Encapsulation - Using Word On The Server

[msnews.microsoft.com]

I am going to use Word on the Server. I am aware of all the implications to
this, but I am only using Word for printing. There does not seem to be any
tool yet to print Word documents without the loading of Word. I am using Dot
Net to talk to Word. Does anybody have recommendations for the best way to
encapsulate Word? Should I simply load another dll that then calls Word, so
my main application does not go down? Any pointers in the right direction
would be appreciated.

Also, is there a way to force Word to GPF so I can test this out to make
sure the calling program recovers? I assume calling an API wrong might do
this.

Derek Hart
(e-mail address removed)

 

[TF]

Don't use Word: just download the free Word Viewer which will let you open
Documents and Print them.



:I am going to use Word on the Server. I am aware of all the implications to
: this, but I am only using Word for printing. There does not seem to be any
: tool yet to print Word documents without the loading of Word. I am using
Dot
: Net to talk to Word. Does anybody have recommendations for the best way to
: encapsulate Word? Should I simply load another dll that then calls Word,
so
: my main application does not go down? Any pointers in the right direction
: would be appreciated.
:
: Also, is there a way to force Word to GPF so I can test this out to make
: sure the calling program recovers? I assume calling an API wrong might do
: this.
:
: Derek Hart
: (e-mail address removed)
:
:
:
:
:

 

[msnews.microsoft.com]

This must be automated on the server. Are you saying to use the Word Viewer
through automation?

Derek

 

[Jonathan West]

I am going to use Word on the Server. I am aware of all the implications to
this, but I am only using Word for printing. There does not seem to be any
tool yet to print Word documents without the loading of Word. I am using
Dot
Net to talk to Word. Does anybody have recommendations for the best way to
encapsulate Word? Should I simply load another dll that then calls Word,
so
my main application does not go down? Any pointers in the right direction
would be appreciated.

Also, is there a way to force Word to GPF so I can test this out to make
sure the calling program recovers? I assume calling an API wrong might do
this.

Hi Derek,

Word simply is not designed for this. About the only thing I can suggest is
that you check periodically to see the CPU utilisation of Word, and kill the
process if it is taking zero for too long. That is probably an indication
that Word has stopped and waiting for someone to clear an error dialog.

 

[Jezebel]

If your calling application instantiates Word using CreateObject, you'll
always get a new instance of Word. Even if Word falls over -- which is not
common any more for this kind of use -- it won't disrupt your main app. Next
call will get a new instance anyway, leaving the old one in limbo. Which
will clutter your process list, but otherwise do no particular harm.