I would like to use DDE to send data from a Lookout Server to an Excel

[Davidlo3820]

Hello National Instruments,
 
I would like to use DDE to send data from a Lookout Server to an Excel
Spreadsheet.
 
I have Lookout 6.1 on a server connected to 4 client workstations
The operating system on the server is Windows Server 2003 R2; Standard Edition;
Service Pack 2
 
I have opened DDE Share but after filing in Share Name; Static Application
Name; Static Topic Name
I get a message, "Can't bind to DSDM service"
I also get this message when I press add a Share
 
What are the steps to setting up this type of communications link?
 
Thanks,

David Lopez

Scada Functional Analyst

[Ryan.S]

Here is an example

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/5400AE61F71F1CC486256655005CB1C6?OpenDocument

[Davidlo3820]

Hello Ryan,

With these instructions is Lookout the Server or the Client?

I am assuming that in my application Lookout will be the Server and computers in the network with excel will be the clients.

Can you

I am almost under the impression with the instruction you have sent me that I will have to create a DDELink in Lookout for each piece of

data that is sent to the excel computers.

Looking for more guidance,

Thanks

[Ryan.S]

In the link, the client is lookout, but the server is lookout or Excel. When the lookout is server, the topic name is the process name, the item is the object like Pot1.

Do you connect to remote DDE or local one?

Go to the Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Services. There are two services, Network DDE and Network DDE DSDM. I'm not sure what's the difference. But your error message is about the DSDM. Are both services started?

[Davidlo3820]

Hello Ryan,

Currently I have DDE Share working and no longer get previous error messages.  I have added a share on Machine where Lookout Server Software resides and included it in trust share; I may have been stating what I want to do incorrectly.  I want to set up workstations in the water dept. with excel that display sensor readings such as conductivity, tank level, or pressure.  I am currently following the example "How do I use DDE To Send Data Across the Network To Excel From Lookout?" 

Am I using the correct example. 

Thanks,

David Lopez

[Ryan.S]

As long as the network DDE connection has been established without error, the left things are straightforward.

This KB shows how to setup the lookout as DDE server, and use Excel to connect this remote server. It helps you to show data in Excel from remote lookout.

[Davidlo3820]

Ryan,

I have followed the steps on the Knowledge Base "How do I use DDE To Send Data Across the Network To Excel From Lookout?" but what I am seeing is that the computer with excel (Computer B)hangs up displaying an hour glass continuously leaving me no option but to go into task manager to stop excel.  It appears to me that the dde share is not working properly on my windows xp where lookout resides or I do not have a certain service turned on.  I do have the DDE services turned on both computers.  I have my computer set up as computer A with Lookout and Process1 as the process with a pot set up as pot1.  On my computer (Computer A) I also have the dde share set up per the KB example.

On computer B I have the dde services turned on and I am typing the following into an excel worksheet Cell  ='\\TAG23232\NDDE$'|'Process1$'!Pot1

TAG 23232 is Computer A's Name

Do you have any suggestions???