# Microsoft Knowledge Base

## Can't Use EXECUTE() with INITIATE() with Word for Macintosh

Last reviewed: September 12, 1996 Article ID: Q101889
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.0 and 4.0

The example for using the INITIATE() function on page 241 of the "Function Reference" for version 4.0, and pages 130-131 for version 3.0, is incorrect for Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh.

In Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, you cannot use the EXECUTE() function to send key combinations to Microsoft Word for the Macintosh. When you run a macro that contains this function, Microsoft Word will ignore these statements.

## MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel can support the use of dynamic data exchange (DDE) when running under Apple Macintosh system software versions 7.0 or later. However, Microsoft Word for the Macintosh can't receive key commands through a DDE macro.

There are also limitations of using DDE within a macro because of the lack of a macro language in Microsoft Word for the Macintosh versions 4.0, 5.0, and 5.1. The following is the macro listed on page 241 of the "Microsoft Excel Function Reference" for version 4.0. (B5 is defined as the name "Channel"):

        B4:  =EXEC("HardDisk:Microsoft Word")
        B5:  =INITIATE("Microsoft Word","Untitled")
        B6:  =EXECUTE(Channel,"*V")
        B7:  =EXECUTE(Channel,"*P~")
        B8:  =APP.ACTIVATE(,FALSE)
        B9:  =CREATE.OBJECT(6,"R9C2",,,"R15C4",,)
        B10: =PASTE()
        B11: =TERMINATE(Channel)
        B12: =RETURN()

In the above macro, B6 and B7 will appear to be skipped when running the macro. The only DDE function that is supported is POKE(). POKE() allows Microsoft Excel to send information to Microsoft Word and can be used to replace the EXECUTE() statement in B6.

For more information about problems associated with this macro function and DDE, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

       word and initiate and DDE and worddocument

## REFERENCES

"Function Reference", version 4.0, page 241 "Function Reference", version 3.0, page 131

> KBCategory: kbdocerr
> KBSubcategory:

> Additional reference words: 4.00 3.00

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Last reviewed: September 12, 1996
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