Can I create a COM server between MATLAB 64bit and PowerPoint 32bit?

I've been trying to create a COM server between Matlab and PowerPoint using the function actxserver. So far I have not had any luck and always get an error. I searched the internet and came across some sources that said COM servers cannot be created for a Matlab 64-bit version while trying to use a Microsoft Office 32-bit version. Is this true? Would it work if I had a 32-bit version of Matlab? Thanks!

Answer 1

[Kojiro Saito]

I can create a COM server between 64 bit MATLAB (R2018a) and 32bit PowerPoint (2016) by the following.

e = actxserver('PowerPoint.Application');
e.Visible = 1;

What an error do you get?

[Michael Esneul]

Sorry for the late response. The error I get is:

_Error using actxserver (line 91)

Server creation failed. Invalid ProgID

'PowerPoint.Application'_

[Kojiro Saito]

What is the version of PowerPoint?

[Image Analyst]

Is this for a complied and deployed version, where you don't know the version of your end user? Otherwise, if it's on your system, why don't you just get the 64 bit version of Office and try that?

Answer 2

[Walter Roberson]

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/winprog64/running-32-bit-applications

"The system isolates 32-bit applications from 64-bit applications, which includes preventing file and registry collisions. Console, GUI, and service applications are supported. The system provides interoperability across the 32/64 boundary for scenarios such as cut and paste and COM. However, 32-bit processes cannot load 64-bit DLLs for execution, and 64-bit processes cannot load 32-bit DLLs for execution."