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Excel Automation add-ins
In fact, the Excel Automation add-in (user-defined function, or UDF) does not differ from a COM add-in except for
the registration in the registry. That's why Add-in Express bases Excel Automation Add-in projects on Add-in Express COM Add-in projects.
Add-in Express allows creating Automation add-ins for Excel 2010, 2007, 2003 and 2002 (XP). Add-in Express also provides some
special features for creating an advanced user interface of your Excel add-in,
such as custom task panes, XLL add-ins
and more.
The sample Excel Automation addin below is written in VB.NET, while Visual C# and C++ are also supported.
Step 1. Creating an Excel Automation add-in project
Choose the Add-in Express COM Add-in project template in the New Project dialog
in the Visual Studio IDE.
Click OK to start the COM add-in project wizard. In the wizard windows, you choose the programming language, applications
supported by your add-in, and interop assemblies to use. Note that since Excel Automation add-ins are supported in Excel 2002
and higher, the minimal Excel interop assembly version is XP (2002).
The wizard creates and opens a new COM Add-in solution in IDE. The solution contains an only project, the COM add-in project.
Please refer to Building your first Microsoft Office COM add-in sample.
Step 2. Adding a new Excel COM Add-in module
In order to add Excel user-defined functions to the COM add-in, you add the Excel COM Add-in module to the Add-n Express
COM Add-in project using the Add New Item dialog.
This adds the ExcelAddinModule1.vb (or ExcelAddinModule1.cs) file to your COM Add-in project.
Step 3. Writing an Excel user-defined function
In the Solution Explorer window, right-click the ExcelAddinModule.vb (or ExcelAddinModule.cs) file and choose the
View Code item in the context menu.
The module contains the following code:
Imports System.Runtime.InteropServices
'Add-in Express Excel Add-in Module
<GuidAttribute("287D044F-D233-47E6-BB48-35999635BAD3"), _
ProgIdAttribute("MyExcelAutomationAddin2.ExcelAddinModule1"), _
ClassInterface(ClassInterfaceType.AutoDual)> _
Public Class ExcelAddinModule1
Inherits AddinExpress.MSO.ADXExcelAddinModule
#Region " Add-in Express automatic code "
<ComRegisterFunctionAttribute()> _
Public Shared Sub AddinRegister(ByVal t As Type)
AddinExpress.MSO.ADXExcelAddinModule.ADXExcelAddinRegister(t)
End Sub
<ComUnregisterFunctionAttribute()> _
Public Shared Sub AddinUnregister(ByVal t As Type)
AddinExpress.MSO.ADXExcelAddinModule.ADXExcelAddinUnregister(t)
End Sub
#End Region
Public Sub New()
MyBase.New()
End Sub
End Class
Just add a new function to the class. Say, the following one:
Imports Excel = Microsoft.Office.Interop.Excel
...
Public Function MyFunc(ByVal Range As Object) As Object
MyFunc = CType(Range, Excel.Range).Value * 1000
End Function
Step 4. Running the Excel Automation add-in
Choose Register Add-in Express Project in the Build menu (if you use the Express edition of Visual Studio,
this item can be found in the context menu of the add-in module), restart Excel, and check if your add-in works.
Step 5. Debugging your Automation add-in
To debug your add-in, specify Excel as the Start Program in the Project Options window and run the project.
Step 6. Deploying the Excel Automation add-in
Create a setup project, build it, copy all setup files to the target PC and run the installer.
See also Deploying Add-in Express projects,
Deploying Office extensions
and Excel UDF tips.
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