Replace XLA with XLL function

J

Jens Thiel

Hello,

I'm looking for a way to replace some worksheet functions defined in an XLA
by native counterparts exported from an XLL add-in. When deleting the
functions from the XLA and adding them to the XLL, all existing workbooks
show "#NAME?" when recalculating these functions. I have to add that the XLA
is not accessed as a "classic" add-in, but instead added using
Tools->References from the VBA editor.

The only way I was able to update to the new XLL function was by renaming
"'C:\Full\Path\To\AddIn\Name.xla'!FunctionName" to "SomethingSilly", saving,
closing, reopening and again renaming "SomethingSilly" to "FunctionName". Is
there an easier way? I'm asking since I need to upgrade a lot of workbooks,
with some of them not available on the server (that is, the upgrade should
run at the end-user).

Every help or hint appreciated!

Jens.
 
S

Steve Dalton

Hi Jens

I'm not at all sure about what I'm about to say, but it sounds like it might
be a registry issue, i.e. Excel writing something into the registry and then
not being able to work out what function it's supposed to be using unless
you force it to recognise that it's registry entry is out of date by
restarting Excel with the function in the XLA missing. Have you looked into
this as a possibility?

Regards

Steve Dalton
 
J

Jens Thiel

Hi Steve,

I think that the workbook itself carries some information about the source
of external functions. Otherwise it wouldn't be able to show the last known
location when moving the XLA. In this case, the XLA is not even added in the
usual way (using the add-in manager), but "referenced" from VBE.

I haven't heard of any registry entries being involved, but I will run a
search in the background to be sure. Thank you anyway,

Jens.

--
Replace MSDN with my first name when replying to my email address!


Steve Dalton said:
Hi Jens

I'm not at all sure about what I'm about to say, but it sounds like it might
be a registry issue, i.e. Excel writing something into the registry and then
not being able to work out what function it's supposed to be using unless
you force it to recognise that it's registry entry is out of date by
restarting Excel with the function in the XLA missing. Have you looked into
this as a possibility?

Regards

Steve Dalton

Jens Thiel said:
Hello,

I'm looking for a way to replace some worksheet functions defined in an XLA
by native counterparts exported from an XLL add-in. When deleting the
functions from the XLA and adding them to the XLL, all existing workbooks
show "#NAME?" when recalculating these functions. I have to add that the XLA
is not accessed as a "classic" add-in, but instead added using
Tools->References from the VBA editor.

The only way I was able to update to the new XLL function was by renaming
"'C:\Full\Path\To\AddIn\Name.xla'!FunctionName" to "SomethingSilly", saving,
closing, reopening and again renaming "SomethingSilly" to
Click to expand...
"FunctionName".
Click to expand...
 
F

Fredrik Wahlgren

Jens Thiel said:
Hello,

I'm looking for a way to replace some worksheet functions defined in an XLA
by native counterparts exported from an XLL add-in. When deleting the
functions from the XLA and adding them to the XLL, all existing workbooks
show "#NAME?" when recalculating these functions. I have to add that the XLA
is not accessed as a "classic" add-in, but instead added using
Tools->References from the VBA editor.

The only way I was able to update to the new XLL function was by renaming
"'C:\Full\Path\To\AddIn\Name.xla'!FunctionName" to "SomethingSilly", saving,
closing, reopening and again renaming "SomethingSilly" to "FunctionName". Is
there an easier way? I'm asking since I need to upgrade a lot of workbooks,
with some of them not available on the server (that is, the upgrade should
run at the end-user).

Every help or hint appreciated!

Jens.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Let' see if I understand this. What youre saying is that you used to
have something like this

=C:\Full\Path\To\AddIn\Name.xla'!MyUdf(Param1, Param2,...)

You have since replaced the functionality in Name.xla with equal
functionality in an xll. If you have done so correctly, you don't need a
path at all. Instead, the above expression should be relaced by
=MyUdf(Param1, Param2,...)

Here's a link that shows how to replace hyperlinks:
http://www.j-walk.com/ss/excel/usertips/tip031.htm
I hope this will help.

Best Regards,
Fredrik
 
F

Fredrik Wahlgren

I think you should try this

1) Replace 'C:\Full\Path\To\AddIn\Name.xla'! with nothing. Leave the field
blank
2) Remove the reference to Name.xla
3) Load your xll
4) Replace = with =. This will force excel to re-evaluate all functions

Best Regards,
Fredrik
 
J

Jens Thiel

Fredrik Wahlgren said:
Hmm. Let' see if I understand this. What youre saying is that you used to
have something like this

=C:\Full\Path\To\AddIn\Name.xla'!MyUdf(Param1, Param2,...)

You have since replaced the functionality in Name.xla with equal
functionality in an xll. If you have done so correctly, you don't need a
path at all. Instead, the above expression should be relaced by
=MyUdf(Param1, Param2,...)
Click to expand...

That was my initial thought, but replacing it doesn't work and you get
"#NAME?" instead. The MyUdf function from the XLL seems to be hidden by
fragements (in the workbook) of the deleted XLA equivalent. It is available
in other workbooks, and shows up in the function wizard as well.
Here's a link that shows how to replace hyperlinks:
http://www.j-walk.com/ss/excel/usertips/tip031.htm
I hope this will help.
Click to expand...

Nope, completely unrelated :-(

Any other idea?

Jens.
 
J

Jens Thiel

Fredrik Wahlgren said:
I think you should try this

1) Replace 'C:\Full\Path\To\AddIn\Name.xla'! with nothing. Leave the field
blank
2) Remove the reference to Name.xla
Click to expand...

When referenced using VBE Tools>References, the Name.xla shows up in the
VBAProject "explorer". It can not be removed using the GUI, but disabling
security for VBAProject allows to do

Public Sub RemoveFbA()
Set r = ThisWorkbook.VBProject.References.Item("FbAProject")
ThisWorkbook.VBProject.References.Remove r
End Sub
3) Load your xll
4) Replace = with =. This will force excel to re-evaluate all functions
Click to expand...

Doesn't work. Only if I rename _ALL_ functions (e.g. MyUdf->XxxMyUdf) that
previously referenced Name.xla, save, close, reopen and rename them back
(XxxMyUdf->MyUdf) the XLL function is finally called. It seems that as long
a single UDF from the XLA is left, the once existing association with
Name.xla is kept by the workbook.

And to make it even more complicated: I can not remove the Name.xla
completely as only _some_ functions have been replaced. *sigh*

Thanks a lot for the idea. Removing the reference wasn't tried before (only
removing the Name.xla completely).

Jens.
 
F

Fredrik Wahlgren

Jens Thiel said:
When referenced using VBE Tools>References, the Name.xla shows up in the
VBAProject "explorer". It can not be removed using the GUI, but disabling
security for VBAProject allows to do

Public Sub RemoveFbA()
Set r = ThisWorkbook.VBProject.References.Item("FbAProject")
ThisWorkbook.VBProject.References.Remove r
End Sub


Doesn't work. Only if I rename _ALL_ functions (e.g. MyUdf->XxxMyUdf) that
previously referenced Name.xla, save, close, reopen and rename them back
(XxxMyUdf->MyUdf) the XLL function is finally called. It seems that as long
a single UDF from the XLA is left, the once existing association with
Name.xla is kept by the workbook.

And to make it even more complicated: I can not remove the Name.xla
completely as only _some_ functions have been replaced. *sigh*

Thanks a lot for the idea. Removing the reference wasn't tried before (only
removing the Name.xla completely).

Jens.
Click to expand...

Hmm.. Can you rename the function so that you include the equal sign as
well. Now Excel won't think of it as a function.
Shouldn't it be possible to remove the reference now? Having done that,
replace MyUdf with =XxxMyUdf.
Of course, this won't work if you have a function similar to
=A1+'C:\Full\Path\To\AddIn\Name.xla'!MyUdf (...)

/ Fredrik
 
J

Jens Thiel

Fredrik Wahlgren said:
Hmm.. Can you rename the function so that you include the equal sign as
well. Now Excel won't think of it as a function.
Shouldn't it be possible to remove the reference now?
Click to expand...

One would think but... Nope. Not from the GUI (given that I'm looking at the
right places), only programatically.

Jens.
 
S

Steve Dalton

So if the information is stored in the workbook itself, then it might be
possible to create a program that locates the record in the workbook file
(opened as a binary file) and modifies it directly. I'm sure you have a
copy of the SDK text but perhaps, like me, have never bothered to look too
much at the BIFF section. The BIFF version in the SDK is now out of date
(since Excel 2000 I think) so you might need to find a more up-to-date
equivalent.

Jens Thiel said:
Hi Steve,

I think that the workbook itself carries some information about the source
of external functions. Otherwise it wouldn't be able to show the last known
location when moving the XLA. In this case, the XLA is not even added in the
usual way (using the add-in manager), but "referenced" from VBE.

I haven't heard of any registry entries being involved, but I will run a
search in the background to be sure. Thank you anyway,

Jens.
Click to expand...
 
P

Peter Huang

Hi Jens,

As far as I know, xll is used from excel 97. I think so far we can try to
write a ComAddin which is newer addin technology.

We can build comaddin in many language(VC++,VC#.NET,VB.NET,VB6), Here is
many references you may have a check.

SAMPLE: Comaddin.exe Office 2000 COM Add-In Written in Visual C++ (230689)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;230689

How To Build an Office 2000 COM Add-In in Visual Basic (238228)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;238228

How To Build an Office COM Add-in by Using Visual Basic .NET (302896)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;302896

How To Build an Office COM Add-in by Using Visual C# .NET (302901)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;302901

INFO: Excel COM Add-ins and Automation Add-ins (291392)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;291392

Best regards,

Peter Huang
Microsoft Online Partner Support

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
J

Jens Thiel

"Peter Huang" said:
Hi Jens,

As far as I know, xll is used from excel 97. I think so far we can try to
write a ComAddin which is newer addin technology.
Click to expand...

Hi Peter,

the problem is obviously not writing the new add-in, but getting rid of
"hidden" references to functions that have been deleted from the XLA
(referenced from VBE, to make it more complicated). See the this thread for
more information.

Although it sounds trivial - it isn't. Or everybody looking into this
doesn't see the obvious? There are 500+ actively used worbooks affected. A
solution would be appreciated very much.

Best regards,

Jens.
 
J

Jens Thiel

Hi Steve,

you are right: I never bothered with the BIFF section. Spending a few
minutes, it turns out that in a parsed Formula (444ff), a ptgName tokens's
ixti field (page 456) references external workbooks and names (308-312).
However, the XLA in question has been attached using the VBE, and the SDK
says (page 262) that the VBA PROJECT storage is not documented.

I do not know about a published BIFF reference for Excel 2000 or later.

Jens.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

UDF shows #NAME? when moved from XLA to XLL 2
Showing argument descriptions as an XLL worksheet function is type 1
Two functions of the same name in seperate xla's 1
Migrating from XLL to XLA 1
XLL Functions from Excel VBA 4
return a value from a vba function in another xla 3
Calling XLA Macro from DLL. 1
develop UDF in Xll, Automation Add-in or VSTO 0

Top