Using LabVIEW as an Automation Client with Microsoft Word

LabVIEW can be used to communicate with Microsoft Word via ActiveX automation with LabVIEW acting as the automation client and Word acting as the automation server. From LabVIEW, we are able to manipulate only the objects that Word exposes to other applications. This means that Word determines what it exposes and what values and variables must be passed to each property or method.

Manipulating Word via automation requires knowledge of the Word object model as well as familiarity with performing ActiveX automation from LabVIEW. The best source of information about the Word Object Model is the Word Object Model Help file located on your Microsoft Office CD. For Office 97, this file is called Vbawrd8.hlp. The Microsoft Object Model Guide details the organization of the objects in Word as well as Excel, Access, and PowerPoint. The basic procedure is to open a reference to Word from LabVIEW, invoke methods and set/get properties, and then close the reference.

In LabVIEW 7.1 or earlier, refer to the ActiveX Support chapter in the LabVIEW User Manual (linked below) for more information on using ActiveX with LabVIEW. In LabVIEW 8.0 or later, refer to the Using ActiveX with LabVIEW topic in the LabVIEW Help (linked below).

Related Links:
LabVIEW User Manual
LabVIEW Help: Using ActiveX with LabVIEW