team does it differently and compiles the library into the EXCEL.exe file. Just bring up the "Select Object from Type Library" window and then 'browse' and find the EXCEL.exe file. It will incorporate it like the .OLB files

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

nyc_(is_out_of_here) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 17:50:50 GMT

@DrNO23 wrote:

I found the solution. If you can't find the Excel Object Library under the dropdown of all the installed object libraries its becuase apparently the Excel team does it differently and compiles the library into the EXCEL.exe file. Just bring up the "Select Object from Type Library" window and then 'browse' and find the EXCEL.exe file. It will incorporate it like the .OLB files

Why don't you post a VI instead of talking about it? It would so much more helpful. I have no clue what you just wrote there in your explanation. Yes, call me clueless.

In addition, which version of Excel would be helpful as well.

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

DrNO23 — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 18:25:26 GMT

nyc,

I just wanted to know how to get the block that I showed in the question, the "VBProject property of the Workbook I'm referencing", thats why I only showed the one block.

When working with ActiveX and Excel, you need a Library of the functions and properties which you can modify to manipulate the EXCEL sheet. To get started you can first use a Reference to your library and then feed that into the Property and Invoke nodes which allow you to write the variables from LabVIEW. My problem was that I couldn't find the location of the file to point my Automation Refnum control at. If you wanted to mess around with Microsoft PowerPoint then you simply right click your Automation Refnum "Select ActiveX Class">>"Browse" and then scroll through the lists of Object Libraries and if you can't find it then you can select "Browse" on that window and search the Microsoft Office folders for MSPPT.olb, the file that will give you access to PowerPoint control through LabVIEW. If you wanted to manipulate Excel files in LabVIEW you would need to find the EXCEL.exe executable through the Select Object window and voila you now have ActiveX control of EXCEL.

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

nyc_(is_out_of_here) — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:26:33 GMT

@DrNO23 wrote:

nyc,

I just wanted to know how to get the block that I showed in the question, the "VBProject property of the Workbook I'm referencing", thats why I only showed the one block.

When working with ActiveX and Excel, you need a Library of the functions and properties which you can modify to manipulate the EXCEL sheet. To get started you can first use a Reference to your library and then feed that into the Property and Invoke nodes which allow you to write the variables from LabVIEW. My problem was that I couldn't find the location of the file to point my Automation Refnum control at. If you wanted to mess around with Microsoft PowerPoint then you simply right click your Automation Refnum "Select ActiveX Class">>"Browse" and then scroll through the lists of Object Libraries and if you can't find it then you can select "Browse" on that window and search the Microsoft Office folders for MSPPT.olb, the file that will give you access to PowerPoint control through LabVIEW. If you wanted to manipulate Excel files in LabVIEW you would need to find the EXCEL.exe executable through the Select Object window and voila you now have ActiveX control of EXCEL.

I am familiar with Accessing an ActiveX-Enabled Application as outlined at https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/labview/page/using-activex-with-labview.html

I don't understand what YOU are doing. So I am simply asking for a VI.

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

DrNO23 — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 15:15:44 GMT

nyc,

I will overview what happened:

My EXCEL installation is done via a packaged file from my University
I began using ActiveX with EXCEL to import and export data however I was simply copying the property and invoke blocks along with the ActiveX Refnums from other VI's I found on the internet WITHOUT linking them to the Object library on my computer. (Someone who knew what they were doing would have placed a Refnum on the VI, pointed it to the Excel Object Library, and then derived all of the invoke/property blocks by wiring and selecting the methods/objects respectively.)
I posted on the forum asking simply the steps required to get the VBProperties block since I had no idea where my problem was.
You responded with the fact that (A) I needed to learn how to represent VBA in LabVIEW or (B) there was an error associating my blocks with the Object Library
I did research and found that when placing the Automation refnum you must associate it with the Object Library, but mine wasn't found in the dropdown list of accessable libraries.
Upon further digging I found that the Excel Object Library is packaged into my EXCEL.exe file and all I needed to do to access it was point my Automation Refnum to it

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

nyc_(is_out_of_here) — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 15:40:32 GMT

@DrNO23 wrote:

nyc,

I will overview what happened:

My EXCEL installation is done via a packaged file from my University

I began using ActiveX with EXCEL to import and export data however I was simply copying the property and invoke blocks along with the ActiveX Refnums from other VI's I found on the internet WITHOUT linking them to the Object library on my computer. (Someone who knew what they were doing would have placed a Refnum on the VI, pointed it to the Excel Object Library, and then derived all of the invoke/property blocks by wiring and selecting the methods/objects respectively.)

I posted on the forum asking simply the steps required to get the VBProperties block since I had no idea where my problem was.

You responded with the fact that (A) I needed to learn how to represent VBA in LabVIEW or (B) there was an error associating my blocks with the Object Library

I did research and found that when placing the Automation refnum you must associate it with the Object Library, but mine wasn't found in the dropdown list of accessable libraries.

Upon further digging I found that the Excel Object Library is packaged into my EXCEL.exe file and all I needed to do to access it was point my Automation Refnum to it

I still don't understand what you mean by a packaged file.

Which version of Excel? Yet again, you don't supply this information.

And yet again no VI from you.

Your Excel Object Library is packaged into your Excel.exe? I don't understand this.

All of this sounds very fishy.

Perhaps your university is doing something without actually buying/paying for Microsoft Office.

I have worked at several companies that use Microsoft Office, and I have never seen the behavior you are describing.

Re: Excel ActiveX Workbook VBProject Property

DrNO23 — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 15:42:25 GMT

nyc,

EXCEL 2013

What version of Excel are you basing your assumption off? What is the filename of your Excel Object Library?