How to launch excel application from client side javascript ?

Question

 

Hi

Everybody

 

I want to launch excel application from client side javascript.

I add microsoft office object library reference to project .

I used some codes:

 

<script language="javascript">

function runApp()

{

var excApp = new ActiveXObject("Excel.Application");

excApp.visible = true;

var excBook = excApp.Workbooks.open("c:\test.xls");

}

</script>

 

The following error occrs:

Microsoft JScript runtime error: Automation server can't create object.

at the line << var excApp = new ActiveXObject("Excel.Application"); >>

 

Pls help.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Hi trandtun,

 

As I understand for your error message saying "Microsoft JScript runtime error: Automation server can't create object", you can try to enable ActiveX controls and plug-ins in IE according to the following steps:

Open IE -> Tools ->Internet Options -> Security -> Custom Level -> ActiveX controls and plug-ins ->Enable "Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe for scripting"

 

Besides, in order to avoid dead process, I suggest you to change your sample codes as follows:

Code Block

<script language="javascript">

function runApp()

{

var excApp = new ActiveXObject("Excel.Application");

excApp.visible = true;

var excBook = excApp.Workbooks.open("c:\\test.xls");

idTmr = window.setInterval("Cleanup();",1000);

}

 

function Cleanup() {
window.clearInterval(idTmr);

 

//“CollectGarbage” fire JScript's garbage collection to release the reference to Excel
CollectGarbage();
}

</script>

 

 

Hope this helps,

 

Regards,

 

Answer 2

 In the above example, what's the best way to check if the Workbook has successfully been opened?

(The below simply bails... I'm just guessing at this point and having a hard time reading the msdn libraries.)

var xls = new ActiveXObject ( "Excel.Application" );

var handle = null;

function load_new_month_file() {

var tmppath = "H:\\SPECIAL PROJECTS\\Quality Reporting Environment\\QRE_01Aug2008\\data\\";

var filename = "employeeTableAug2.xlsx";

handle = xls.Workbooks.Open(tmppath + filename, 3, false);

if (handle.count > 0) {

return true;

} else {

alert("Epic Fail. File was not opened.")

return false;

}

}

Answer 3

Hello.

Try either this:

var  xls =  new  ActiveXObject (  "Excel.Application"  );

var  handle =  null ;

function  load_new_month_file() {

var  tmppath =  "H:\\SPECIAL PROJECTS\\Quality Reporting Environment\\QRE_01Aug2008\\data\\" ;

var  filename =  "employeeTableAug2.xlsx" ;

handle = xls.Workbooks.Open(tmppath + filename, 3, false );

if  ((handle != null) && (handle != undefined)) {

return   true ;

} else  {

alert("Epic Fail. File was not opened." )

return   false ;

}

}

or this:

var  xls =  new  ActiveXObject (  "Excel.Application"  );

var  handle =  null ;

function  load_new_month_file() {

var  tmppath =  "H:\\SPECIAL PROJECTS\\Quality Reporting Environment\\QRE_01Aug2008\\data\\" ;

var  filename =  "employeeTableAug2.xlsx" ;

try{

handle = xls.Workbooks.Open(tmppath + filename, 3, false );

} catch(e){    alert(e.description) }

}

the object "handle" which refers to the open workbook has no attribute count, so handle.count is always undefined.

Answer 4

By default, browser would not aloow to create this object. I do not want each of my customer to make this browser change.also this is browser dependent.

Is there any other way to read an excell sheet at client end itself. I do not want to upload the excell to the server and read there. Instead i want to read it in client side and take the same to the server.

Is there any posiblity? if so kindly provide me with samples....

Thanks,

Ramanan R

Answer 5

Hi trandtun,

 

As I understand for your error message saying "Microsoft JScript runtime error: Automation server can't create object", you can try to enable ActiveX controls and plug-ins in IE according to the following steps:

Open IE -> Tools ->Internet Options -> Security -> Custom Level -> ActiveX controls and plug-ins ->Enable "Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe for scripting"

 

Besides, in order to avoid dead process, I suggest you to change your sample codes as follows:

 

Code Block

<script language="javascript">

function runApp()

{

var excApp = new ActiveXObject("Excel.Application");

excApp.visible = true;

var excBook = excApp.Workbooks.open("c:\\test.xls");

idTmr = window.setInterval("Cleanup();",1000);

}

 

function Cleanup() {
window.clearInterval(idTmr);

 

//“CollectGarbage” fire JScript's garbage collection to release the reference to Excel
CollectGarbage();
}

</script>

 

 

Hope this helps,

 

Regards,

 

I have been bumping my head for days because IE8 did not fire up Excel in our application. Your solution help me to get around with this issue. Thanks a lot.s