# Win32ole question - how to get handle on currently running a

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/win32ole-question-how-to-get-handle-on-currently-running-a/79930>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [March 11, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/win32ole-question-how-to-get-handle-on-currently-running-a/79930 "2006-03-11T20:44:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/itsme213)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/win32ole-question-how-to-get-handle-on-currently-running-a/79930/1 "2006-03-11T20:44:51Z")

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I need to process a bunch of word files using win32ole.

word = WIN32OLE.new(‘word.application’)

starts a new word application instance each time it executes. Is there a  
way  
to get a hold of the currently running word app, if any?

Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/itsme213)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/win32ole-question-how-to-get-handle-on-currently-running-a/79930/2 "2006-03-11T20:50:57Z")

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Use the connect method in place of the new method:

word = WIN32OLE.connect(‘word.application’)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/itsme213)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 1:21pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/win32ole-question-how-to-get-handle-on-currently-running-a/79930/3 "2006-03-14T13:21:49Z")

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How would you choose between a number of different running instances of  
an  
application?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/itsme213)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/win32ole-question-how-to-get-handle-on-currently-running-a/79930/4 "2006-03-14T14:45:55Z")

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You could use the WIN32OLE.connect method with the path and filename of  
the open document in place of the ProgID:

xlWorkbook = WIN32OLE.connect(‘c:\SomeFolder\SomeFile.xls’)

I have only tested this with Excel, but it should also work to obtain a  
Word document object.

Mully