Capture Opened Workbook in New Instance of Excel - vba

Question

I have a number of macros where I want it run some code, then prompt the user to export an Excel workbook from another program, then run more code once the export has been opened. The tricky part is that some programs export to a new instance of Excel, while other programs export to the current instance.
The current workflow is (code at bottom):
Call the central 'Capture' Module with the name of the export (some
programs export 'Book[x]' some do 'workbook[x]', etc.) and the
procedure you want to run once the export is found.
Capture Module gets a list of all existing workbook names from all
Excel instances and saves as a Module-level string.
Capture Module uses Application.OnTime so that every 3 seconds, it
scans the list of all workbooks across all Excel instances.
If it finds a workbook that is not in the previously saved list of
all existing workbook names, and that contains the name of the
export, it stores that workbook as a public module level variable,
and runs the saved procedure from Step 1, which can the reference
the store workbook.
This works very well in all circumstances, EXCEPT for one. If I already have Book1.xlsx open in my current instance of Excel, and the 3rd party program exports Book1.xlsx to a NEW instance of Excel, the program doesn't recognize this as the export, since Book1.xlsx is in the existing workbook names string array already.
My solution is to find some way of uniquely identifying each workbook that's better than 'Name' or 'Path'. I tried saving each workbook name in the existing workbook names string as [application.hwnd]![workbook name] but this was an unstable fix and frequently broke (I don't really understand how hwnd works so I can't say why).
Any ideas? Thanks!
Sample Procedures That Use MCaptureExport
Public Sub GrabFXAllExport()
Const sSOURCE As String = "GrabFXAllExport"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
If Not TAAA.MCaptureExport.bCaptureExport("FXALL", "TAAA.FXAllEmail.ProcessFXAllExport") Then Err.Raise glHANDLED_ERROR
ErrorExit:
Exit Sub
ErrorHandler:
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE, , True) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Sub
Public Sub ProcessFXAllExport()
Const sSOURCE As String = "ProcessFXAllExport"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
If MCaptureExport.mwbCaptured Is Nothing Then
MsgBox "Exported Workbook Not Found. Please try again.", vbCritical, gsAPP_NAME
GoTo ErrorExit
End If
Dim wsSourceSheet As Worksheet
Set wsSourceSheet = MCaptureExport.mwbCaptured.Worksheets(1)
Set MCaptureExport.mwbCaptured = Nothing
[I now have the export and can work with it as a I please]
ErrorExit:
Exit Sub
ErrorHandler:
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE, , True) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Sub
MCaptureExport Module
Option Explicit
Option Base 1
' Description: This module contains the central error
' handler and related constant declarations.
Private Const msMODULE As String = "MCaptureExport"
Private sExistingWorkbookList() As String
Public mwbCaptured As Workbook
Public msCaptureType As String
Private sReturnProcedure As String
Private bListening As Boolean
Public Function bCaptureExport(sCaptureType As String, sRunAfterCapture As String) As Boolean
Dim bReturn As Boolean
Const sSOURCE As String = "bCaptureExport()"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
bReturn = True
If Not bWorkbookNamesAsArray(sExistingWorkbookList, True, False) Then Err.Raise glHANDLED_ERROR
sReturnProcedure = sRunAfterCapture
bListening = True
msCaptureType = sCaptureType
TAAA.MCaptureExport.WaitForCapture sCaptureTypeToNameContains(msCaptureType)
MsgBox "Waiting for " & msCaptureType & " Export", vbInformation, gsAPP_NAME
ErrorExit:
bCaptureExport = bReturn
Exit Function
ErrorHandler:
bReturn = False
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Function
Private Sub WaitForCapture(sNameContains As String)
Const sSOURCE As String = "WaitForCapture"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
Dim wbCaptureCheck As Workbook
If Not bCaptureCheck(sNameContains, wbCaptureCheck) Then Err.Raise glHANDLED_ERROR
If wbCaptureCheck Is Nothing Then
If bListening Then _
Application.OnTime Now + TimeSerial(0, 0, 3), "'TAAA.MCaptureExport.WaitForCapture " & Chr(34) & sNameContains & Chr(34) & "'"
Else
Dim bSameApp As Boolean
If Not bWorkbooksInSameApp(ThisWorkbook, wbCaptureCheck, bSameApp) Then Err.Raise glHANDLED_ERROR
If Not bSameApp Then
Dim sTempFilePath As String
sTempFilePath = ThisWorkbook.Path & "\temp_" & Format(Now, "mmddyyhhmmss") & ".xls"
wbCaptureCheck.SaveCopyAs sTempFilePath
wbCaptureCheck.Close SaveChanges:=False
Set wbCaptureCheck = Application.Workbooks.Open(sTempFilePath)
End If
Set mwbCaptured = wbCaptureCheck
bListening = False
Application.Run sReturnProcedure
End If
ErrorExit:
Exit Sub
ErrorHandler:
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE, , True) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Sub
Private Function sCaptureTypeToNameContains(sCaptureType As String) As String
sCaptureTypeToNameContains = "*"
On Error Resume Next
Select Case UCase(sCaptureType)
Case "SOTER": sCaptureTypeToNameContains = "workbook"
Case "THOR": sCaptureTypeToNameContains = "Book"
Case "FXALL": sCaptureTypeToNameContains = "search_results_export"
End Select
End Function
Private Function bCaptureCheck(sNameContains As String, wbResult As Workbook) As Boolean
Dim bReturn As Boolean
Const sSOURCE As String = "bCaptureCheck()"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
bReturn = True
Dim i As Long, wb As Workbook
Dim xlApps() As Application
If Not bGetAllExcelInstances(xlApps) Then Err.Raise glHANDLED_ERROR
For i = LBound(xlApps) To UBound(xlApps)
For Each wb In xlApps(i).Workbooks
If wb.Name Like "*" & sNameContains & "*" _
And Not bIsInArray(wb.Name, sExistingWorkbookList) Then
Set wbResult = wb
GoTo ErrorExit
End If
Next
Next
ErrorExit:
bCaptureCheck = bReturn
Exit Function
ErrorHandler:
bReturn = False
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Function
Utility Functions Used by MCaptureExport
Public Function bWorkbookNamesAsArray(sResult() As String, Optional bAllInstances As Boolean = True) As Boolean
Dim bReturn As Boolean
Const sSOURCE As String = "bWorkbookNamesAsArray()"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
bReturn = True
Dim i As Long, wb As Workbook
Dim xlApps() As Application
Dim ResultArray() As String
Dim Ndx As Integer, wbCount As Integer
If bAllInstances Then
If Not bGetAllExcelInstances(xlApps) Then Err.Raise glHANDLED_ERROR
Else
ReDim xlApps(0)
Set xlApps(0) = Application
End If
For i = LBound(xlApps) To UBound(xlApps)
For Each wb In xlApps(i).Workbooks
wbCount = wbCount + 1
Next
Next
ReDim ResultArray(1 To wbCount)
For i = LBound(xlApps) To UBound(xlApps)
For Each wb In xlApps(i).Workbooks
Ndx = Ndx + 1
ResultArray(Ndx) = wb.Name
Next
Next
sResult = ResultArray()
ErrorExit:
bWorkbookNamesAsArray = bReturn
Exit Function
ErrorHandler:
bReturn = False
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Function
Public Function bGetAllExcelInstances(xlApps() As Application) As Boolean
Dim bReturn As Boolean
Const sSOURCE As String = "bGetAllExcelInstances()"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
bReturn = True
Dim n As Long
Dim hWndMain As LongPtr
Dim app As Application
' Cater for 100 potential Excel instances, clearly could be better
ReDim xlApps(1 To 100)
hWndMain = FindWindowEx(0&, 0&, "XLMAIN", vbNullString)
Do While hWndMain <> 0
If Not bGetExcelObjectFromHwnd(hWndMain, app) Then Err.Raise glHANDLED_ERROR
If Not (app Is Nothing) Then
If n = 0 Then
n = n + 1
Set xlApps(n) = app
ElseIf bCheckHwnds(xlApps, app.Hwnd) Then
n = n + 1
Set xlApps(n) = app
End If
End If
hWndMain = FindWindowEx(0&, hWndMain, "XLMAIN", vbNullString)
Loop
If n Then
ReDim Preserve xlApps(1 To n)
'GetAllExcelInstances = n
Else
Erase xlApps
End If
ErrorExit:
bGetAllExcelInstances = bReturn
Exit Function
ErrorHandler:
bReturn = False
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Function
Private Function bCheckHwnds(xlApps() As Application, Hwnd As LongPtr) As Boolean
On Error Resume Next
Dim i As Integer
For i = LBound(xlApps) To UBound(xlApps)
If Not xlApps(i) Is Nothing Then
If xlApps(i).Hwnd = Hwnd Then
bCheckHwnds = False
Exit Function
End If
End If
Next i
bCheckHwnds = True
End Function
Public Function bWorkbooksInSameApp(wb1 As Workbook, wb2 As Workbook, bSameApp As Boolean) As Boolean
Dim bReturn As Boolean
Const sSOURCE As String = "bWorkbooksInSameApp()"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
bReturn = True
bSameApp = wb1.Application.Hwnd = wb2.Application.Hwnd
ErrorExit:
bWorkbooksInSameApp = bReturn
Exit Function
ErrorHandler:
bReturn = False
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Function
Private Function bGetExcelObjectFromHwnd(ByVal hWndMain As LongPtr, aAppResult As Application) As Boolean
Dim bReturn As Boolean
Const sSOURCE As String = "bGetExcelObjectFromHwnd()"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
bReturn = True
Dim hWndDesk As LongPtr
Dim Hwnd As LongPtr
Dim strText As String
Dim lngRet As Long
Dim iid As UUID
Dim obj As Object
hWndDesk = FindWindowEx(hWndMain, 0&, "XLDESK", vbNullString)
If hWndDesk <> 0 Then
Hwnd = FindWindowEx(hWndDesk, 0, vbNullString, vbNullString)
Do While Hwnd <> 0
strText = String$(100, Chr$(0))
lngRet = CLng(GetClassName(Hwnd, strText, 100))
If Left$(strText, lngRet) = "EXCEL7" Then
Call IIDFromString(StrPtr(IID_IDispatch), iid)
If AccessibleObjectFromWindow(Hwnd, OBJID_NATIVEOM, iid, obj) = 0 Then 'S_OK
Set aAppResult = obj.Application
GoTo ErrorExit
End If
End If
Hwnd = FindWindowEx(hWndDesk, Hwnd, vbNullString, vbNullString)
Loop
End If
ErrorExit:
bGetExcelObjectFromHwnd = bReturn
Exit Function
ErrorHandler:
MsgBox Err.Number
bReturn = False
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Function

Answer 1

I have a potential solution. However I want to leave the question open. This is a fairly complicated problem and I bet there are more elegant solutions than what I'm proposing.
So I updated the format of sExistingWorkbookList to [Application.hWnd]![Workbook.name]. I had tried this before but I think it's working this time.
Thoughts?
Updated Version of bWorkbookNamesAsArray
Added wb.Application.Hwnd & "!" & to ResultArray(Ndx) = wb.name
Public Function bWorkbookNamesAsArray(sResult() As String, Optional bAllInstances As Boolean = True) As Boolean
Dim bReturn As Boolean
Const sSOURCE As String = "bWorkbookNamesAsArray()"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
bReturn = True
Dim i As Long, wb As Workbook
Dim xlApps() As Application
Dim ResultArray() As String
Dim Ndx As Integer, wbCount As Integer
If bAllInstances Then
If Not bGetAllExcelInstances(xlApps) Then Err.Raise glHANDLED_ERROR
Else
ReDim xlApps(0)
Set xlApps(0) = Application
End If
For i = LBound(xlApps) To UBound(xlApps)
For Each wb In xlApps(i).Workbooks
wbCount = wbCount + 1
Next
Next
ReDim ResultArray(1 To wbCount)
For i = LBound(xlApps) To UBound(xlApps)
For Each wb In xlApps(i).Workbooks
Ndx = Ndx + 1
ResultArray(Ndx) = wb.Application.Hwnd & "!" & wb.Name
Next
Next
sResult = ResultArray()
ErrorExit:
bWorkbookNamesAsArray = bReturn
Exit Function
ErrorHandler:
bReturn = False
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Function
New Utility Function
Public Function bGetWorkbookFromHwndAndName(ByVal sWorkbookReference As String, ByRef wbResult As Workbook)
Dim bReturn As Boolean
Const sSOURCE As String = "bGetWorkbookFromHwndAndName()"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
bReturn = True
Dim xlApp As Application
If Not bGetExcelObjectFromHwnd(CLng(Split(sWorkbookReference, "!")(0)), xlApp) Then Err.Raise glHANDLED_ERROR
Set wbResult = xlApp.Workbooks(Split(sWorkbookReference, "!")(1))
ErrorExit:
bGetWorkbookFromHwndAndName = bReturn
Exit Function
ErrorHandler:
bReturn = False
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Function
Updated MCaptureExport.bCaptureCheck()
Private Function bCaptureCheck(sNameContains As String, wbResult As Workbook) As Boolean
Dim bReturn As Boolean
Const sSOURCE As String = "bCaptureCheck()"
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
bReturn = True
Dim i As Long, wb As Workbook, sFullWorkbookReference As String
Dim xlApps() As Application
If Not bGetAllExcelInstances(xlApps) Then Err.Raise glHANDLED_ERROR
For i = LBound(xlApps) To UBound(xlApps)
For Each wb In xlApps(i).Workbooks
sFullWorkbookReference = wb.Application.Hwnd & "!" & wb.Name
If wb.Name Like "*" & sNameContains & "*" _
And Not bIsInArray(sFullWorkbookReference, sExistingWorkbookList) Then
If Not bGetWorkbookFromHwndAndName(sFullWorkbookReference, wbResult) Then Err.Raise glHANDLED_ERROR
GoTo ErrorExit
End If
Next
Next
ErrorExit:
bCaptureCheck = bReturn
Exit Function
ErrorHandler:
bReturn = False
If bCentralErrorHandler(msMODULE, sSOURCE) Then
Stop
Resume
Else
Resume ErrorExit
End If
End Function