Windows - Mac and VBA-comptability

[SIGE_GOEVAERTS]

Hi There,


I am considering a new PC / MAC.
I never owned a MAC before but I am tempted to go this way ... it is
just the VBA-comptability that keeps me away.


Googling a bit, there seems to be more that does not work than that is
working!


- MAC's are running on VBA5 still .. not 6 .. not .NET will they soon?
-API functions , Active X controls I can forget ...
-No Pivot Charts
-No JPEG-formats on Userforms
- And so on and on ...


I assume the MAC-Excel has to run under virtual PC?
Will a new version of Virtual PC / MAC-excel overcome this problems?
=> When?


I do not know when Office 12 is going to be released, I think somewhere

end 2006?


As finally some major enhancements will be introduced ...
http://blogs.msdn.com/excel/default.aspx


.... MAC no option unless I wait another 5 years?


All info welcome,


Brgds Sige

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Hi There,


I am considering a new PC / MAC.
I never owned a MAC before but I am tempted to go this way ... it is
just the VBA-comptability that keeps me away.


Googling a bit, there seems to be more that does not work than that is
working!


- MAC's are running on VBA5 still .. not 6 .. not .NET will they soon?
No

-API functions , Active X controls I can forget ...

Yes, forget this. They will not work on a Mac.

-No Pivot Charts
-No JPEG-formats on Userforms
- And so on and on ...

Not sure

I assume the MAC-Excel has to run under virtual PC?

No. the Mac has a native form of Excel that runs under the Mac operating
system,. This is the version where the above restirctions apply. If you run
virtual PC and run a windows version of Excel in VPC then ALL of the windows
functionality, including VB6, activ X, etc. is avail, but slower because it
is running under emulation.

Will a new version of Virtual PC / MAC-excel overcome this problems?
=> When?

No, probably no. see above. You're fine with VPC.

I do not know when Office 12 is going to be released, I think somewhere

end 2006?

It has not been announced yet. Any speculation is pure guesswork.

As finally some major enhancements will be introduced ...
http://blogs.msdn.com/excel/default.aspx


... MAC no option unless I wait another 5 years?

MACBU has announced that the macintosh version of Excel 12 will have these
features.

 

[SIGE_GOEVAERTS]

Hi Bob,
Thanks for your input!

Just for my understanding:

I could run "Windows-Excel" on a MAC with ALL the functionalities
available (including API calls?) ...when running under VPC.
(Is Virtual PC a standard software on a MAC? ... or to be purchased
separately? (any price indication?) )

Or

I could run "MAC-Excel" on a MAC with above-mentioned limitations (&
other...)

Best Regards Sige

 

[Bob Greenblatt]

Hi Bob,
Thanks for your input!

Just for my understanding:

I could run "Windows-Excel" on a MAC with ALL the functionalities
available (including API calls?) ...when running under VPC.
(Is Virtual PC a standard software on a MAC? ... or to be purchased
separately? (any price indication?) )

Or

I could run "MAC-Excel" on a MAC with above-mentioned limitations (&
other...)

Best Regards Sige

Yes, that is correct. Virtual PC on the Mac emulates an Intel chipset. So
virtually all PC software, including native DOS stuff will run in this
environment and can not "tell the difference" between running on a "real" PC
or in the VPC emulated environment. So your API calls WILL work.

VPC is NOT a standard part of the Mac software. It is available as part of
Office 2004 for the Mac (which includes Mac Excel) or separately as a stand
alone package. Check the microsoft web site for pricing.
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/virtualpc/virtualpc.aspx?pid=virtualpc

 

[SIGE_GOEVAERTS]

Thank you Bob!

 

[Rup]

Both.
Mac Excel ("Excel 2004") is MS-developed software for the Mac, with
those limitations.
Virtual PC will let you run any PC software on the Mac, inclusing your
(PC) "MS Excel 2003" you currently have on your PC. However,
performance is very low : I have the latest 1.67 Ghz Powerbook with 1
Gb of memory, and I would not like to have to use Excel all day long on
it ! I only use it with the sforce extension for Excel (not available
on the Mac) which runs queries (and updates) on my salesforce.com
account while I am having lunch.

HTH,
Rup

 

[Barry Wainwright]

VPC is NOT a standard part of the Mac software. It is available as part of
Office 2004 for the Mac (which includes Mac Excel) or separately as a stand
alone package. Check the microsoft web site for pricing.

Just to clarify, Office 2004 is available in two distinct version (actually,
more than two, but two are applicable here:

Office 2004 does NOT contain VPC

Office 2004 Pro DOES contain VPC