Using DDE Functions with a DDE Client Application

Windows allows users to run multiple application programs and to exchange data between Windows application programs. Dynamic data exchange (DDE) allows users this data exchange. Data exchange among Windows application programs can be considered as conversations between server and client application programs. The client application is an application program that starts DDE, and the server application is an application program that responds to the client application.

The client application needs three names (application program name, topic name, and item name) that are recognized by the server application to start the conversation to exchange data. The client application starts a DDE conversation with the server application by specifying the application program and topic names, and defines the exchange data by specifying the item name.

Personal Communications has a function as a DDE server, and can establish DDE conversations with other Windows application programs (Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word) that have DDE client functions.