class WIN32OLE

WIN32OLE objects represent OLE Automation object in Ruby.

By using WIN32OLE, you can access OLE server like VBScript.

Here is sample script.

require 'win32ole'

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
excel.visible = true
workbook = excel.Workbooks.Add();
worksheet = workbook.Worksheets(1);
worksheet.Range("A1:D1").value = ["North","South","East","West"];
worksheet.Range("A2:B2").value = [5.2, 10];
worksheet.Range("C2").value = 8;
worksheet.Range("D2").value = 20;

range = worksheet.Range("A1:D2");
range.select
chart = workbook.Charts.Add;

workbook.saved = true;

excel.ActiveWorkbook.Close(0);
excel.Quit();

Unfortunately, WIN32OLE doesn’t support the argument passed by reference directly. Instead, WIN32OLE provides WIN32OLE::ARGV or WIN32OLE::Variant object. If you want to get the result value of argument passed by reference, you can use WIN32OLE::ARGV or WIN32OLE::Variant.

oleobj.method(arg1, arg2, refargv3)
puts WIN32OLE::ARGV[2]   # the value of refargv3 after called oleobj.method

refargv3 = WIN32OLE::Variant.new(XXX,
            WIN32OLE::VARIANT::VT_BYREF|WIN32OLE::VARIANT::VT_XXX)
oleobj.method(arg1, arg2, refargv3)
p refargv3.value # the value of refargv3 after called oleobj.method.

Constants

ARGV

After invoking OLE methods with reference arguments, you can access the value of arguments by using ARGV.

If the method of OLE(COM) server written by C#.NET is following:

void calcsum(int a, int b, out int c) {
    c = a + b;
}

then, the Ruby OLE(COM) client script to retrieve the value of argument c after invoking calcsum method is following:

a = 10
b = 20
c = 0
comserver.calcsum(a, b, c)
p c # => 0
p WIN32OLE::ARGV # => [10, 20, 30]

You can use WIN32OLE::Variant object to retrieve the value of reference arguments instead of referring WIN32OLE::ARGV.

CP_ACP

ANSI code page. See WIN32OLE.codepage and WIN32OLE.codepage=.

CP_MACCP

CP_OEMCP

OEM code page. See WIN32OLE.codepage and WIN32OLE.codepage=.

CP_SYMBOL

symbol code page. See WIN32OLE.codepage and WIN32OLE.codepage=.

CP_THREAD_ACP

current thread ANSI code page. See WIN32OLE.codepage and WIN32OLE.codepage=.

CP_UTF7

UTF-7 code page. See WIN32OLE.codepage and WIN32OLE.codepage=.

CP_UTF8

UTF-8 code page. See WIN32OLE.codepage and WIN32OLE.codepage=.

LOCALE_SYSTEM_DEFAULT

default locale for the operating system. See WIN32OLE.locale and WIN32OLE.locale=.

LOCALE_USER_DEFAULT

default locale for the user or process. See WIN32OLE.locale and WIN32OLE.locale=.

VERSION

Version string of WIN32OLE.

Public Class Methods

codepage

Returns current codepage.

WIN32OLE.codepage # => WIN32OLE::CP_ACP

static VALUE
fole_s_get_code_page(VALUE self)
{
    return RB_INT2FIX(cWIN32OLE_cp);
}

codepage = CP

Sets current codepage. The WIN32OLE.codepage is initialized according to Encoding.default_internal. If Encoding.default_internal is nil then WIN32OLE.codepage is initialized according to Encoding.default_external.

WIN32OLE.codepage = WIN32OLE::CP_UTF8
WIN32OLE.codepage = 65001

static VALUE
fole_s_set_code_page(VALUE self, VALUE vcp)
{
    UINT cp = RB_FIX2INT(vcp);
    set_ole_codepage(cp);
    /*
     * Should this method return old codepage?
     */
    return Qnil;
}

connect(ole) -→ aWIN32OLE

Returns running OLE Automation object or WIN32OLE object from moniker. 1st argument should be OLE program id or class id or moniker.

WIN32OLE.connect('Excel.Application') # => WIN32OLE object which represents running Excel.

static VALUE
fole_s_connect(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
{
    VALUE svr_name;
    VALUE others;
    HRESULT hr;
    CLSID   clsid;
    OLECHAR *pBuf;
    IDispatch *pDispatch;
    void *p;
    IUnknown *pUnknown;

    /* initialize to use OLE */
    ole_initialize();

    rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "1*", &svr_name, &others);
    StringValue(svr_name);

    /* get CLSID from OLE server name */
    pBuf = ole_vstr2wc(svr_name);
    hr = CLSIDFromProgID(pBuf, &clsid);
    if(FAILED(hr)) {
        hr = CLSIDFromString(pBuf, &clsid);
    }
    SysFreeString(pBuf);
    if(FAILED(hr)) {
        return ole_bind_obj(svr_name, argc, argv, self);
    }

    hr = GetActiveObject(&clsid, 0, &pUnknown);
    if (FAILED(hr)) {
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLERuntimeError,
                  "OLE server `%s' not running", StringValuePtr(svr_name));
    }
    hr = pUnknown->lpVtbl->QueryInterface(pUnknown, &IID_IDispatch, &p);
    pDispatch = p;
    if(FAILED(hr)) {
        OLE_RELEASE(pUnknown);
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLERuntimeError,
                  "failed to create WIN32OLE server `%s'",
                  StringValuePtr(svr_name));
    }

    OLE_RELEASE(pUnknown);

    return create_win32ole_object(self, pDispatch, argc, argv);
}

const_load(ole, mod = WIN32OLE)

Defines the constants of OLE Automation server as mod’s constants. The first argument is WIN32OLE object or type library name. If 2nd argument is omitted, the default is WIN32OLE. The first letter of Ruby’s constant variable name is upper case, so constant variable name of WIN32OLE object is capitalized. For example, the ‘xlTop’ constant of Excel is changed to ‘XlTop’ in WIN32OLE. If the first letter of constant variable is not [A-Z], then the constant is defined as CONSTANTS hash element.

module EXCEL_CONST
end
excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
WIN32OLE.const_load(excel, EXCEL_CONST)
puts EXCEL_CONST::XlTop # => -4160
puts EXCEL_CONST::CONSTANTS['_xlDialogChartSourceData'] # => 541

WIN32OLE.const_load(excel)
puts WIN32OLE::XlTop # => -4160

module MSO
end
WIN32OLE.const_load('Microsoft Office 9.0 Object Library', MSO)
puts MSO::MsoLineSingle # => 1

static VALUE
fole_s_const_load(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
{
    VALUE ole;
    VALUE klass;
    struct oledata *pole = NULL;
    ITypeInfo *pTypeInfo;
    ITypeLib *pTypeLib;
    unsigned int index;
    HRESULT hr;
    OLECHAR *pBuf;
    VALUE file;
    LCID    lcid = cWIN32OLE_lcid;

    rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "11", &ole, &klass);
    if (!RB_TYPE_P(klass, T_CLASS) &&
        !RB_TYPE_P(klass, T_MODULE) &&
        !RB_TYPE_P(klass, T_NIL)) {
        rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "2nd parameter must be Class or Module");
    }
    if (rb_obj_is_kind_of(ole, cWIN32OLE)) {
        pole = oledata_get_struct(ole);
        hr = pole->pDispatch->lpVtbl->GetTypeInfo(pole->pDispatch,
                                                  0, lcid, &pTypeInfo);
        if(FAILED(hr)) {
            ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLEQueryInterfaceError, "failed to GetTypeInfo");
        }
        hr = pTypeInfo->lpVtbl->GetContainingTypeLib(pTypeInfo, &pTypeLib, &index);
        if(FAILED(hr)) {
            OLE_RELEASE(pTypeInfo);
            ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLEQueryInterfaceError, "failed to GetContainingTypeLib");
        }
        OLE_RELEASE(pTypeInfo);
        if(!RB_TYPE_P(klass, T_NIL)) {
            ole_const_load(pTypeLib, klass, self);
        }
        else {
            ole_const_load(pTypeLib, cWIN32OLE, self);
        }
        OLE_RELEASE(pTypeLib);
    }
    else if(RB_TYPE_P(ole, T_STRING)) {
        file = typelib_file(ole);
        if (file == Qnil) {
            file = ole;
        }
        pBuf = ole_vstr2wc(file);
        hr = LoadTypeLibEx(pBuf, REGKIND_NONE, &pTypeLib);
        SysFreeString(pBuf);
        if (FAILED(hr))
          ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLERuntimeError, "failed to LoadTypeLibEx");
        if(!RB_TYPE_P(klass, T_NIL)) {
            ole_const_load(pTypeLib, klass, self);
        }
        else {
            ole_const_load(pTypeLib, cWIN32OLE, self);
        }
        OLE_RELEASE(pTypeLib);
    }
    else {
        rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "1st parameter must be WIN32OLE instance");
    }
    return Qnil;
}

create_guid

Creates GUID.

WIN32OLE.create_guid # => {1CB530F1-F6B1-404D-BCE6-1959BF91F4A8}

static VALUE
fole_s_create_guid(VALUE self)
{
    GUID guid;
    HRESULT hr;
    OLECHAR bstr[80];
    int len = 0;
    hr = CoCreateGuid(&guid);
    if (FAILED(hr)) {
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLERuntimeError, "failed to create GUID");
    }
    len = StringFromGUID2(&guid, bstr, sizeof(bstr)/sizeof(OLECHAR));
    if (len == 0) {
        rb_raise(rb_eRuntimeError, "failed to create GUID(buffer over)");
    }
    return ole_wc2vstr(bstr, FALSE);
}

locale → locale id.

Returns current locale id (lcid). The default locale is WIN32OLE::LOCALE_SYSTEM_DEFAULT.

lcid = WIN32OLE.locale

static VALUE
fole_s_get_locale(VALUE self)
{
    return RB_INT2FIX(cWIN32OLE_lcid);
}

locale = lcid

Sets current locale id (lcid).

WIN32OLE.locale = 1033 # set locale English(U.S)
obj = WIN32OLE::Variant.new("$100,000", WIN32OLE::VARIANT::VT_CY)

static VALUE
fole_s_set_locale(VALUE self, VALUE vlcid)
{
    LCID lcid = RB_FIX2INT(vlcid);
    if (lcid_installed(lcid)) {
        cWIN32OLE_lcid = lcid;
    } else {
        switch (lcid) {
        case LOCALE_SYSTEM_DEFAULT:
        case LOCALE_USER_DEFAULT:
            cWIN32OLE_lcid = lcid;
            break;
        default:
            rb_raise(eWIN32OLERuntimeError, "not installed locale: %u", (unsigned int)lcid);
        }
    }
    return Qnil;
}

new(server, [host]) → WIN32OLE object

new(server, license: 'key') → WIN32OLE object

Returns a new WIN32OLE object(OLE Automation object). The first argument server specifies OLE Automation server. The first argument should be CLSID or PROGID. If second argument host specified, then returns OLE Automation object on host. If :license keyword argument is provided, IClassFactory2::CreateInstanceLic is used to create instance of licensed server.

WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application') # => Excel OLE Automation WIN32OLE object.
WIN32OLE.new('{00024500-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}') # => Excel OLE Automation WIN32OLE object.

static VALUE
fole_initialize(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
{
    VALUE svr_name;
    VALUE host;
    VALUE others;
    VALUE opts;
    HRESULT hr;
    CLSID   clsid;
    OLECHAR *pBuf;
    OLECHAR *key_buf;
    IDispatch *pDispatch;
    IClassFactory2 * pIClassFactory2;
    void *p;
    static ID keyword_ids[1];
    VALUE kwargs[1];

    rb_call_super(0, 0);
    rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "11*:", &svr_name, &host, &others, &opts);

    StringValue(svr_name);
    if (!NIL_P(host)) {
        StringValue(host);
        return ole_create_dcom(self, svr_name, host, others);
    }

    /* get CLSID from OLE server name */
    pBuf  = ole_vstr2wc(svr_name);
    hr = CLSIDFromProgID(pBuf, &clsid);
    if(FAILED(hr)) {
        hr = CLSIDFromString(pBuf, &clsid);
    }
    SysFreeString(pBuf);
    if(FAILED(hr)) {
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLERuntimeError,
                  "unknown OLE server: `%s'",
                  StringValuePtr(svr_name));
    }

    if (!keyword_ids[0]) {
        keyword_ids[0] = rb_intern_const("license");
    }
    rb_get_kwargs(opts, keyword_ids, 0, 1, kwargs);

    if (kwargs[0] == Qundef) {
        /* get IDispatch interface */
        hr = CoCreateInstance(
            &clsid,
            NULL,
            CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER | CLSCTX_LOCAL_SERVER,
            &IID_IDispatch,
            &p
        );
    } else {
        hr = CoGetClassObject(
            &clsid,
            CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER | CLSCTX_LOCAL_SERVER,
            NULL,
            &IID_IClassFactory2,
            (LPVOID)&pIClassFactory2
        );
        if (hr == S_OK) {
            key_buf = ole_vstr2wc(kwargs[0]);
            hr = pIClassFactory2->lpVtbl->CreateInstanceLic(pIClassFactory2, NULL, NULL, &IID_IDispatch, key_buf, &p);
            SysFreeString(key_buf);
            OLE_RELEASE(pIClassFactory2);
        }
    }
    if(FAILED(hr)) {
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLERuntimeError,
                  "failed to create WIN32OLE object from `%s'",
                  StringValuePtr(svr_name));
    }
    pDispatch = p;

    ole_set_member(self, pDispatch);
    return self;
}

ole_free(aWIN32OLE) -→ number

Invokes Release method of Dispatch interface of WIN32OLE object. You should not use this method because this method exists only for debugging WIN32OLE. The return value is reference counter of OLE object.

static VALUE
fole_s_free(VALUE self, VALUE obj)
{
    ULONG n = 0;
    struct oledata * pole = NULL;
    pole = oledata_get_struct(obj);
    if(pole->pDispatch) {
        if (reference_count(pole) > 0) {
            n = OLE_RELEASE(pole->pDispatch);
        }
    }
    return RB_INT2NUM(n);
}

ole_reference_count(aWIN32OLE) -→ number

Returns reference counter of Dispatch interface of WIN32OLE object. You should not use this method because this method exists only for debugging WIN32OLE.

static VALUE
fole_s_reference_count(VALUE self, VALUE obj)
{
    struct oledata * pole = NULL;
    pole = oledata_get_struct(obj);
    return RB_INT2NUM(reference_count(pole));
}

ole_show_help(obj [,helpcontext])

Displays helpfile. The 1st argument specifies WIN32OLE::Type object or WIN32OLE::Method object or helpfile.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
typeobj = excel.ole_type
WIN32OLE.ole_show_help(typeobj)

static VALUE
fole_s_show_help(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
{
    VALUE target;
    VALUE helpcontext;
    VALUE helpfile;
    VALUE name;
    HWND  hwnd;
    rb_scan_args(argc, argv, "11", &target, &helpcontext);
    if (rb_obj_is_kind_of(target, cWIN32OLE_TYPE) ||
        rb_obj_is_kind_of(target, cWIN32OLE_METHOD)) {
        helpfile = rb_funcall(target, rb_intern("helpfile"), 0);
        if(strlen(StringValuePtr(helpfile)) == 0) {
            name = rb_ivar_get(target, rb_intern("name"));
            rb_raise(rb_eRuntimeError, "no helpfile of `%s'",
                     StringValuePtr(name));
        }
        helpcontext = rb_funcall(target, rb_intern("helpcontext"), 0);
    } else {
        helpfile = target;
    }
    if (!RB_TYPE_P(helpfile, T_STRING)) {
        rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "1st parameter must be (String|WIN32OLE::Type|WIN32OLE::Method)");
    }
    hwnd = ole_show_help(helpfile, helpcontext);
    if(hwnd == 0) {
        rb_raise(rb_eRuntimeError, "failed to open help file `%s'",
                 StringValuePtr(helpfile));
    }
    return Qnil;
}

Public Instance Methods

WIN32OLE[a1,a2,...]

Returns the value of Collection specified by a1, a2,.…

dict = WIN32OLE.new('Scripting.Dictionary')
dict.add('ruby', 'Ruby')
puts dict['ruby'] # => 'Ruby' (same as `puts dict.item('ruby')')

Remark: You can not use this method to get the property.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
# puts excel['Visible']  This is error !!!
puts excel.Visible # You should to use this style to get the property.

static VALUE
fole_getproperty_with_bracket(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
{
    VALUE v = ole_invoke(argc, argv, self, DISPATCH_PROPERTYGET, TRUE);
    if (v == rb_eNoMethodError) {
        return rb_call_super(argc, argv);
    }
    return v;
}

WIN32OLE[a1, a2, ...]=val

Sets the value to WIN32OLE object specified by a1, a2, …

dict = WIN32OLE.new('Scripting.Dictionary')
dict.add('ruby', 'RUBY')
dict['ruby'] = 'Ruby'
puts dict['ruby'] # => 'Ruby'

Remark: You can not use this method to set the property value.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
# excel['Visible'] = true # This is error !!!
excel.Visible = true # You should to use this style to set the property.

static VALUE
fole_setproperty_with_bracket(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
{
    VALUE v = ole_invoke(argc, argv, self, DISPATCH_PROPERTYPUT, TRUE);
    if (v == rb_eNoMethodError) {
        return rb_call_super(argc, argv);
    }
    return v;
}

_getproperty(dispid, args, types)

Runs the early binding method to get property. The 1st argument specifies dispatch ID, the 2nd argument specifies the array of arguments, the 3rd argument specifies the array of the type of arguments.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
puts excel._getproperty(558, [], []) # same effect as puts excel.visible

static VALUE
fole_getproperty2(VALUE self, VALUE dispid, VALUE args, VALUE types)
{
    return ole_invoke2(self, dispid, args, types, DISPATCH_PROPERTYGET);
}

_invoke(dispid, args, types)

Runs the early binding method. The 1st argument specifies dispatch ID, the 2nd argument specifies the array of arguments, the 3rd argument specifies the array of the type of arguments.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
excel._invoke(302, [], []) #  same effect as excel.Quit

static VALUE
fole_invoke2(VALUE self, VALUE dispid, VALUE args, VALUE types)
{
    return ole_invoke2(self, dispid, args, types, DISPATCH_METHOD);
}

_setproperty(dispid, args, types)

Runs the early binding method to set property. The 1st argument specifies dispatch ID, the 2nd argument specifies the array of arguments, the 3rd argument specifies the array of the type of arguments.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
excel._setproperty(558, [true], [WIN32OLE::VARIANT::VT_BOOL]) # same effect as excel.visible = true

static VALUE
fole_setproperty2(VALUE self, VALUE dispid, VALUE args, VALUE types)
{
    return ole_invoke2(self, dispid, args, types, DISPATCH_PROPERTYPUT);
}

each {|i|...}

Iterates over each item of OLE collection which has IEnumVARIANT interface.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
book = excel.workbooks.add
sheets = book.worksheets(1)
cells = sheets.cells("A1:A5")
cells.each do |cell|
  cell.value = 10
end

static VALUE
fole_each(VALUE self)
{
    LCID    lcid = cWIN32OLE_lcid;

    struct oledata *pole = NULL;

    unsigned int argErr;
    EXCEPINFO excepinfo;
    DISPPARAMS dispParams;
    VARIANT result;
    HRESULT hr;
    IEnumVARIANT *pEnum = NULL;
    void *p;

    RETURN_ENUMERATOR(self, 0, 0);

    VariantInit(&result);
    dispParams.rgvarg = NULL;
    dispParams.rgdispidNamedArgs = NULL;
    dispParams.cNamedArgs = 0;
    dispParams.cArgs = 0;
    memset(&excepinfo, 0, sizeof(excepinfo));

    pole = oledata_get_struct(self);
    hr = pole->pDispatch->lpVtbl->Invoke(pole->pDispatch, DISPID_NEWENUM,
                                         &IID_NULL, lcid,
                                         DISPATCH_METHOD | DISPATCH_PROPERTYGET,
                                         &dispParams, &result,
                                         &excepinfo, &argErr);

    if (FAILED(hr)) {
        VariantClear(&result);
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLEQueryInterfaceError, "failed to get IEnum Interface");
    }

    if (V_VT(&result) == VT_UNKNOWN) {
        hr = V_UNKNOWN(&result)->lpVtbl->QueryInterface(V_UNKNOWN(&result),
                                                        &IID_IEnumVARIANT,
                                                        &p);
        pEnum = p;
    } else if (V_VT(&result) == VT_DISPATCH) {
        hr = V_DISPATCH(&result)->lpVtbl->QueryInterface(V_DISPATCH(&result),
                                                         &IID_IEnumVARIANT,
                                                         &p);
        pEnum = p;
    }
    if (FAILED(hr) || !pEnum) {
        VariantClear(&result);
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLEQueryInterfaceError, "failed to get IEnum Interface");
    }

    VariantClear(&result);
    rb_ensure(ole_each_sub, (VALUE)pEnum, ole_ienum_free, (VALUE)pEnum);
    return Qnil;
}

invoke(method, [arg1,...]) → return value of method.

Runs OLE method. The first argument specifies the method name of OLE Automation object. The others specify argument of the method. If you can not execute method directly, then use this method instead.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
excel.invoke('Quit')  # => same as excel.Quit

static VALUE
fole_invoke(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
{
    VALUE v = ole_invoke(argc, argv, self, DISPATCH_METHOD|DISPATCH_PROPERTYGET, FALSE);
    if (v == rb_eNoMethodError) {
        return rb_call_super(argc, argv);
    }
    return v;
}

method_missing(id [,arg1, arg2, ...])

Calls WIN32OLE#invoke method.

static VALUE
fole_missing(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
{
    VALUE mid, org_mid, sym, v;
    const char* mname;
    long n;
    rb_check_arity(argc, 1, UNLIMITED_ARGUMENTS);
    mid = org_mid = argv[0];
    sym = rb_check_symbol(&mid);
    if (!NIL_P(sym)) mid = rb_sym2str(sym);
    mname = StringValueCStr(mid);
    if(!mname) {
        rb_raise(rb_eRuntimeError, "fail: unknown method or property");
    }
    n = RSTRING_LEN(mid);
    if(mname[n-1] == '=') {
        rb_check_arity(argc, 2, 2);
        argv[0] = rb_enc_associate(rb_str_subseq(mid, 0, n-1), cWIN32OLE_enc);

        return ole_propertyput(self, argv[0], argv[1]);
    }
    else {
        argv[0] = rb_enc_associate(rb_str_dup(mid), cWIN32OLE_enc);
        v = ole_invoke(argc, argv, self, DISPATCH_METHOD|DISPATCH_PROPERTYGET, FALSE);
        if (v == rb_eNoMethodError) {
            argv[0] = org_mid;
            return rb_call_super(argc, argv);
        }
        return v;
    }
}

methods (*args)

By overriding Object#methods, WIN32OLE might work well with did_you_mean gem. This is experimental.

require 'win32ole'
dict = WIN32OLE.new('Scripting.Dictionary')
dict.Ade('a', 1)
#=> Did you mean?  Add

Calls superclass method Object#methods

# File ext/win32ole/lib/win32ole.rb, line 20
def methods(*args)
  super + ole_methods_safely.map(&:name).map(&:to_sym)
end

ole_activex_initialize() → Qnil

Initialize WIN32OLE object(ActiveX Control) by calling IPersistMemory::InitNew.

Before calling OLE method, some kind of the ActiveX controls created with MFC should be initialized by calling IPersistXXX::InitNew.

If and only if you received the exception “HRESULT error code: 0x8000ffff catastrophic failure”, try this method before invoking any ole_method.

obj = WIN32OLE.new("ProgID_or_GUID_of_ActiveX_Control")
obj.ole_activex_initialize
obj.method(...)

static VALUE
fole_activex_initialize(VALUE self)
{
    struct oledata *pole = NULL;
    IPersistMemory *pPersistMemory;
    void *p;

    HRESULT hr = S_OK;

    pole = oledata_get_struct(self);

    hr = pole->pDispatch->lpVtbl->QueryInterface(pole->pDispatch, &IID_IPersistMemory, &p);
    pPersistMemory = p;
    if (SUCCEEDED(hr)) {
        hr = pPersistMemory->lpVtbl->InitNew(pPersistMemory);
        OLE_RELEASE(pPersistMemory);
        if (SUCCEEDED(hr)) {
            return Qnil;
        }
    }

    if (FAILED(hr)) {
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLERuntimeError, "fail to initialize ActiveX control");
    }

    return Qnil;
}

ole_free

invokes Release method of Dispatch interface of WIN32OLE object. Usually, you do not need to call this method because Release method called automatically when WIN32OLE object garbaged.

static VALUE
fole_free(VALUE self)
{
    struct oledata *pole = NULL;
    pole = oledata_get_struct(self);
    OLE_FREE(pole->pDispatch);
    pole->pDispatch = NULL;
    return Qnil;
}

ole_func_methods

Returns the array of WIN32OLE::Method object . The element of the array is property (settable) of WIN32OLE object.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
properties = excel.ole_func_methods

static VALUE
fole_func_methods(VALUE self)
{
    return ole_methods( self, INVOKE_FUNC);
}

ole_get_methods

Returns the array of WIN32OLE::Method object . The element of the array is property (gettable) of WIN32OLE object.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
properties = excel.ole_get_methods

static VALUE
fole_get_methods(VALUE self)
{
    return ole_methods( self, INVOKE_PROPERTYGET);
}

ole_method

Also aliased as: ole_method_help

ole_method_help(method)

Returns WIN32OLE::Method object corresponding with method specified by 1st argument.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
method = excel.ole_method_help('Quit')

Alias for: ole_method

ole_methods

Returns the array of WIN32OLE::Method object. The element is OLE method of WIN32OLE object.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
methods = excel.ole_methods

static VALUE
fole_methods(VALUE self)
{
    return ole_methods( self, INVOKE_FUNC | INVOKE_PROPERTYGET | INVOKE_PROPERTYPUT | INVOKE_PROPERTYPUTREF);
}

ole_type

Returns WIN32OLE::Type object.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
tobj = excel.ole_type

Alias for: ole_type

ole_put_methods

Returns the array of WIN32OLE::Method object . The element of the array is property (settable) of WIN32OLE object.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
properties = excel.ole_put_methods

static VALUE
fole_put_methods(VALUE self)
{
    return ole_methods( self, INVOKE_PROPERTYPUT|INVOKE_PROPERTYPUTREF);
}

ole_query_interface(iid) → WIN32OLE object

Returns WIN32OLE object for a specific dispatch or dual interface specified by iid.

ie = WIN32OLE.new('InternetExplorer.Application')
ie_web_app = ie.ole_query_interface('{0002DF05-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}') # => WIN32OLE object for dispinterface IWebBrowserApp

static VALUE
fole_query_interface(VALUE self, VALUE str_iid)
{
    HRESULT hr;
    OLECHAR *pBuf;
    IID iid;
    struct oledata *pole = NULL;
    IDispatch *pDispatch;
    void *p;

    pBuf  = ole_vstr2wc(str_iid);
    hr = CLSIDFromString(pBuf, &iid);
    SysFreeString(pBuf);
    if(FAILED(hr)) {
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLERuntimeError,
                  "invalid iid: `%s'",
                  StringValuePtr(str_iid));
    }

    pole = oledata_get_struct(self);
    if(!pole->pDispatch) {
        rb_raise(rb_eRuntimeError, "failed to get dispatch interface");
    }

    hr = pole->pDispatch->lpVtbl->QueryInterface(pole->pDispatch, &iid,
                                                 &p);
    if(FAILED(hr)) {
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLEQueryInterfaceError,
                  "failed to get interface `%s'",
                  StringValuePtr(str_iid));
    }

    pDispatch = p;
    return create_win32ole_object(cWIN32OLE, pDispatch, 0, 0);
}

ole_respond_to?(method) → true or false

Returns true when OLE object has OLE method, otherwise returns false.

ie = WIN32OLE.new('InternetExplorer.Application')
ie.ole_respond_to?("gohome") => true

static VALUE
fole_respond_to(VALUE self, VALUE method)
{
    struct oledata *pole = NULL;
    BSTR wcmdname;
    DISPID DispID;
    HRESULT hr;
    if(!RB_TYPE_P(method, T_STRING) && !RB_TYPE_P(method, T_SYMBOL)) {
        rb_raise(rb_eTypeError, "wrong argument type (expected String or Symbol)");
    }
    if (RB_TYPE_P(method, T_SYMBOL)) {
        method = rb_sym2str(method);
    }
    pole = oledata_get_struct(self);
    wcmdname = ole_vstr2wc(method);
    hr = pole->pDispatch->lpVtbl->GetIDsOfNames( pole->pDispatch, &IID_NULL,
            &wcmdname, 1, cWIN32OLE_lcid, &DispID);
    SysFreeString(wcmdname);
    return SUCCEEDED(hr) ? Qtrue : Qfalse;
}

ole_type

Returns WIN32OLE::Type object.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
tobj = excel.ole_type

static VALUE
fole_type(VALUE self)
{
    ITypeInfo *pTypeInfo;
    HRESULT hr;
    struct oledata *pole = NULL;
    LCID  lcid = cWIN32OLE_lcid;
    VALUE type = Qnil;

    pole = oledata_get_struct(self);

    hr = pole->pDispatch->lpVtbl->GetTypeInfo( pole->pDispatch, 0, lcid, &pTypeInfo );
    if(FAILED(hr)) {
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLEQueryInterfaceError, "failed to GetTypeInfo");
    }
    type = ole_type_from_itypeinfo(pTypeInfo);
    OLE_RELEASE(pTypeInfo);
    if (type == Qnil) {
        rb_raise(rb_eRuntimeError, "failed to create WIN32OLE::Type obj from ITypeInfo");
    }
    return type;
}

Also aliased as: ole_obj_help

ole_typelib → The WIN32OLE_TYPELIB object

Returns the WIN32OLE::TypeLib object. The object represents the type library which contains the WIN32OLE object.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
tlib = excel.ole_typelib
puts tlib.name  # -> 'Microsoft Excel 9.0 Object Library'

static VALUE
fole_typelib(VALUE self)
{
    struct oledata *pole = NULL;
    HRESULT hr;
    ITypeInfo *pTypeInfo;
    LCID  lcid = cWIN32OLE_lcid;
    VALUE vtlib = Qnil;

    pole = oledata_get_struct(self);
    hr = pole->pDispatch->lpVtbl->GetTypeInfo(pole->pDispatch,
                                              0, lcid, &pTypeInfo);
    if(FAILED(hr)) {
        ole_raise(hr, eWIN32OLEQueryInterfaceError, "failed to GetTypeInfo");
    }
    vtlib = ole_typelib_from_itypeinfo(pTypeInfo);
    OLE_RELEASE(pTypeInfo);
    if (vtlib == Qnil) {
        rb_raise(rb_eRuntimeError, "failed to get type library info.");
    }
    return vtlib;
}

setproperty('property', [arg1, arg2,...] val)

Sets property of OLE object. When you want to set property with argument, you can use this method.

excel = WIN32OLE.new('Excel.Application')
excel.Visible = true
book = excel.workbooks.add
sheet = book.worksheets(1)
sheet.setproperty('Cells', 1, 2, 10) # => The B1 cell value is 10.

static VALUE
fole_setproperty(int argc, VALUE *argv, VALUE self)
{
    VALUE v = ole_invoke(argc, argv, self, DISPATCH_PROPERTYPUT, FALSE);
    if (v == rb_eNoMethodError) {
        return rb_call_super(argc, argv);
    }
    return v;
}