Coding UDF's with VSTO

[ma1achai]

What is the best way to code UDF's for Excel using VSTO in VS 2008?

Are we still using an automation add-in through COM, or have they developed
a slicker way of exposing functions?

I noticed that if I'm using Excel Services (through SharePoint) that they
have a simple attribute that defines a function as an Excel UDF, as follows:
[UdfMethod(IsVolatile = true, ReturnsPersonalInformation = true)]

Is there something like that if you are not using SharePoint?

 

[Chip Pearson]

Everything still has to go via COM, but see
http://www.cpearson.com/Excel/CreatingNETFunctionLib.aspx for examples of
creating a function lib in VB.NET.


--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
Excel Product Group
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
(email on web site)

 

[ma1achai]

Thanks for the reply Chip. I was hoping that VSTO had made some sort of
evolutionary step forward and had a better way to do this now...

Also, when using the code:

<ClassInterface(ClassInterfaceType.AutoDual), ComVisible(True)> _
Public Class ExcelDivision

End Class

....doesn't this also expose the System.Object methods to Excel? I haven't
tried it, but I read that in a blog post by Gabhan Berry
(http://blogs.msdn.com/gabhan_berry/...xcel-worksheet-functions-in-c_2D00_sharp.aspx).
I was trying his method instead, but am having trouble figuring out how he
gets Excel to see his Functions class as an automation add-in. I tried and I
do not see it show up in the list.

Everything still has to go via COM, but see
http://www.cpearson.com/Excel/CreatingNETFunctionLib.aspx for examples of
creating a function lib in VB.NET.


--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
Excel Product Group
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
(email on web site)

What is the best way to code UDF's for Excel using VSTO in VS 2008?

Are we still using an automation add-in through COM, or have they
developed
a slicker way of exposing functions?

I noticed that if I'm using Excel Services (through SharePoint) that they
have a simple attribute that defines a function as an Excel UDF, as
follows:
[UdfMethod(IsVolatile = true, ReturnsPersonalInformation = true)]

Is there something like that if you are not using SharePoint?

 

[ma1achai]

ok... it does look kie the System.Object methods are expoed as well... I can
see the following three in the Functions Wizard under my functions category:

Equal
GetHashCode
GetType
ToString

I can get rid of almost all of them by overriding the method and applying
the [ComVisible (false)] attribute. However, GetType is not override-able.
Any ideas on that one?

I'm still wondering how that addin from the blog works...

Thanks for the reply Chip. I was hoping that VSTO had made some sort of
evolutionary step forward and had a better way to do this now...

Also, when using the code:

<ClassInterface(ClassInterfaceType.AutoDual), ComVisible(True)> _
Public Class ExcelDivision

End Class

...doesn't this also expose the System.Object methods to Excel? I haven't
tried it, but I read that in a blog post by Gabhan Berry
(http://blogs.msdn.com/gabhan_berry/...xcel-worksheet-functions-in-c_2D00_sharp.aspx).
I was trying his method instead, but am having trouble figuring out how he
gets Excel to see his Functions class as an automation add-in. I tried and I
do not see it show up in the list.

Everything still has to go via COM, but see
http://www.cpearson.com/Excel/CreatingNETFunctionLib.aspx for examples of
creating a function lib in VB.NET.


--
Cordially,
Chip Pearson
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
Excel Product Group
Pearson Software Consulting, LLC
www.cpearson.com
(email on web site)

What is the best way to code UDF's for Excel using VSTO in VS 2008?

Are we still using an automation add-in through COM, or have they
developed
a slicker way of exposing functions?

I noticed that if I'm using Excel Services (through SharePoint) that they
have a simple attribute that defines a function as an Excel UDF, as
follows:
[UdfMethod(IsVolatile = true, ReturnsPersonalInformation = true)]

Is there something like that if you are not using SharePoint?