How to connect to existing instance of Excel from PowerShell?

Question

All examples that automate Excel through PowerShell start with this line:

PS> $Excel = New-Object -Com Excel.Application

This seems to be handling a new instance of Excel, e.g. running $Excel.Visible = $true will show an empty, blank Excel window, not switch to the existing workbook.

If there is already an instance of Excel running, is there a way to connect to it?

Answer 1

Instead of the usual New-Object -ComObject excel.application us this

$excel = [Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::GetActiveObject('Excel.Application')

Rest stays the same.

One downside. You will only get the excel "instances" started by the same user that will initiate the ps1.

Answer 2

Yes, you can access the COM object via HWND [Window handle] using this WIN32 API (AccessibleObjectFromWindow).

(See a SO post sample here of using this api via C#)

.

You may have to write an assembly in C# and/or manipulate P/Invoke calls via Powershell.

You may give a shot at it & see how it goes.