Q75631: XLTABLE Clipboard Format Documentation Available
Article: Q75631
Product(s): Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.1
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s): kb16bitonly
Last Modified: 06-NOV-1999
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0, 3.1
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SUMMARY
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XLTABLE is a new clipboard format developed for use in dynamic-data exchange
(DDE) conversations with Microsoft Excel.
Using this format instead of BIFF (the Binary Interchange File Format) results in
faster conversations. Code to read and write this format is also easier to
implement. The format does not introduce translation problems that can occur
when putting text on the clipboard.
The "Microsoft Excel Software Development Kit," part number 065-000- 020,
describes all the Excel file formats. In the United States, this document is
available for $20.00 through the Microsoft Consultant Relations Program by
calling (800) 227-4679. Outside the United States, contact the Microsoft
subsidiary that supports your country for pricing and availability information.
MORE INFORMATION
================
The following information documents the XLTABLE data format:
FAST FILE FORMAT
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The Fast DDE Table data consists of multiple simple_datablocks, one after the
other:
Fast_DDE_Table = <simple_datablock> <simple_datablock> ...
<simple_datablock>
A simple_datablock has three parts:
WORD tdt; // The table datatype
WORD cb; // The size (in bytes) of the data part
BYTE data[]; // There are cb bytes in this part
Description of the Table Datatypes:
tdt Value Meaning
--- ----- -------
tdtTable 0x0010 Gives the size of the table. The cb is 4.
The data (4 bytes) has two words: the first
word is the number of rows, the second word
is the number of columns.
tdtFloat 0x0001 The data contains floating point values in IEEE
real format. The size of each entry is 8 bytes.
tdtString 0x0002 The data contains strings in "st" format. In this
format, the first byte gives the length of the
string, and the following bytes make up the
string. The string is not null-terminated.
tdtBool 0x0003 Boolean values: 1 = TRUE, 0 = FALSE
Each entry is 2 bytes.
tdtError 0x0004 Error values for the cell:
0 = #NULL!
7 = #DIV/0!
15 = #VALUE!
23 = #REF!
29 = #NAME?
36 = #NUM!
42 = #N/A
Each entry is 2 bytes.
tdtBlank 0x0005 The cb is 2. The data (2 bytes) has one word.
The value of the word is the number of blank cells.
tdtType 0x0080 Not used. Gives the type of the cell. Each entry
is 2 bytes.
tdtFormat 0x0081 Not used. Gives the format of the cell (0-
relative index into the format table as shown in
the Format Number dialog box). Each entry is 2
bytes.
Order of the cells: The first simple_datablock must be of type tdtTable. This
record provides the number of rows and columns. This is followed by rows*cols
cells represented by the subsequent simple_datablocks. The cells are represented
row-wise, (all cells of the first row are listed first, then all cells of the
second row, and so on).
For example, the Fast DDE Table for a selection consisting of three cells in a
row, containing the strings "East", "West", and "North", respectively, will
resemble the following:
10 00 04 00 01 00 03 00 - tdtTable, 4, 1, 3
02 00 10 00 - tdtString, 16
04 45 61 73 74 - 4, East
04 57 65 73 74 - 4, West
05 4e 6f 72 74 68 - 5, North
Additional query words: 3.00 3.10 DDE clipboard
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Keywords : kb16bitonly
Technology : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbSDKSearch kbWinSDKSearch kbWinSDK300 kbWinSDK310
Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.1
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