Finding an instance of Internet Explorer (was: Using the Word 2002 Safe Mode with Automation)

[Jonathan Sachs]

I would proceed as follows.

1. Make sure that there is no copy of Word running.
2. Start a copy using the command-line
3. Hook up to it using the GetObject command (or its equivalent in the
language you are using)

If this can be made to work, it may imply a solution to a
long-standing problem of mine. I tried strenuously to solve this
problem last year, but I was finally persuaded that it was unsolvable.

The problem is how to get access to a running instance of Internet
Explorer if one exists, OR create one if not. The first part is the
killer. I ended up with code which creates a new instance every time
it is run, whether needed or not.

Since I worked on this a year ago I no longer remember details about
what I tried or what went wrong. Here's the code I've got now.

Private Const browserName As String = "InternetExplorer.Application"
Public WithEvents explorerObject As InternetExplorer

Private Sub class_initialize()
Dim objErr As String
On Error Resume Next
Set explorerObject = GetObject(, browserName)
If Err.number <> 0 Or TypeName(explorerObject.Document) <>
"HTMLDocument" Then
Err.Clear
Set explorerObject = CreateObject(browserName)
If Err.number <> 0 Then
objErr = Err.Description
Err.Clear
End If
End If
On Error GoTo 0

If objErr <> "" Then
MsgBox "Cannot load the browser " + browserName + vbCr + _
"Create error:" + vbTab + objErr, vbOKOnly
End
End If
explorerObject.Visible = True
End Sub

I encountered this problem with Word 2000 under Windows 2000, and I'm
now using Word XP under Windows XP, if that helps.

My mail address is jsachs177 at earthlink dot net.