From: Subject: DDE Command Manual Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:09:25 -0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: file://D:\Dev\Win32\DDECmd\HelpFile\DDECmd.html X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 DDE Command Manual

DDE Command v1.0

Introduction

This is a command line (aka console) based tool for querying text = data from=20 DDE servers. It is the counterpart to my much older GUI based tool = called DDE=20 Query, which is available here, http://www.cix.co.= uk/~gort/win32.htm#DDEQuery.=20

Commands

The tool supports all the major DDE command types, such as = XTYP_REQUEST,=20 XTYP_ADVSTART, XTYP_POKE & XTYP_EXECUTE via similarly named = commands. The=20 basic format for invoking DDE Command is to run it with a command type = and then=20 provide any arguments using switches, e.g. 

C:\> ddecmd =
command --option1 value1 --option2 value2

The arguments can be specified using either Windows style (e.g. = /option) or=20 the more common style (e.g. --option). Each switch has both a short name = and a=20 longer name and you can see the list of all supported commands using = "ddecmd=20 -?". Each command has its own help topic that describes it and lists the = switches that are applicable to it, e.g. ddecmd request -?.

The Servers Command

This command invokes the XTYP_WILDCONNECT transaction type to list = the=20 running DDE servers and their supported topics. This transaction type is = not=20 always supported by servers, and is included more for development use. = The=20 output is one server and topic per line, separated by a '|', the normal=20 separator used for DDE Links, e.g. 

C:\>ddecmd servers
Excel|System
Excel|[Book1]Sheet3
Excel|[Book1]Sheet2
Excel|[Book1]Sheet1
The Request Command

The request command is used to retrieve the value for one or more = items from=20 the server. This is the XTYP_REQUEST transaction type. The items must = all be=20 from the same server as only a single server and topic can be specified. = 

C:\>ddecmd request --server REUTER --topic IDN_RWS --item =
"GBP=3D,BID ASK" --item "EUR=3D,BID ASK"
+1.9058 +1.9062
+1.2981 +1.2982

By default the request assumes CF_TEXT (i.e. ANSI text) for the value = format,=20 but this can be overridden by using the --format switch. See below for = the=20 format names.

The Advise Command

To set up one or more advise loops with the server use the advise = command.=20 This allows you to monitor the updates for a number of items. This = corresponds=20 to the XTYP_ADVSTART transaction type. The same basic switches that are = used=20 with the request command can also be used with this one. However, unlike = the=20 other commands, this causes ddecmd to run indefinitely and so can only = be=20 stopped by pressing Ctrl+C. 

C:\>ddecmd advise -s REUTER -t =
IDN_RWS -i "GBP=3D,BID ASK" -i "EUR=3D,BID ASK"
+1.9060 +1.9062
+1.2981 +1.2986
+1.2980 +1.2982
+1.9059 +1.9064
+1.2978 +1.2983
+1.2982 +1.2984
+1.9059 +1.9062
<CTRL+C>
The Poke Command

The poke command allows you to set a value for an item on servers = that=20 support it. Unlike the previous request and advise commands you can only = set the=20 value for a single item and that value will be passed in CF_TEXT format. = 

C:\>ddecmd poke -s excel -t [book1]sheet1 -i R1C1 --value =
"test"
The Execute Command

The final transaction type supported is XTYP_EXECUTE via the execute = command.=20 This is used to send a command string to a server. = 

C:\>ddecmd execute -s excel -t [book1]sheet1 --command =
"[App.Minimize]"
Clipboard Formats

Format Description
CF_TEXT ANSI text.
CF_UNICODETEXT Unicode text.

License & Warranty

This application is freeware - you get what you pay for, nothing = more,=20 nothing less.

Source Code

The full source code (C++) is available from my web site listed = below.

Contact Details

Using the --version switch will also display my contact details. = Please check=20 the web site for updates.

Email: gort@cix.co.uk
Web: = www.cix.co.uk/~gort

Chris Oldwood
15th December 2008