That's a pretty though one - I want to send and receive variables from VB (in excel) to a designated webpage (PHP) which will return a set of variables to VB -

The first issue is how to send out variables from excel to a webpage ?
1st thought is to call the webpage with the variables in the address like: http:\\www.servername.com\test.php?Var1=$Variable1
That officialy isn't acceptable because $Variable1 could be > 400Kb

Then how to get the webpage PHP to send back to VB

Anyone with a thought or a link for me to start on this - Thanks.

I don't know much about .php processing, but I presume you can manipulate the page prior to its being sent out to the browser.

If so, you can either put the data into a variable in the pages <script> section, or include it as the value of an <input type="hidden" value="put_your_stuff_here">[/size=3].

The return must be done through a form submit, resetting the href of a control that has one (like an inline frame) with the data in a querystring variable (looks like that won't work for you though), etc.—something that submits a Request to the server—then handling things at the server (reading the QueryString value, reading the form element, etc.).

Brian

PHP is basically a program sleeping - as soon as you call the page from the website, the server execute the program within that page.

You can easily transfer variables from one page to another when within a web browser so programs keep on rolling

PHP is time base at the opposite of Java which is event based.
so PHP+Java more or less = VB or C

Perhaps I'm looking at this issue from the wrong angle.. I will re-think the idea (where's the coffee??!)

You can use the XMLHTTP component inside MSXML to do an HTTP post from Excel to a PHP webpage. The XMLHTTP component can also receive the response back from the PHP page, but you will only be able to send back a string of characters (well, technicaly its actually a binary stream but the point is it wont be "variables"). maybe you could send back your variables as XML?

see http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=290591 for an example (you'll want to use the XMLHTTP component from Excel, not ServerMLHTTP component).

hth
Phil