Specifications

RSLinx – Training Guide A - 13

Example:

1. In RSLinx, configure an topic called "MyAlias". Within the alias configure

topics, configure topics "Topic1" through "Topic4". In Microsoft Excel, enter the

following formula:

=RSLinx|'MyAlias'!'Activetopic'

2. In order to control which topic is active, enter the following code into the

Microsoft VBA editor:

Public Sub SetMyActiveTopic()

'Dim variables for DDE channel and Active Topic

Dim usrChan As Long

Dim usrActiveTopic As String

'Open a channel to RSLinx

usrChan = DDEInitiate("RSLinx", "System")

'Open an input box to allow the operator to enter the desired topic

usrActiveTopic = InputBox("Enter Active Topic: ", "Topic Selection")

'Set the active topic based on the input box

Application.DDEExecute usrChan, "[Set_Alias(MyAlias," &

usrActiveTopic & ")]"

'Close the channel

Application.DDETerminate usrChan

End Sub

3. Finally, create a DDE link in one of Microsoft Excel's cells.

=RSLinx|'MyAlias'!'address'

where 'address' is a valid address in the PLC. Now run the VBA script from the

VBA editor. When the input box appears, enter the name of one of the topics

within MyAlias. When the script has finished running, the name of the topic that

was entered should appear in step 1.

For more help on Alias topics, see the RSLinx help file.

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