You know how in Windows you can right-click in the explorer to create
a new blank file of types that are somehow magically registered in the
deep, dark entrails of Windows?

Ex, new-> spreadsheet. It creates a blank template and you can now
open this file in the proper application by simply calling it from a
command line.

How do you create this initial blank file from a command line? Yes, I
can keep copies of the various files and copy them as needed, but this
breaks on other machines, different apps (I mean there are at least
three spreadsheet applications I use under windows, Excel, Open Office
and Gnumeric), and it doesn't track new versions.

I can see the association for the ftype, with command line options to
open files.

opendocument.CalcDocument.1="C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program
\scalc.exe" -o "%1"

But new files just open the GUI with a new file, not create a file.

On Mar 5, 5:56=A0pm, a7yvm109gf...@netzero.com wrote:
> You know how in Windows you can right-click in the explorer to create
> a new blank file of types that are somehow magically registered in the
> deep, dark entrails of Windows?
>
> Ex, new-> spreadsheet. It creates a blank template and you can now
> open this file in the proper application by simply calling it from a
> command line.
>
> How do you create this initial blank file from a command line? Yes, I
> can keep copies of the various files and copy them as needed, but this
> breaks on other machines, different apps (I mean there are at least
> three spreadsheet applications I use under windows, Excel, Open Office
> and Gnumeric), and it doesn't track new versions.
>
> I can see the association for the ftype, with command line options to
> open files.
>
> opendocument.CalcDocument.1=3D"C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program
> \scalc.exe" -o "%1"
>
> But new files just open the GUI with a new file, not create a file.


C:\>copy con newfile.xls
<Ctrl>-Z-<Enter>

a...@netzero.com Inscribed thus:

> You know how in Windows you can right-click in the explorer to create
> a new blank file of types that are somehow magically registered in the
> deep, dark entrails of Windows?
> 
> Ex, new-> spreadsheet. It creates a blank template and you can now
> open this file in the proper application by simply calling it from a
> command line.

All it does is create an empty file with the correct extention.  Its not
a template.  A template implies that you have a file pre-formatted with
place holders for data.

> How do you create this initial blank file from a command line? Yes, I
> can keep copies of the various files and copy them as needed, but this
> breaks on other machines, different apps (I mean there are at least
> three spreadsheet applications I use under windows, Excel, Open Office
> and Gnumeric), and it doesn't track new versions.

Simply use the correct file extention.

> I can see the association for the ftype, with command line options to
> open files.
> 
> opendocument.CalcDocument.1="C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program
> \scalc.exe" -o "%1"
> 
> But new files just open the GUI with a new file, not create a file.

You can give the file any name you want on the left hand side of the
period.

-- 
Best Regards:
                     Baron.

On Mar 6, 4:06 pm, Baron <baron.nos...@linuxmaniac.nospam.net> wrote:
> a7yvm109gf...@netzero.com Inscribed thus:
>
> > You know how in Windows you can right-click in the explorer to create
> > a new blank file of types that are somehow magically registered in the
> > deep, dark entrails of Windows?
>
> > Ex, new-> spreadsheet. It creates a blank template and you can now
> > open this file in the proper application by simply calling it from a
> > command line.
>
> All it does is create an empty file with the correct extention.  Its not
> a template.  A template implies that you have a file pre-formatted with
> place holders for data.

Try it. A 7 KB "emtpy file"? Why do all of you just assume and reply
nonsense?
It would have taken 30 seconds to try it yourself and not look like a
total fool.
Go ahead, TRY IT, DO IT, and *look*, fool.
And it's different for every file type.

DUH.

> > How do you create this initial blank file from a command line? Yes, I
> > can keep copies of the various files and copy them as needed, but this
> > breaks on other machines, different apps (I mean there are at least
> > three spreadsheet applications I use under windows, Excel, Open Office
> > and Gnumeric), and it doesn't track new versions.
>
> Simply use the correct file extention.

You don't know what I'm trying to do, I need the stupid file to be
ready to be used as a "data source". It will be registered and receive
data through ODBC.
Think an empty file will work?
Doofus.

> > I can see the association for the ftype, with command line options to
> > open files.
>
> > opendocument.CalcDocument.1="C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program
> > \scalc.exe" -o "%1"
>
> > But new files just open the GUI with a new file, not create a file.
>
> You can give the file any name you want on the left hand side of the
> period.

What a useless reply. Christ now I know the feeling Allison gets
sometimes.
Next time, don't reply if all you have is a bag full of NOTHING.

On Fri, 5 Mar 2010 17:56:43 -0800 (PST), a...@netzero.com
wrote:

>You know how in Windows you can right-click in the explorer to create
>a new blank file of types that are somehow magically registered in the
>deep, dark entrails of Windows?
>
>Ex, new-> spreadsheet. It creates a blank template and you can now
>open this file in the proper application by simply calling it from a
>command line.
>
>How do you create this initial blank file from a command line? Yes, I
>can keep copies of the various files and copy them as needed, but this
>breaks on other machines, different apps (I mean there are at least
>three spreadsheet applications I use under windows, Excel, Open Office
>and Gnumeric), and it doesn't track new versions.
>
>I can see the association for the ftype, with command line options to
>open files.
>
>opendocument.CalcDocument.1="C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program
>\scalc.exe" -o "%1"
>
>But new files just open the GUI with a new file, not create a file.

If you really need a new file of a certain type, you need to use DDE
to execute the command specified in the shell|new section of the
registry key associated with the program. For Excel this is
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.8\shell\New\ddeexec. You can find
programs on the Internet which let you execute this command (ala
ClassExec, DDE_run etc.) which is what Windows does after all.

That said, if you just say 'touch foo.xls' you get an empty file which
Excel knows how to open (ie just typing 'foo.xls' on the command line
opens it with Excel) and show the same UI as a properly blank file.
Whether an empty file would work for you is an open question though.
-- 
Muzaffer Kal

DSPIA INC.
ASIC/FPGA Design Services

http://www.dspia.com

On Mar 5, 8:56=A0pm, a7yvm109gf...@netzero.com wrote:
> You know how in Windows you can right-click in the explorer to create
> a new blank file of types that are somehow magically registered in the
> deep, dark entrails of Windows?
>
> Ex, new-> spreadsheet. It creates a blank template and you can now
> open this file in the proper application by simply calling it from a
> command line.
>
> How do you create this initial blank file from a command line? Yes, I
> can keep copies of the various files and copy them as needed, but this
> breaks on other machines, different apps (I mean there are at least
> three spreadsheet applications I use under windows, Excel, Open Office
> and Gnumeric), and it doesn't track new versions.
>
> I can see the association for the ftype, with command line options to
> open files.
>
> opendocument.CalcDocument.1=3D"C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program
> \scalc.exe" -o "%1"
>
> But new files just open the GUI with a new file, not create a file.

Not sure I know the exact answer to your questions -- or rather, I'm
sure there's an easier way to do it..., but here's one solution:

Write a short program in VB for DOS (Yes, I know, a very old program,
but it should work fine?).
Your VB program would create the XLS file instance and store it where
you want it.

I suppose you could also use any modern version of Visual Basic too
(or C+, etc...)?
Just create the *.exe file and call that from whatever you are doing,
even via Command Line.

Otherwise, as Muzaffer suggested, DDE might work if you can figure out
how to get to it from the Command Line.

You can also try asking Mr. Excel (seriously).
That's a podcast available through iTunes.  They may have your answer
there.
Link:  http://mrexcel.libsyn.com/

When you find your answer, could you please post here?
One never knows when he'll need information like this....

Thanks.
-mpm

On Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:19:33 -0800 (PST), a...@netzero.com wrote:

>On Mar 6, 4:06 pm, Baron <baron.nos...@linuxmaniac.nospam.net> wrote:
>> a7yvm109gf...@netzero.com Inscribed thus:
>>
>> > You know how in Windows you can right-click in the explorer to =
create
>> > a new blank file of types that are somehow magically registered in =
the
>> > deep, dark entrails of Windows?
>>
>> > Ex, new-> spreadsheet. It creates a blank template and you can now
>> > open this file in the proper application by simply calling it from a
>> > command line.
>>
>> All it does is create an empty file with the correct extention.  Its =
not
>> a template.  A template implies that you have a file pre-formatted =
with
>> place holders for data.
>
>Try it. A 7 KB "emtpy file"? Why do all of you just assume and reply
>nonsense?
>It would have taken 30 seconds to try it yourself and not look like a
>total fool.
>Go ahead, TRY IT, DO IT, and *look*, fool.
>And it's different for every file type.
>
>DUH.
>
>> > How do you create this initial blank file from a command line? Yes, =
I
>> > can keep copies of the various files and copy them as needed, but =
this
>> > breaks on other machines, different apps (I mean there are at least
>> > three spreadsheet applications I use under windows, Excel, Open =
Office
>> > and Gnumeric), and it doesn't track new versions.
>>
>> Simply use the correct file extention.
>
>You don't know what I'm trying to do, I need the stupid file to be
>ready to be used as a "data source". It will be registered and receive
>data through ODBC.

Contradicting yourself a bit here?

>Think an empty file will work?
>Doofus.
>
>> > I can see the association for the ftype, with command line options =
to
>> > open files.
>>
>> > opendocument.CalcDocument.1=3D"C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org =
3\program
>> > \scalc.exe" -o "%1"
>>
>> > But new files just open the GUI with a new file, not create a file.

The file may be only in memory until you save it.
>>
>> You can give the file any name you want on the left hand side of the
>> period.
>
>What a useless reply. Christ now I know the feeling Allison gets
>sometimes.
>Next time, don't reply if all you have is a bag full of NOTHING.