Visio VSL support?

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Visio VSL support?
 
Robert Cowham




Posts: 15
Joined: 2012-02-07
Hi

Given that you support Excel XLL, have you any plans/thoughts for Visio VSL support?

I would have though that this might not be too difficult for you guys :)

From

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa168138(v=office.11).aspx#odc_visaboutaddons2003_summarytablecomparingvslfilesexefilesandcomaddins

Advantages of VSL over COM addins for Visio include better interaction with Shapesheet functions.

Any thoughts/plans?

Regards
Robert
p.s. http://diagramantics.com/v11dsp/support.htm - there seems to be an older version of a VBVSL interface, but no longer supported.
Posted 21 Feb, 2012 05:17:28 Top
Eugene Astafiev


Guest


Hi Robert,

Thank you for the suggestion!

Please note that XLL add-ins allow adding user-defined functions to Excel (extend the standard list of functions). However, VSL provides exactly the same features like a regular COM add-in does and can be implemented only in C++ (exported functions are used). That is why we don't have any plans for supporting VSL.

P.S. I can imagine add-ons in .vsl files like a Visio-specific COM add-ins. You can read more about http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa201824%28v=office.10%29.aspx in MSDN.
Posted 21 Feb, 2012 06:32:36 Top
Robert Cowham




Posts: 15
Joined: 2012-02-07
Hi Eugene

One advantage of VSL rather than COM is:

"Can be run in response to a formula recalculation (the RUNADDON and RUNADDONWARGS functions)."

This allows more powerful behaviour to be included in Shapesheet behaviour for shapes. For example, I would like to be able to add some new shapes to a page with specific double-click behaviours etc.

While VSLs interface functions are usually written in C++ due to exports as you note, it should be possible to write the guts of them .Net - as is shown by the link I gave to VBVSL - someone already did this (but it seems to be dated 2003 which doesn't inspire confidence!). Given your skills I would have thought this was pretty straight forward??

Regards
Robert
Posted 27 Feb, 2012 08:23:04 Top
Eugene Astafiev


Guest


Hi Robert,

Thank you for pointing this to me!

I have added such record to our bug-tracking system . We will consider this feature on the meeting in depth.
Posted 27 Feb, 2012 09:12:02 Top