VBA - excel neglects comma when pasting external data - vba

Question

I'm trying to write a vba code using the DDE method. The code aims to copy a set of columns of an excel table and paste it in a parametric table in the EES (Engineering Equation Solver) software. Then an EES code is run to solve de table, generating columns of output data. This data is then copied and pasted back in the excel file that contains the input data.
Since I'm new to vba, I've used the example provided by EES (Executing EES Macro Commands from EXCEL) as a guideline.
The problem occurs when the data is pasted back in the excel spreadsheet: the code seems to be neglecting the decimal separator! Both my excel and EES are set to work with the comma as the decimal separator and when I manually copy the results from EES and paste then to excel the number is pasted normally, with the comma (also the numbers from excel are correctly pasted into ESS).
However, when I set the code to perform this task numbers such as "15,47" are pasted in excel as "1,55E+12" or "1547421377050". The code is shown below:
Private Sub cmdDDE_Click()
Dim ChNumber As Integer
Dim myShell As String
ChNumber = -1
myShell = frmEESDDE.txtApp.Text
On Error Resume Next
'Copy selected rows into clipboard
Range("B2:G1401").Select
Selection.Copy
Shell_R = Shell(myShell, 1)
If Shell_R <> "" Then
'Initiate DDE
ChNumber = Application.DDEInitiate(app:="ees", topic:="")
If ChNumber <> -1 Then
'Open EES
Application.DDEExecute ChannelNumber, "[Open C:\EES\Tablesolve.ees]"
'Paste data
Application.DDEExecute ChannelNumber, "[Paste Parametric 'Table 1' R1 C1]"
'Solve parametrictable
Application.DDEExecute ChannelNumber, "[SOLVETABLE 'TABLE 1' Rows=1..1400]"
'Copy results
Application.DDEExecute ChannelNumber, "[COPY ParametricTable 'Table 1' R1 C7:R1400 C14]"
'Choose separators
Application.DecimalSeparator = ","
Application.ThousandsSeparator = "."
Application.UseSystemSeparators = False
'Paste results from EES into EXCEL
Application.Paste Destination:=Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("H2:O1440")
Application.UseSystemSeparators = True
'Quit EES and Terminate DDE
DDEExecute ChNumber, "QUIT"
Application.DDETerminate ChNumber
Else
MsgBox "Unable to initiate connection to EES", vbExclamation, "EES DDE"
End If
frmEESDDE.Hide
Else
MsgBox "The application, " & myShell & ", was not found", vbExclamation, "EES DDE"
End If
PS = As you can see I've tried to set the decimal separator to "," as suggested in this link: Pasting decimal numbers in excel / comma and point decimal separator but it didn't work either!
I appreciate your help!

Answer 1

Problem solved!
I also posted the question in the portuguese speaking community of stackoverflow and got a very helpful answer. With little adjustments it solved my problem!
The link to the solution in portuguese follows:
https://pt.stackoverflow.com/questions/74860/vba-excel-n%C3%A3o-reconhece-v%C3%ADrgula-de-dados-externos
But for those who would prefer the english version I'll try to summarize what was done to fix the code:
1- declare range variables:
Dim interval As Range 'represent the cells in which info was pasted
Dim Cell As Range 'to allow cell format to be changed
2- after copying the results from the esternal program and before pasting:
Set interval = Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("H2:O1440") 'set interval to paste the results
interval.NumberFormat = "#" 'set format to text
3- after pasting:
interval.NumberFormat = "General" 'set format to general
For Each Cell In interval
Cell.Value = FormatNumber(CDbl(Cell.Value), 2) 'set only 2 decimal places
Cell.Value = CDbl(Cell.Value) 'set to double
Next
The rest of the code stays as it is.
Special thanks to Cantoni who helped with the solution in the pt version.

Answer 2

Instead of pasting with application.paste, try to paste only the values. ie: Instead of
Application.Paste Destination:=Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("H2:O1440")
Use
Range("H2:O1440").PasteSpecial xlPasteValues
If that doesn't work, parse the output as a string.

Answer 3

You can also try this:
Worksheets("Sheet1").Range("H2").PasteSpecial xlPasteValuesAndNumberFormats