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Can't destroy Excel Process; tried Just about everything!

Author
10 Apr 2005 7:09 PM
LP
Hello,

I am trying to use .NET with Excel. I installed Office 2003 and selected
..NET programming suport option, so it installed all those PIA, as MS
sugests. But I can not find a way to destroy Excel process, it still hangs
in the taks manager' Processes as running. I am trying very simple code
(see below), but Excel wont go away, I tried just about anything I could
find on MSDN or by Google. Even calling WIN32 API to destroy Excel. But
NOTHING works, Any help will be appreciated.
'API declaration:
Public Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal
lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long

Public Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA" (ByVal
hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As
Long) As Long

' actual VB.NET Code:

Public Const WM_DESTROY = &H2

Public Const WM_USER = &H400

Dim exApplication As New Excel.Application

exApplication.DisplayAlerts = False

exApplication.Caption = "Microsoft Excel (to close)"

Dim wrk As Excel.Workbook

wrk = exApplication.Workbooks.Add()

Dim settings As New SiteSettings

Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")

Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"

wrk.SaveAs(fileName)

wrk.Close()

NAR(wrk)

wrk = Nothing

exApplication.Quit()

NAR(exApplication)

exApplication = Nothing

' Kill process

Dim hwnd As Long

Dim lngResult As Long

hwnd = FindWindow("XLMAIN", "Microsoft Excel (to close)")

If hwnd <> 0 Then

lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_USER + 18, 0, 0)

lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0)

End If



Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)

Dim i As Integer = -2

Try

While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)

i = System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)

End While

Catch

Finally

o = Nothing

End Try

End Sub

Author
10 Apr 2005 7:17 PM
Howard Kaikow
..NET languages do nopt clean up the same way as VBA does.

In addition to setting variables to Nothing, add the following at the end of
your code to expedite garbage collection.
GC.Collect()
GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
GC.Collect()
GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()

And do not forget to Quit Excel.

--
http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
Show quoteHide quote
"LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
news:uOMFDDgPFHA.1176@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> I am trying to use .NET with Excel. I installed Office 2003 and selected
> .NET programming suport option, so it installed all those PIA, as MS
> sugests. But I can not find a way to destroy Excel process, it still hangs
> in the taks manager' Processes as running. I am trying very simple code
> (see below), but Excel wont go away, I tried just about anything I could
> find on MSDN or by Google. Even calling WIN32 API to destroy Excel. But
> NOTHING works, Any help will be appreciated.
> 'API declaration:
> Public Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal
> lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
>
> Public Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA"
(ByVal
> hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As
> Long) As Long
>
> ' actual VB.NET Code:
>
> Public Const WM_DESTROY = &H2
>
> Public Const WM_USER = &H400
>
> Dim exApplication As New Excel.Application
>
> exApplication.DisplayAlerts = False
>
> exApplication.Caption = "Microsoft Excel (to close)"
>
> Dim wrk As Excel.Workbook
>
> wrk = exApplication.Workbooks.Add()
>
> Dim settings As New SiteSettings
>
> Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
>
> Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"
>
> wrk.SaveAs(fileName)
>
> wrk.Close()
>
> NAR(wrk)
>
> wrk = Nothing
>
> exApplication.Quit()
>
> NAR(exApplication)
>
> exApplication = Nothing
>
> ' Kill process
>
> Dim hwnd As Long
>
> Dim lngResult As Long
>
> hwnd = FindWindow("XLMAIN", "Microsoft Excel (to close)")
>
> If hwnd <> 0 Then
>
> lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_USER + 18, 0, 0)
>
> lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0)
>
> End If
>
>
>
> Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)
>
> Dim i As Integer = -2
>
> Try
>
> While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)
>
> i = System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
>
> End While
>
> Catch
>
> Finally
>
> o = Nothing
>
> End Try
>
> End Sub
>
>
Author
10 Apr 2005 8:11 PM
LP
Thanks for the reply. I actually already had .Collect() below. I added:
GC.Collect() GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers() twice, but still Excel Process is
running. Any other ideas?







Show quoteHide quote
"Howard Kaikow" <kai***@standards.com> wrote in message
news:Oo94RHgPFHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> .NET languages do nopt clean up the same way as VBA does.
>
> In addition to setting variables to Nothing, add the following at the end
of
> your code to expedite garbage collection.
> GC.Collect()
> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
> GC.Collect()
> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
>
> And do not forget to Quit Excel.
>
> --
> http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
> news:uOMFDDgPFHA.1176@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am trying to use .NET with Excel. I installed Office 2003 and selected
> > .NET programming suport option, so it installed all those PIA, as MS
> > sugests. But I can not find a way to destroy Excel process, it still
hangs
> > in the taks manager' Processes as running. I am trying very simple code
> > (see below), but Excel wont go away, I tried just about anything I could
> > find on MSDN or by Google. Even calling WIN32 API to destroy Excel. But
> > NOTHING works, Any help will be appreciated.
> > 'API declaration:
> > Public Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA"
(ByVal
> > lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
> >
> > Public Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA"
> (ByVal
> > hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As
> > Long) As Long
> >
> > ' actual VB.NET Code:
> >
> > Public Const WM_DESTROY = &H2
> >
> > Public Const WM_USER = &H400
> >
> > Dim exApplication As New Excel.Application
> >
> > exApplication.DisplayAlerts = False
> >
> > exApplication.Caption = "Microsoft Excel (to close)"
> >
> > Dim wrk As Excel.Workbook
> >
> > wrk = exApplication.Workbooks.Add()
> >
> > Dim settings As New SiteSettings
> >
> > Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
> >
> > Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"
> >
> > wrk.SaveAs(fileName)
> >
> > wrk.Close()
> >
> > NAR(wrk)
> >
> > wrk = Nothing
> >
> > exApplication.Quit()
> >
> > NAR(exApplication)
> >
> > exApplication = Nothing
> >
> > ' Kill process
> >
> > Dim hwnd As Long
> >
> > Dim lngResult As Long
> >
> > hwnd = FindWindow("XLMAIN", "Microsoft Excel (to close)")
> >
> > If hwnd <> 0 Then
> >
> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_USER + 18, 0, 0)
> >
> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0)
> >
> > End If
> >
> >
> >
> > Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)
> >
> > Dim i As Integer = -2
> >
> > Try
> >
> > While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)
> >
> > i = System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
> >
> > End While
> >
> > Catch
> >
> > Finally
> >
> > o = Nothing
> >
> > End Try
> >
> > End Sub
> >
> >
>
>
Author
11 Apr 2005 1:16 AM
Scott M.
Don't forget to call Marshall.ReleaseComObject(yourXLinstanceObjectVariable)
for EACH COM object you've instanced after you quit Excel.



Show quoteHide quote
"LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
news:uyaOEmgPFHA.1236@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Thanks for the reply. I actually already had .Collect() below. I added:
> GC.Collect() GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers() twice, but still Excel Process
> is
> running. Any other ideas?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Howard Kaikow" <kai***@standards.com> wrote in message
> news:Oo94RHgPFHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> .NET languages do nopt clean up the same way as VBA does.
>>
>> In addition to setting variables to Nothing, add the following at the end
> of
>> your code to expedite garbage collection.
>> GC.Collect()
>> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
>> GC.Collect()
>> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
>>
>> And do not forget to Quit Excel.
>>
>> --
>> http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
>> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
>> news:uOMFDDgPFHA.1176@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > I am trying to use .NET with Excel. I installed Office 2003 and
>> > selected
>> > .NET programming suport option, so it installed all those PIA, as MS
>> > sugests. But I can not find a way to destroy Excel process, it still
> hangs
>> > in the taks manager' Processes as running. I am trying very simple code
>> > (see below), but Excel wont go away, I tried just about anything I
>> > could
>> > find on MSDN or by Google. Even calling WIN32 API to destroy Excel. But
>> > NOTHING works, Any help will be appreciated.
>> > 'API declaration:
>> > Public Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA"
> (ByVal
>> > lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
>> >
>> > Public Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA"
>> (ByVal
>> > hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As
>> > Long) As Long
>> >
>> > ' actual VB.NET Code:
>> >
>> > Public Const WM_DESTROY = &H2
>> >
>> > Public Const WM_USER = &H400
>> >
>> > Dim exApplication As New Excel.Application
>> >
>> > exApplication.DisplayAlerts = False
>> >
>> > exApplication.Caption = "Microsoft Excel (to close)"
>> >
>> > Dim wrk As Excel.Workbook
>> >
>> > wrk = exApplication.Workbooks.Add()
>> >
>> > Dim settings As New SiteSettings
>> >
>> > Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
>> >
>> > Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"
>> >
>> > wrk.SaveAs(fileName)
>> >
>> > wrk.Close()
>> >
>> > NAR(wrk)
>> >
>> > wrk = Nothing
>> >
>> > exApplication.Quit()
>> >
>> > NAR(exApplication)
>> >
>> > exApplication = Nothing
>> >
>> > ' Kill process
>> >
>> > Dim hwnd As Long
>> >
>> > Dim lngResult As Long
>> >
>> > hwnd = FindWindow("XLMAIN", "Microsoft Excel (to close)")
>> >
>> > If hwnd <> 0 Then
>> >
>> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_USER + 18, 0, 0)
>> >
>> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0)
>> >
>> > End If
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)
>> >
>> > Dim i As Integer = -2
>> >
>> > Try
>> >
>> > While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)
>> >
>> > i = System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
>> >
>> > End While
>> >
>> > Catch
>> >
>> > Finally
>> >
>> > o = Nothing
>> >
>> > End Try
>> >
>> > End Sub
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
Author
11 Apr 2005 1:31 AM
LP
Yes, I am doing that with NAR() function:

NAR(wrk)


Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)
        Dim i As Integer = -2
        Try
            While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)
                i =
System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)

            End While

        Catch
        Finally
            o = Nothing
        End Try
    End Sub


"Scott M." <s-mar@nospam.nospam> wrote in message
news:ugiOiRjPFHA.2956@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Don't forget to call
Marshall.ReleaseComObject(yourXLinstanceObjectVariable)
Show quoteHide quote
> for EACH COM object you've instanced after you quit Excel.
>
>
>
> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
> news:uyaOEmgPFHA.1236@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> > Thanks for the reply. I actually already had .Collect() below. I added:
> > GC.Collect() GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers() twice, but still Excel
Process
> > is
> > running. Any other ideas?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Howard Kaikow" <kai***@standards.com> wrote in message
> > news:Oo94RHgPFHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> >> .NET languages do nopt clean up the same way as VBA does.
> >>
> >> In addition to setting variables to Nothing, add the following at the
end
> > of
> >> your code to expedite garbage collection.
> >> GC.Collect()
> >> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
> >> GC.Collect()
> >> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
> >>
> >> And do not forget to Quit Excel.
> >>
> >> --
> >> http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
> >> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
> >> news:uOMFDDgPFHA.1176@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> >> > Hello,
> >> >
> >> > I am trying to use .NET with Excel. I installed Office 2003 and
> >> > selected
> >> > .NET programming suport option, so it installed all those PIA, as MS
> >> > sugests. But I can not find a way to destroy Excel process, it still
> > hangs
> >> > in the taks manager' Processes as running. I am trying very simple
code
> >> > (see below), but Excel wont go away, I tried just about anything I
> >> > could
> >> > find on MSDN or by Google. Even calling WIN32 API to destroy Excel.
But
> >> > NOTHING works, Any help will be appreciated.
> >> > 'API declaration:
> >> > Public Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA"
> > (ByVal
> >> > lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
> >> >
> >> > Public Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA"
> >> (ByVal
> >> > hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam
As
> >> > Long) As Long
> >> >
> >> > ' actual VB.NET Code:
> >> >
> >> > Public Const WM_DESTROY = &H2
> >> >
> >> > Public Const WM_USER = &H400
> >> >
> >> > Dim exApplication As New Excel.Application
> >> >
> >> > exApplication.DisplayAlerts = False
> >> >
> >> > exApplication.Caption = "Microsoft Excel (to close)"
> >> >
> >> > Dim wrk As Excel.Workbook
> >> >
> >> > wrk = exApplication.Workbooks.Add()
> >> >
> >> > Dim settings As New SiteSettings
> >> >
> >> > Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
> >> >
> >> > Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"
> >> >
> >> > wrk.SaveAs(fileName)
> >> >
> >> > wrk.Close()
> >> >
> >> > NAR(wrk)
> >> >
> >> > wrk = Nothing
> >> >
> >> > exApplication.Quit()
> >> >
> >> > NAR(exApplication)
> >> >
> >> > exApplication = Nothing
> >> >
> >> > ' Kill process
> >> >
> >> > Dim hwnd As Long
> >> >
> >> > Dim lngResult As Long
> >> >
> >> > hwnd = FindWindow("XLMAIN", "Microsoft Excel (to close)")
> >> >
> >> > If hwnd <> 0 Then
> >> >
> >> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_USER + 18, 0, 0)
> >> >
> >> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0)
> >> >
> >> > End If
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)
> >> >
> >> > Dim i As Integer = -2
> >> >
> >> > Try
> >> >
> >> > While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)
> >> >
> >> > i = System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
> >> >
> >> > End While
> >> >
> >> > Catch
> >> >
> >> > Finally
> >> >
> >> > o = Nothing
> >> >
> >> > End Try
> >> >
> >> > End Sub
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
Author
11 Apr 2005 2:47 PM
Scott M.
Something tells me that it's the way you've got the NAR method setup that is
the problem.

Also, you should be setting your object variable to nothing before you call
Marsahall.ReleaseComObject:

"The ReleaseComObject method decrements the reference count of a runtime
callable wrapper. When the reference count reached zero, the runtime
releases all its references on the unmanaged COM object, and throws a
System.NullReferenceException if you attempt to use the object further."

Have you tried just using ReleaseCom object directly in your code rather
than trying to create a "kill all" method?



Show quoteHide quote
"LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
news:uTIg5YjPFHA.3156@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> Yes, I am doing that with NAR() function:
>
> NAR(wrk)
>
>
> Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)
>        Dim i As Integer = -2
>        Try
>            While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)
>                i =
> System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
>
>            End While
>
>        Catch
>        Finally
>            o = Nothing
>        End Try
>    End Sub
>
>
> "Scott M." <s-mar@nospam.nospam> wrote in message
> news:ugiOiRjPFHA.2956@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> Don't forget to call
> Marshall.ReleaseComObject(yourXLinstanceObjectVariable)
>> for EACH COM object you've instanced after you quit Excel.
>>
>>
>>
>> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
>> news:uyaOEmgPFHA.1236@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>> > Thanks for the reply. I actually already had .Collect() below. I added:
>> > GC.Collect() GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers() twice, but still Excel
> Process
>> > is
>> > running. Any other ideas?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Howard Kaikow" <kai***@standards.com> wrote in message
>> > news:Oo94RHgPFHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> >> .NET languages do nopt clean up the same way as VBA does.
>> >>
>> >> In addition to setting variables to Nothing, add the following at the
> end
>> > of
>> >> your code to expedite garbage collection.
>> >> GC.Collect()
>> >> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
>> >> GC.Collect()
>> >> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
>> >>
>> >> And do not forget to Quit Excel.
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
>> >> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:uOMFDDgPFHA.1176@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> >> > Hello,
>> >> >
>> >> > I am trying to use .NET with Excel. I installed Office 2003 and
>> >> > selected
>> >> > .NET programming suport option, so it installed all those PIA, as MS
>> >> > sugests. But I can not find a way to destroy Excel process, it still
>> > hangs
>> >> > in the taks manager' Processes as running. I am trying very simple
> code
>> >> > (see below), but Excel wont go away, I tried just about anything I
>> >> > could
>> >> > find on MSDN or by Google. Even calling WIN32 API to destroy Excel.
> But
>> >> > NOTHING works, Any help will be appreciated.
>> >> > 'API declaration:
>> >> > Public Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA"
>> > (ByVal
>> >> > lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
>> >> >
>> >> > Public Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias
>> >> > "SendMessageA"
>> >> (ByVal
>> >> > hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam
> As
>> >> > Long) As Long
>> >> >
>> >> > ' actual VB.NET Code:
>> >> >
>> >> > Public Const WM_DESTROY = &H2
>> >> >
>> >> > Public Const WM_USER = &H400
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim exApplication As New Excel.Application
>> >> >
>> >> > exApplication.DisplayAlerts = False
>> >> >
>> >> > exApplication.Caption = "Microsoft Excel (to close)"
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim wrk As Excel.Workbook
>> >> >
>> >> > wrk = exApplication.Workbooks.Add()
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim settings As New SiteSettings
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"
>> >> >
>> >> > wrk.SaveAs(fileName)
>> >> >
>> >> > wrk.Close()
>> >> >
>> >> > NAR(wrk)
>> >> >
>> >> > wrk = Nothing
>> >> >
>> >> > exApplication.Quit()
>> >> >
>> >> > NAR(exApplication)
>> >> >
>> >> > exApplication = Nothing
>> >> >
>> >> > ' Kill process
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim hwnd As Long
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim lngResult As Long
>> >> >
>> >> > hwnd = FindWindow("XLMAIN", "Microsoft Excel (to close)")
>> >> >
>> >> > If hwnd <> 0 Then
>> >> >
>> >> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_USER + 18, 0, 0)
>> >> >
>> >> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0)
>> >> >
>> >> > End If
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim i As Integer = -2
>> >> >
>> >> > Try
>> >> >
>> >> > While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)
>> >> >
>> >> > i = System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
>> >> >
>> >> > End While
>> >> >
>> >> > Catch
>> >> >
>> >> > Finally
>> >> >
>> >> > o = Nothing
>> >> >
>> >> > End Try
>> >> >
>> >> > End Sub
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
Author
11 Apr 2005 1:49 AM
lgbjr
LP,

I spent a few weeks dealing with the same thing. I finally discovered that
how Excel objects are created and the order in which Excel objects are
disposed is critical to getting the Excel Process to terminate.

Try the following. the code opens a new instance of excel, adds a workbook,
adds some sheets to the workbook, then adds some data to the first row of
each sheet. Then it saves and exits

Dim r, c, s as Integer

Dim xl As Excel.Application

Dim wbs As Excel.Workbooks

Dim wb As Excel.Workbook

Dim ws As Excel.Worksheet

Dim rng As Excel.Range

Dim st As Excel.Sheets

Dim SName() As String = {"First", "Second", "Third", "Fourth"}

Dim settings As New SiteSettings
Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"



r = 1

xl = New Excel.Application

xl.Visible = False

xl.DisplayAlerts = False

xl.SheetsInNewWorkbook = 1

wbs = xl.Workbooks

wb = wbs.Add

st = wb.Sheets

ws = wb.ActiveSheet

ws.Name = "Summary"

For s = 0 To Sname.Length

            st.Add()

                        ws = wb.ActiveSheet

                        ws.Name = Sname(s)

                        For c = 1 To 10

                        ws.Cells.Item(r, c) = ¡°X¡±

                        Next

Next



xl.ActiveWorkbook.SaveAs(filename)

xl.ActiveWorkbook.Saved = True

NAR(rng)

NAR(st)

NAR(ws)

xl.ActiveWorkbook.Close()

NAR(wb)

NAR(wbs)

xl.Quit()

NAR(xl)

GC.Collect()



Private Sub NAR(ByVal o As Object)

        Dim i, j As Integer

        Try

            For i = 1 To
System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)

                j =
System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)

            Next

        Catch

        Finally

            o = Nothing

        End Try

End Sub


Let me know how it goes!

HTH
Lee
Show quoteHide quote
"LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
news:uyaOEmgPFHA.1236@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Thanks for the reply. I actually already had .Collect() below. I added:
> GC.Collect() GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers() twice, but still Excel Process
> is
> running. Any other ideas?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Howard Kaikow" <kai***@standards.com> wrote in message
> news:Oo94RHgPFHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> .NET languages do nopt clean up the same way as VBA does.
>>
>> In addition to setting variables to Nothing, add the following at the end
> of
>> your code to expedite garbage collection.
>> GC.Collect()
>> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
>> GC.Collect()
>> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
>>
>> And do not forget to Quit Excel.
>>
>> --
>> http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
>> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
>> news:uOMFDDgPFHA.1176@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > I am trying to use .NET with Excel. I installed Office 2003 and
>> > selected
>> > .NET programming suport option, so it installed all those PIA, as MS
>> > sugests. But I can not find a way to destroy Excel process, it still
> hangs
>> > in the taks manager' Processes as running. I am trying very simple code
>> > (see below), but Excel wont go away, I tried just about anything I
>> > could
>> > find on MSDN or by Google. Even calling WIN32 API to destroy Excel. But
>> > NOTHING works, Any help will be appreciated.
>> > 'API declaration:
>> > Public Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA"
> (ByVal
>> > lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
>> >
>> > Public Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA"
>> (ByVal
>> > hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As
>> > Long) As Long
>> >
>> > ' actual VB.NET Code:
>> >
>> > Public Const WM_DESTROY = &H2
>> >
>> > Public Const WM_USER = &H400
>> >
>> > Dim exApplication As New Excel.Application
>> >
>> > exApplication.DisplayAlerts = False
>> >
>> > exApplication.Caption = "Microsoft Excel (to close)"
>> >
>> > Dim wrk As Excel.Workbook
>> >
>> > wrk = exApplication.Workbooks.Add()
>> >
>> > Dim settings As New SiteSettings
>> >
>> > Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
>> >
>> > Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"
>> >
>> > wrk.SaveAs(fileName)
>> >
>> > wrk.Close()
>> >
>> > NAR(wrk)
>> >
>> > wrk = Nothing
>> >
>> > exApplication.Quit()
>> >
>> > NAR(exApplication)
>> >
>> > exApplication = Nothing
>> >
>> > ' Kill process
>> >
>> > Dim hwnd As Long
>> >
>> > Dim lngResult As Long
>> >
>> > hwnd = FindWindow("XLMAIN", "Microsoft Excel (to close)")
>> >
>> > If hwnd <> 0 Then
>> >
>> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_USER + 18, 0, 0)
>> >
>> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0)
>> >
>> > End If
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)
>> >
>> > Dim i As Integer = -2
>> >
>> > Try
>> >
>> > While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)
>> >
>> > i = System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
>> >
>> > End While
>> >
>> > Catch
>> >
>> > Finally
>> >
>> > o = Nothing
>> >
>> > End Try
>> >
>> > End Sub
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
Author
11 Apr 2005 3:54 AM
LP
Thanks lgbjr.

I tried your code, but unfortunatly it's still not working. I even tried
enchancing your code; destroying selected range and , looping through
worksheets and workbooks in xl application and destroying them and still
doesnt work. It seems to me it's somekind of bug in Excel.Interop, I really
want to hear from MS people about this. MSDN library doesn't seem to have
any usefull info about this issue.


Show quoteHide quote
"lgbjr" <lgbjr@online.nospam> wrote in message
news:eQ933ijPFHA.2144@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> LP,
>
> I spent a few weeks dealing with the same thing. I finally discovered that
> how Excel objects are created and the order in which Excel objects are
> disposed is critical to getting the Excel Process to terminate.
>
> Try the following. the code opens a new instance of excel, adds a
workbook,
> adds some sheets to the workbook, then adds some data to the first row of
> each sheet. Then it saves and exits
>
> Dim r, c, s as Integer
>
> Dim xl As Excel.Application
>
> Dim wbs As Excel.Workbooks
>
> Dim wb As Excel.Workbook
>
> Dim ws As Excel.Worksheet
>
> Dim rng As Excel.Range
>
> Dim st As Excel.Sheets
>
> Dim SName() As String = {"First", "Second", "Third", "Fourth"}
>
> Dim settings As New SiteSettings
> Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
> Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"
>
>
>
> r = 1
>
> xl = New Excel.Application
>
> xl.Visible = False
>
> xl.DisplayAlerts = False
>
> xl.SheetsInNewWorkbook = 1
>
> wbs = xl.Workbooks
>
> wb = wbs.Add
>
> st = wb.Sheets
>
> ws = wb.ActiveSheet
>
> ws.Name = "Summary"
>
> For s = 0 To Sname.Length
>
>             st.Add()
>
>                         ws = wb.ActiveSheet
>
>                         ws.Name = Sname(s)
>
>                         For c = 1 To 10
>
>                         ws.Cells.Item(r, c) = ¡°X¡±
>
>                         Next
>
> Next
>
>
>
> xl.ActiveWorkbook.SaveAs(filename)
>
> xl.ActiveWorkbook.Saved = True
>
> NAR(rng)
>
> NAR(st)
>
> NAR(ws)
>
> xl.ActiveWorkbook.Close()
>
> NAR(wb)
>
> NAR(wbs)
>
> xl.Quit()
>
> NAR(xl)
>
> GC.Collect()
>
>
>
> Private Sub NAR(ByVal o As Object)
>
>         Dim i, j As Integer
>
>         Try
>
>             For i = 1 To
> System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
>
>                 j =
> System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
>
>             Next
>
>         Catch
>
>         Finally
>
>             o = Nothing
>
>         End Try
>
> End Sub
>
>
> Let me know how it goes!
>
> HTH
> Lee
> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
> news:uyaOEmgPFHA.1236@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> > Thanks for the reply. I actually already had .Collect() below. I added:
> > GC.Collect() GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers() twice, but still Excel
Process
> > is
> > running. Any other ideas?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Howard Kaikow" <kai***@standards.com> wrote in message
> > news:Oo94RHgPFHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> >> .NET languages do nopt clean up the same way as VBA does.
> >>
> >> In addition to setting variables to Nothing, add the following at the
end
> > of
> >> your code to expedite garbage collection.
> >> GC.Collect()
> >> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
> >> GC.Collect()
> >> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
> >>
> >> And do not forget to Quit Excel.
> >>
> >> --
> >> http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
> >> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
> >> news:uOMFDDgPFHA.1176@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> >> > Hello,
> >> >
> >> > I am trying to use .NET with Excel. I installed Office 2003 and
> >> > selected
> >> > .NET programming suport option, so it installed all those PIA, as MS
> >> > sugests. But I can not find a way to destroy Excel process, it still
> > hangs
> >> > in the taks manager' Processes as running. I am trying very simple
code
> >> > (see below), but Excel wont go away, I tried just about anything I
> >> > could
> >> > find on MSDN or by Google. Even calling WIN32 API to destroy Excel.
But
> >> > NOTHING works, Any help will be appreciated.
> >> > 'API declaration:
> >> > Public Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA"
> > (ByVal
> >> > lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
> >> >
> >> > Public Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA"
> >> (ByVal
> >> > hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam
As
> >> > Long) As Long
> >> >
> >> > ' actual VB.NET Code:
> >> >
> >> > Public Const WM_DESTROY = &H2
> >> >
> >> > Public Const WM_USER = &H400
> >> >
> >> > Dim exApplication As New Excel.Application
> >> >
> >> > exApplication.DisplayAlerts = False
> >> >
> >> > exApplication.Caption = "Microsoft Excel (to close)"
> >> >
> >> > Dim wrk As Excel.Workbook
> >> >
> >> > wrk = exApplication.Workbooks.Add()
> >> >
> >> > Dim settings As New SiteSettings
> >> >
> >> > Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
> >> >
> >> > Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"
> >> >
> >> > wrk.SaveAs(fileName)
> >> >
> >> > wrk.Close()
> >> >
> >> > NAR(wrk)
> >> >
> >> > wrk = Nothing
> >> >
> >> > exApplication.Quit()
> >> >
> >> > NAR(exApplication)
> >> >
> >> > exApplication = Nothing
> >> >
> >> > ' Kill process
> >> >
> >> > Dim hwnd As Long
> >> >
> >> > Dim lngResult As Long
> >> >
> >> > hwnd = FindWindow("XLMAIN", "Microsoft Excel (to close)")
> >> >
> >> > If hwnd <> 0 Then
> >> >
> >> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_USER + 18, 0, 0)
> >> >
> >> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0)
> >> >
> >> > End If
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)
> >> >
> >> > Dim i As Integer = -2
> >> >
> >> > Try
> >> >
> >> > While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)
> >> >
> >> > i = System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
> >> >
> >> > End While
> >> >
> >> > Catch
> >> >
> >> > Finally
> >> >
> >> > o = Nothing
> >> >
> >> > End Try
> >> >
> >> > End Sub
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>
Author
11 Apr 2005 5:24 AM
lgbjr
Hmm,

For me, it does work. And believe me, I tried many different iteration over
the course of a few weeks trying to get rid of the Excel process. Hopefully
MS will have some additional info, other than the MSDN article with the NAR
function.

Actually, I haven't worked on that part of my code in some time. I'll have
to run it and verify that it does actually work. I have it marked as
completed on my task list. But, maybe, that was done too soon (and I just
got tired of working on it :-))

I'll let you know.

cheers
Lee

Show quoteHide quote
"LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
news:eEkArokPFHA.1268@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Thanks lgbjr.
>
> I tried your code, but unfortunatly it's still not working. I even tried
> enchancing your code; destroying selected range and , looping through
> worksheets and workbooks in xl application and destroying them and still
> doesnt work. It seems to me it's somekind of bug in Excel.Interop, I
> really
> want to hear from MS people about this. MSDN library doesn't seem to have
> any usefull info about this issue.
>
>
> "lgbjr" <lgbjr@online.nospam> wrote in message
> news:eQ933ijPFHA.2144@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>> LP,
>>
>> I spent a few weeks dealing with the same thing. I finally discovered
>> that
>> how Excel objects are created and the order in which Excel objects are
>> disposed is critical to getting the Excel Process to terminate.
>>
>> Try the following. the code opens a new instance of excel, adds a
> workbook,
>> adds some sheets to the workbook, then adds some data to the first row of
>> each sheet. Then it saves and exits
>>
>> Dim r, c, s as Integer
>>
>> Dim xl As Excel.Application
>>
>> Dim wbs As Excel.Workbooks
>>
>> Dim wb As Excel.Workbook
>>
>> Dim ws As Excel.Worksheet
>>
>> Dim rng As Excel.Range
>>
>> Dim st As Excel.Sheets
>>
>> Dim SName() As String = {"First", "Second", "Third", "Fourth"}
>>
>> Dim settings As New SiteSettings
>> Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
>> Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"
>>
>>
>>
>> r = 1
>>
>> xl = New Excel.Application
>>
>> xl.Visible = False
>>
>> xl.DisplayAlerts = False
>>
>> xl.SheetsInNewWorkbook = 1
>>
>> wbs = xl.Workbooks
>>
>> wb = wbs.Add
>>
>> st = wb.Sheets
>>
>> ws = wb.ActiveSheet
>>
>> ws.Name = "Summary"
>>
>> For s = 0 To Sname.Length
>>
>>             st.Add()
>>
>>                         ws = wb.ActiveSheet
>>
>>                         ws.Name = Sname(s)
>>
>>                         For c = 1 To 10
>>
>>                         ws.Cells.Item(r, c) = ¡°X¡±
>>
>>                         Next
>>
>> Next
>>
>>
>>
>> xl.ActiveWorkbook.SaveAs(filename)
>>
>> xl.ActiveWorkbook.Saved = True
>>
>> NAR(rng)
>>
>> NAR(st)
>>
>> NAR(ws)
>>
>> xl.ActiveWorkbook.Close()
>>
>> NAR(wb)
>>
>> NAR(wbs)
>>
>> xl.Quit()
>>
>> NAR(xl)
>>
>> GC.Collect()
>>
>>
>>
>> Private Sub NAR(ByVal o As Object)
>>
>>         Dim i, j As Integer
>>
>>         Try
>>
>>             For i = 1 To
>> System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
>>
>>                 j =
>> System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
>>
>>             Next
>>
>>         Catch
>>
>>         Finally
>>
>>             o = Nothing
>>
>>         End Try
>>
>> End Sub
>>
>>
>> Let me know how it goes!
>>
>> HTH
>> Lee
>> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
>> news:uyaOEmgPFHA.1236@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>> > Thanks for the reply. I actually already had .Collect() below. I added:
>> > GC.Collect() GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers() twice, but still Excel
> Process
>> > is
>> > running. Any other ideas?
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Howard Kaikow" <kai***@standards.com> wrote in message
>> > news:Oo94RHgPFHA.3384@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> >> .NET languages do nopt clean up the same way as VBA does.
>> >>
>> >> In addition to setting variables to Nothing, add the following at the
> end
>> > of
>> >> your code to expedite garbage collection.
>> >> GC.Collect()
>> >> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
>> >> GC.Collect()
>> >> GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
>> >>
>> >> And do not forget to Quit Excel.
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
>> >> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:uOMFDDgPFHA.1176@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> >> > Hello,
>> >> >
>> >> > I am trying to use .NET with Excel. I installed Office 2003 and
>> >> > selected
>> >> > .NET programming suport option, so it installed all those PIA, as MS
>> >> > sugests. But I can not find a way to destroy Excel process, it still
>> > hangs
>> >> > in the taks manager' Processes as running. I am trying very simple
> code
>> >> > (see below), but Excel wont go away, I tried just about anything I
>> >> > could
>> >> > find on MSDN or by Google. Even calling WIN32 API to destroy Excel.
> But
>> >> > NOTHING works, Any help will be appreciated.
>> >> > 'API declaration:
>> >> > Public Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA"
>> > (ByVal
>> >> > lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
>> >> >
>> >> > Public Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias
>> >> > "SendMessageA"
>> >> (ByVal
>> >> > hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam
> As
>> >> > Long) As Long
>> >> >
>> >> > ' actual VB.NET Code:
>> >> >
>> >> > Public Const WM_DESTROY = &H2
>> >> >
>> >> > Public Const WM_USER = &H400
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim exApplication As New Excel.Application
>> >> >
>> >> > exApplication.DisplayAlerts = False
>> >> >
>> >> > exApplication.Caption = "Microsoft Excel (to close)"
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim wrk As Excel.Workbook
>> >> >
>> >> > wrk = exApplication.Workbooks.Add()
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim settings As New SiteSettings
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"
>> >> >
>> >> > wrk.SaveAs(fileName)
>> >> >
>> >> > wrk.Close()
>> >> >
>> >> > NAR(wrk)
>> >> >
>> >> > wrk = Nothing
>> >> >
>> >> > exApplication.Quit()
>> >> >
>> >> > NAR(exApplication)
>> >> >
>> >> > exApplication = Nothing
>> >> >
>> >> > ' Kill process
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim hwnd As Long
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim lngResult As Long
>> >> >
>> >> > hwnd = FindWindow("XLMAIN", "Microsoft Excel (to close)")
>> >> >
>> >> > If hwnd <> 0 Then
>> >> >
>> >> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_USER + 18, 0, 0)
>> >> >
>> >> > lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0)
>> >> >
>> >> > End If
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)
>> >> >
>> >> > Dim i As Integer = -2
>> >> >
>> >> > Try
>> >> >
>> >> > While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)
>> >> >
>> >> > i = System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
>> >> >
>> >> > End While
>> >> >
>> >> > Catch
>> >> >
>> >> > Finally
>> >> >
>> >> > o = Nothing
>> >> >
>> >> > End Try
>> >> >
>> >> > End Sub
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
Author
11 Apr 2005 5:03 PM
Fredrik Wahlgren
Is the Google Desktop installed? For some weird reason, its presence
prevents Excel to exit.

/Fredrik
Author
12 Apr 2005 7:45 PM
Lee Gillie
I've never had much luck getting OFFICE apps to run down cleanly and
consistently.

My approach is to
1) scan processes prior to CreateObject.
    (accumulate PID integer in an ArrayList)
2) CreateObject
3) scan processes again, see what is new
    (verify PID integer using ArrayList.Contains)

The time frame between 1 and 3 must be as short as possible.
Sanity check the process name if the above makes you uncomfortable.

Then once you have tried every trick you can think of to tell EXCEL to
shut down in a nice way, then you can see if/when the process has exited
with the .NET "Process" object. Give it a moment or two. If it still has
not gone away, then kill it!

To me, there seems to be too much voodoo in getting office automation to
avoid leaving orphaned processes out there.

HTH - Lee
Author
13 Apr 2005 1:34 AM
LP
Thanks Lee,

> My approach is to
> 1) scan processes prior to CreateObject.
>     (accumulate PID integer in an ArrayList)
> 2) CreateObject
> 3) scan processes again, see what is new
>     (verify PID integer using ArrayList.Contains)

What do you mean scan process, could elaborate on this? Any code snippets
would be nice.

I did get it to work to certain point; just to open a file, add a workbook
and "save as" it. From everyone's comments on this thread and from my own
painful experience, I did figure out the pattern behind cleaning up excel.
Basically ReleaseComObject everything that excel object "touches" even if
it's not obvious. For example my code never directly referenced worksheets
collection, but I did referenced workbooks, but I still had to get reference
to worksheets and ReleaseComObject it to kill excel process. I guess
underneath the covers workbooks object creates worksheets reference.

So I got that part to work, but when I started actually writing data to
excel, I quickly realized it's not going to be worth my time. Because I
literally had to Release every cell I referenced. And even then I could miss
something not so obvious.

So I decided to do all excel related work in classic asp. I wasn't too happy
about going back to old scripting world, but it worked out beautifully for
me. It took me a couple hours to finish export to excel functionality when I
strugeled in .NET for 4 days and still couldn't get it to work flawlesly.
I really doubt it makes any sense to use Excel in .NET, because you're
spending more time writing code to quit excel gracefully than actually
writing business rules code which really matters. I will be making a few
more posts about other Excel and ASP.NET options . I would appreciate any
further comments.

Thank you

Show quoteHide quote
"Lee Gillie" <Lee@nospam.odp.com> wrote in message
news:uiN0mg5PFHA.4052@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> I've never had much luck getting OFFICE apps to run down cleanly and
> consistently.
>
> My approach is to
> 1) scan processes prior to CreateObject.
>     (accumulate PID integer in an ArrayList)
> 2) CreateObject
> 3) scan processes again, see what is new
>     (verify PID integer using ArrayList.Contains)
>
> The time frame between 1 and 3 must be as short as possible.
> Sanity check the process name if the above makes you uncomfortable.
>
> Then once you have tried every trick you can think of to tell EXCEL to
> shut down in a nice way, then you can see if/when the process has exited
> with the .NET "Process" object. Give it a moment or two. If it still has
> not gone away, then kill it!
>
> To me, there seems to be too much voodoo in getting office automation to
> avoid leaving orphaned processes out there.
>
> HTH - Lee
Author
13 Apr 2005 2:15 PM
Scott M.
You know, you could write a VB 6.0 component that does all this Excel stuff
and then call that from .NET.  You would only have to worry about
ReleaseComObject on the component, not all the Excel objects.

There really isn't any great benefit of using Excel directly in .NET as you
are still using COM InterOp.  Making an component that talks to Excel for
you still uses COM InterOp, but make the .NET to COM part a bit cleaner.


Show quoteHide quote
"LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
news:uB0mgj8PFHA.1884@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> Thanks Lee,
>
>> My approach is to
>> 1) scan processes prior to CreateObject.
>>     (accumulate PID integer in an ArrayList)
>> 2) CreateObject
>> 3) scan processes again, see what is new
>>     (verify PID integer using ArrayList.Contains)
>
> What do you mean scan process, could elaborate on this? Any code snippets
> would be nice.
>
> I did get it to work to certain point; just to open a file, add a workbook
> and "save as" it. From everyone's comments on this thread and from my own
> painful experience, I did figure out the pattern behind cleaning up excel.
> Basically ReleaseComObject everything that excel object "touches" even if
> it's not obvious. For example my code never directly referenced worksheets
> collection, but I did referenced workbooks, but I still had to get
> reference
> to worksheets and ReleaseComObject it to kill excel process. I guess
> underneath the covers workbooks object creates worksheets reference.
>
> So I got that part to work, but when I started actually writing data to
> excel, I quickly realized it's not going to be worth my time. Because I
> literally had to Release every cell I referenced. And even then I could
> miss
> something not so obvious.
>
> So I decided to do all excel related work in classic asp. I wasn't too
> happy
> about going back to old scripting world, but it worked out beautifully for
> me. It took me a couple hours to finish export to excel functionality when
> I
> strugeled in .NET for 4 days and still couldn't get it to work flawlesly.
> I really doubt it makes any sense to use Excel in .NET, because you're
> spending more time writing code to quit excel gracefully than actually
> writing business rules code which really matters. I will be making a few
> more posts about other Excel and ASP.NET options . I would appreciate any
> further comments.
>
> Thank you
>
> "Lee Gillie" <Lee@nospam.odp.com> wrote in message
> news:uiN0mg5PFHA.4052@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> I've never had much luck getting OFFICE apps to run down cleanly and
>> consistently.
>>
>> My approach is to
>> 1) scan processes prior to CreateObject.
>>     (accumulate PID integer in an ArrayList)
>> 2) CreateObject
>> 3) scan processes again, see what is new
>>     (verify PID integer using ArrayList.Contains)
>>
>> The time frame between 1 and 3 must be as short as possible.
>> Sanity check the process name if the above makes you uncomfortable.
>>
>> Then once you have tried every trick you can think of to tell EXCEL to
>> shut down in a nice way, then you can see if/when the process has exited
>> with the .NET "Process" object. Give it a moment or two. If it still has
>> not gone away, then kill it!
>>
>> To me, there seems to be too much voodoo in getting office automation to
>> avoid leaving orphaned processes out there.
>>
>> HTH - Lee
>
>
Author
13 Apr 2005 3:03 PM
LP
Yes, I tired that, but I got a permision error, I didn't have time to deal
with that. That's a topic for another post anyway.


Show quoteHide quote
"Scott M." <s-mar@nospam.nospam> wrote in message
news:eGvOfODQFHA.4028@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> You know, you could write a VB 6.0 component that does all this Excel
stuff
> and then call that from .NET.  You would only have to worry about
> ReleaseComObject on the component, not all the Excel objects.
>
> There really isn't any great benefit of using Excel directly in .NET as
you
> are still using COM InterOp.  Making an component that talks to Excel for
> you still uses COM InterOp, but make the .NET to COM part a bit cleaner.
>
>
> "LP" <l*@a.com> wrote in message
> news:uB0mgj8PFHA.1884@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> > Thanks Lee,
> >
> >> My approach is to
> >> 1) scan processes prior to CreateObject.
> >>     (accumulate PID integer in an ArrayList)
> >> 2) CreateObject
> >> 3) scan processes again, see what is new
> >>     (verify PID integer using ArrayList.Contains)
> >
> > What do you mean scan process, could elaborate on this? Any code
snippets
> > would be nice.
> >
> > I did get it to work to certain point; just to open a file, add a
workbook
> > and "save as" it. From everyone's comments on this thread and from my
own
> > painful experience, I did figure out the pattern behind cleaning up
excel.
> > Basically ReleaseComObject everything that excel object "touches" even
if
> > it's not obvious. For example my code never directly referenced
worksheets
> > collection, but I did referenced workbooks, but I still had to get
> > reference
> > to worksheets and ReleaseComObject it to kill excel process. I guess
> > underneath the covers workbooks object creates worksheets reference.
> >
> > So I got that part to work, but when I started actually writing data to
> > excel, I quickly realized it's not going to be worth my time. Because I
> > literally had to Release every cell I referenced. And even then I could
> > miss
> > something not so obvious.
> >
> > So I decided to do all excel related work in classic asp. I wasn't too
> > happy
> > about going back to old scripting world, but it worked out beautifully
for
> > me. It took me a couple hours to finish export to excel functionality
when
> > I
> > strugeled in .NET for 4 days and still couldn't get it to work
flawlesly.
> > I really doubt it makes any sense to use Excel in .NET, because you're
> > spending more time writing code to quit excel gracefully than actually
> > writing business rules code which really matters. I will be making a few
> > more posts about other Excel and ASP.NET options . I would appreciate
any
> > further comments.
> >
> > Thank you
> >
> > "Lee Gillie" <Lee@nospam.odp.com> wrote in message
> > news:uiN0mg5PFHA.4052@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> >> I've never had much luck getting OFFICE apps to run down cleanly and
> >> consistently.
> >>
> >> My approach is to
> >> 1) scan processes prior to CreateObject.
> >>     (accumulate PID integer in an ArrayList)
> >> 2) CreateObject
> >> 3) scan processes again, see what is new
> >>     (verify PID integer using ArrayList.Contains)
> >>
> >> The time frame between 1 and 3 must be as short as possible.
> >> Sanity check the process name if the above makes you uncomfortable.
> >>
> >> Then once you have tried every trick you can think of to tell EXCEL to
> >> shut down in a nice way, then you can see if/when the process has
exited
> >> with the .NET "Process" object. Give it a moment or two. If it still
has
> >> not gone away, then kill it!
> >>
> >> To me, there seems to be too much voodoo in getting office automation
to
> >> avoid leaving orphaned processes out there.
> >>
> >> HTH - Lee
> >
> >
>
>
Author
23 Apr 2005 7:20 AM
TEH
I noticed that all of the responces are in VB!

I just tried this in C#

I seemed to have much better Luck!

TEH

Show quoteHide quote
"LP" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am trying to use .NET with Excel. I installed Office 2003 and selected
> ..NET programming suport option, so it installed all those PIA, as MS
> sugests. But I can not find a way to destroy Excel process, it still hangs
> in the taks manager' Processes as running. I am trying very simple code
> (see below), but Excel wont go away, I tried just about anything I could
> find on MSDN or by Google. Even calling WIN32 API to destroy Excel. But
> NOTHING works, Any help will be appreciated.
> 'API declaration:
> Public Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal
> lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
>
> Public Declare Function SendMessage Lib "user32" Alias "SendMessageA" (ByVal
> hwnd As Long, ByVal wMsg As Long, ByVal wParam As Long, ByVal lParam As
> Long) As Long
>
> ' actual VB.NET Code:
>
> Public Const WM_DESTROY = &H2
>
> Public Const WM_USER = &H400
>
> Dim exApplication As New Excel.Application
>
> exApplication.DisplayAlerts = False
>
> exApplication.Caption = "Microsoft Excel (to close)"
>
> Dim wrk As Excel.Workbook
>
> wrk = exApplication.Workbooks.Add()
>
> Dim settings As New SiteSettings
>
> Dim dir As String = settings.getAppSettingValue("TempDirectory")
>
> Dim fileName As String = dir & Session.SessionID & ".xls"
>
> wrk.SaveAs(fileName)
>
> wrk.Close()
>
> NAR(wrk)
>
> wrk = Nothing
>
> exApplication.Quit()
>
> NAR(exApplication)
>
> exApplication = Nothing
>
> ' Kill process
>
> Dim hwnd As Long
>
> Dim lngResult As Long
>
> hwnd = FindWindow("XLMAIN", "Microsoft Excel (to close)")
>
> If hwnd <> 0 Then
>
> lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_USER + 18, 0, 0)
>
> lngResult = SendMessage(hwnd, WM_DESTROY, 0, 0)
>
> End If
>
>
>
> Private Sub NAR(ByRef o As Object)
>
> Dim i As Integer = -2
>
> Try
>
> While (i <> 0 And i <> -1)
>
> i = System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(o)
>
> End While
>
> Catch
>
> Finally
>
> o = Nothing
>
> End Try
>
> End Sub
>
>
>