{subsection: Introduction}

Condor can be used to run COM automation jobs using the Windows Scripting Host (WSH).  This means, for example, Condor can run jobs that automate Microsoft Excel.  What follows is a step-by-step introduction to running Excel 'jobs' in Condor.

{subsection: Configuration}

First, you need to create a new administrative user that will be used to run Excel jobs under.  We assume, for convenience, that this account name is *excel*.

To configure the Excel DCOM object, do the following:

1: Login to the execute machine as an *Administrator*.
1: Click, *Start*, click *Run* and enter *dcomcnfg*.
1: This will bring up the *Component Services* window.
1: Click *Console Root*, click *Component Services*, click *Computers*, and finally, click *DCOM Config*.
1: Right click on the *Microsoft Excel Application* component and select *Properties*.
1: In the *General* tab, select *None* in the *Authentication Level* drop-down list.
1: In the *Identity* tab, click *This user*, and enter the name of the administrative account, *excel*, and its password.
1: Click the *OK* button.

*NOTE:* This will render Excel almost inoperable on this machine for any interactive users.  Also, this has only been tested on Vista; the requirements of any future or past versions of Windows may differ slightly.

{subsection: Example}

====

*: =excel.simple.sub=:

  universe     = vanilla
  executable   = excel.simple.vbs
  log          = excel.simple.log.txt
  error        = excel.simple.err.txt
  output       = excel.simple.out.txt
  load_profile = true
  queue 1

====

*: =excel.simple.vbs=:

  On Error Resume Next

  WScript.Echo "Creating Excel Application Object"

  Set objExcel = CreateObject("Excel.Application")
  Set objBooks = objExcel.Workbooks

  WScript.Echo "Creating a Workbook"

  Set objWorkbook = objBooks.Add()

  WScript.Echo "Generating Data"

  For i = 1 to 10
      objExcel.Cells(i, 1).Value = i
  Next

  WScript.Echo "Document Filed"

  Set objFS = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
  sCurPath  = objFS.GetAbsolutePathName(".")
  sFileName = sCurPath & "\" & "test.xlsx"

  objWorkbook.SaveAs(sFileName)

  WScript.Echo "Document Saved"

  objWorkbook.Close()

  WScript.Echo "Document Closed"

  objExcel.Quit()
  WScript.Echo "Done"
  WScript.Exit 0

====

{subsection: Test Run}

Let's take a look at what the script returns. First, submit the job:

  C:\condor-jobs\scripts>condor_submit excel.simple.sub
  Submitting job(s).
  Logging submit event(s).
  1 job(s) submitted to cluster 77.

Once the job has completed, dump the output file:

  C:\condor-jobs\scripts>more excel.simple.out.txt
  Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.7
  Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

  Creating Excel Application Object
  Creating a Workbook
  Generating Data
  Document Filed
  Document Saved
  Document Closed
  Done