Ventana software support forum

Hi folks,

We have been using DDE for a while now to interface between Excel and Vensim on a 32-bit system but when using it on the 64-bit version (DSS 8.06) it seems to crash Vensim. I can create the connection using DDEInitiate ok, but when passing a command using DDEExecute (e.g. SPECIAL>LOADMODEL) then Vensim terminates. Wondering if it is possible to use DDE on a 64bit system or are we restricted to DLL (which does work) when interfacing with Excel. Both approaches have pros and cons but just want to understand whether DDE was still a possibility? Error log shown below if of any use.

Thanks,
Dave

Event log
Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 08-01-2020 10:07:45
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer:
Description:
Faulting application name: vendss64.exe, version: 8.0.6.0, time stamp: 0x5db6d883
Faulting module name: USER32.dll, version: 10.0.17134.376, time stamp: 0x17011bdc
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x0000000000050e25
Faulting process id: 0x1c8
Faulting application start time: 0x01d5c59e6df674ff
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\Vensim\vendss64.exe
Faulting module path: C:\WINDOWS\System32\USER32.dll

Can you upload a model and spreadsheet that causes the problem?

The example spreadsheet in the Vensim folder does this ("C:\Users\Public\Vensim\DDE\DDESERV.XLS") in conjunction with the example ball model ("C:\Users\Public\Vensim\Models\Sample\EXTRA\BALL.MDL"). You can start the connection (using the macro) and should get the DDE dialog box to connect - NB I seem to have to start Vensim manually first as it doesn't find the Vensim app (might be a path issue). But that aside, once a connection is established, clicking on the "Load Vensim Model" terminates Vensim (i.e. the app closes completely).

Thanks
Dave

Thanks for this. I've fixed the bug, it will be in the next Vensim release.