ODE97: Creating Run-Time Applications for Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, or Microsoft PowerPoint (163410)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office 97 Developer Edition
This article was previously published under Q163410
Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

SUMMARY

There may be times you want to create run-time applications that include Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, or Microsoft Word documents using the ODE Setup Wizard. This article demonstrates how to create custom applications that you can distribute to other users who don't have Microsoft Excel, Word, or PowerPoint on their computers. One way this can be done is by adding the application's viewer files to the Setup Wizard program when you are creating your distribution disks.

NOTE: Using the methods described in this article, your users will only be able to view your Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, or PowerPoint presentations. They will not be able to make any modifications to the files.

MORE INFORMATION

To create a custom application that you can distribute to other users, include the correct viewer files for the particular application in the ODE Setup Wizard. The files you will need to add to the Setup wizard depends on the types of files you want to distribute.

For example, if you want to distribute Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, you will need to obtain the files for the Microsoft Excel Viewer. The Microsoft Excel viewer enables users to view Microsoft Excel spreadsheets without having Microsoft Excel on their computers. This viewer is available on the Microsoft web at:

http://www.microsoft.com/office/excel/downloads/default.htm

If you want to distribute PowerPoint presentations or Word documents, you can obtain the Word and PowerPoint viewers from the ValuPack folder that is included in the Microsoft Office 97, Professional Edition package. The viewer files are in the subfolder Ppt4view for the PowerPoint files and Wordview for the Word files.

Creating a Distributable Application for Microsoft Excel Files

To create a distributable custom Setup program for your Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, do the following:
  1. Download the Microsoft Excel Viewer files from the Microsoft Web Site at:

    http://www.microsoft.com/office/excel/downloads/default.htm

  2. After you have run the setup file xlViewer.exe to install the Microsoft Excel viewer on your computer, start the ODE Setup Wizard program.
  3. In the ODE Setup wizard, on the Add files screen, add the following files and any Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files you want to distribute to the List Of Files box:

    - XL5EN32.OLB
    - XLINTL32.DLL
    - XLKEY32.DLL
    - XLVIEW.EXE
    - XLVIEW1.REG
    - XLVIEW2.REG
    - XLVIEW3.REG

    NOTE: These files can be found in the folder where you installed the Microsoft Excel viewer files.
  4. Select Xlview.exe in the List Of Files box, and then click to select the "Set as Application's Main File" check box. Click Next.
  5. On the Add Shortcuts screen, click Add, and then type a description for your shortcut in the Description box. Leave the default "I would like to use a wizard-provided command line" option selected on the General Shortcut Properties tab. Click Next three times.
  6. In the "What is the name of your application" box, type the name you want to give to your new Microsoft Excel viewer application. Fill in the rest of the information as needed for your particular application. Click Next twice.
  7. On the screen marked "Where do you want the Setup Wizard to copy the files for your custom Setup program," accept the default for the folder your disk images will be copied to in the "The Setup Wizard creates a folder for each of your disk images within the folder you specify" box.
  8. Select the option for the type(s) of distribution disks you want to create. Click Finish.
At this point, the ODE Setup Wizard creates the disk images for your application. Once the disk images are created, you can run your custom Setup program on any computer. Users of your spreadsheets who do not have Microsoft Excel can view them through the Microsoft Excel viewer.

For more information about using the Microsoft Excel viewer, read the following files that are installed when you download xlViewer.EXE in the folder where you have installed Xlview.exe:
  • LICENSE.TXT
  • README.TXT

Creating a Distributable Application for Microsoft Word Files

To create a distributable custom Setup program for your Microsoft Word documents, do the following:
  1. Install the Microsoft Word Viewer included on the Microsoft Office 97, Professional Edition compact disc in the ValuPack folder. The Word files are located in the WordView subfolder. The Word Viewer can be installed by double-clicking the file WD95VW71.EXE.
  2. After you have install the Microsoft Word Viewer on your computer, start the ODE Setup Wizard program.
  3. In the ODE Setup wizard, on the Add files screen, add the following files and any Microsoft Word documents you want to distribute to the List Of Files box:

    - SDM95.DLL
    - TTEMB32V.DLL
    - WINTL32V.DLL
    - WORDVIEW.EXE

  4. Select WORDVIEW.EXE in the List Of Files box, and then click to select the "Set as Application's Main File" check box. Click Next.
  5. On the Add Shortcuts screen, click Add, and then type a description for your shortcut in the Description box. Leave the default "I would like to use a wizard-provided command line" option selected on the General Shortcut Properties tab. Click Next three times.
  6. In the "What is the name of your application" box, type the name you want to give to your new Microsoft Word viewer application. Fill in the rest of the information as needed for your particular application. Click Next twice.
  7. On the screen marked "Where do you want the Setup Wizard to copy the files for your custom Setup program," accept the default for the folder your disk images will be copied to in the "The Setup Wizard creates a folder for each of your disk images within the folder you specify" box.
  8. Select the options for the type(s) of distribution disks you want to create. Click Finish.
At this point, the ODE Setup Wizard creates the disk images for your application. Once the disk images are created, run your custom Setup program on any computer. Your users that do not have Word installed on their computers can view your Word documents using the Word Viewer.

For more information about using the Microsoft Word viewer, read the following files that are copied to your WordView folder when you install the Word Viewer program:
  • INSTALL.TXT
  • LICENSE.TXT
  • README.TXT

Creating a Distributable Application for Microsoft PowerPoint Files

To create a distributable custom Setup program for your Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, do the following:
  1. Install the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer included on the Microsoft Office 97, Professional Edition compact disc in the ValuPack folder. The PowerPoint files are located in the Ppt4view subfolder. The PowerPoint Viewer can be installed by double-clicking the file Vsetup.exe.
  2. After you have install the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer on your computer, start the ODE Setup Wizard program.
  3. In the ODE Setup Wizard, on the Add files screen, add the following files and any Microsoft PowerPoint presentations you want to distribute to the List Of Files box:

    - PP7TRANS.DLL
    - PPTVIEW.DLL
    - PPTVIEW.EXE

    NOTE: These files can be found in the Pptview folder.
  4. Select PPTVIEW.EXE in the List Of Files box, and then click to select the "Set as Application's Main File" check box. Click Next.
  5. On the Add Shortcuts screen, click Add, and then type a description for your shortcut in the Description box. Leave the default "I would like to use a wizard-provided command line" option selected on the General Shortcut Properties tab. Click Next three times.
  6. In the "What is the name of your application" box, type the name you want to give to your new Microsoft PowerPoint viewer application. Fill in the rest of the information as needed for your particular application. Click Next twice.
  7. On the screen marked "Where do you want the Setup Wizard to copy the files for your custom Setup program," accept the default for the folder your disk images will be copied to in the "The Setup Wizard creates a folder for each of your disk images within the folder you specify" box.
  8. Select the options for the type(s) of distribution disks you want to create. Click Finish.
At this point, the ODE Setup Wizard creates the disk images for your application. Once the disk images are created, run your custom Setup program on any computer. Your users can view your PowerPoint presentations using the PowerPoint Viewer.

For more information about using the Microsoft PowerPoint viewer, open the Valupk8.hlp file located in the ValuPack folder on your Microsoft Access 97 or Microsoft Office 97 compact disc.

REFERENCES

For more information about creating custom application using the ODE Setup Wizard, search the Help Index for "Setup Wizard, creating Setup programs," or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:3/31/2006
Keywords:kbinfo kbsetup KB163410
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.