Is it possible to automate a Click-to-run application?

Question

I have a small application which automates Microsoft Word via COM/OLE Automation.

Unfortunately this doesn't work with the virtualized Click-to-run editions of Word, because they don't have the required keys in the registry. (At least not where they are exptected to be) In other words: CreateObject fails because the necessary COM classes are not registered.

Is there any way to automate the Click-to-run editions of Microsoft Office? Perhaps some compatibility layer?

EDIT: I found just two pages where users/developers were complaining about this. Either OLE automation has become obsolete or no one is using the C2R editions...

Answer 1

Unfortunately it's not possible to do automation with the Click-To-Run Office editions. It's due to the virtualization process used.

According to the information here you can switch you C2R-edition to a MSI edition. It seems like the license is the same for both editions and also the product key.