DDE Execute Syntax

[Golden Mean]

Has anyone successfully worked with DDE and Acrobat? I've been trying the get a database to call an Acrobat file using the DDE Execute command so that I can print the file without the user being involved. I've gone through the syntax over and over again trying different permutations but with no success.

This is what Adobe says the syntax should be:

[FilePrintSilent (char* fullPath)]

with <char* fullPath> being the full path to the document.

I've also tried different settings for the Service Name and Topic. Nothing seems to work.

Error checking has indicated an error 3 which is "Command is unavailable"

Any experienced users out there who may have tackled this before?

I'm at the end of my rope here!

Thanks.

Will

[russelltudor]

Thanks for your reply on my DDE post, I've just read this post.

One question, I see you operating system is OSX (By far the best operating system in the world!).

I might be stating the obvious, but I thought DDE was only available on the windows platform. If I remember the Mac uses something else (I think it

[Golden Mean]

Shoot! No wonder it doesn't work! :?P

Actually, I work with both platforms, but my primary development is on OS X Panther.

Good observation though.

Will

[Matt Klein]

If you are still have trouble with this or for those of you who have found this post looking for help, here is some info on the syntax....

I was having the same trouble with the DDE Execute syntax when sending these commands to Acrobat Reader. Here is an example of a command that works:

"[FileOpen("C:Test.pdf")]"

The path to the file must be inside quotation marks. Because the entire command needs to be inside quotation marks you must use the "" character before the quotation marks on either side of the path. The "" in FileMaker 7 and above is the Escape or Control character. By using it before a character such as a quote inside quotes, you tell FileMaker to ignore it's special properties and use it literally.

FYI, The Service Name is "acroview" and the topic is "control"