ExcelDNA vs VSTO vs Xloil

[Zhang He]

Hi I am building a new Excel addin, trying to find the right framework, my requirements are as follows: 

1. Easy Deployment（MUST）: The Add-in should be easy for end-users to install, ideally with just one or two clicks.
2. Broad Version Compatibility (MUST):  support older Excel versions, at least back to 2013 or 2010.
3. Task Pane (must)

4. Dialog

5. Custom Context Menu

6. Python support (MUST): Essential for executing data analysis, running Excel manipulation Python code.
7. User Defined Functions (UDF) 

Given these criteria, do you think ExcelDNA is a right choice? It seems Xloil also satisfy the requiremrnt, what do you think of ExcelDNA's advantages over Xloil?

 Can I build an Excel-DNA addin, then communicate via HTTP with a Windows version of Xlwings, so that I can use python to manipulate Excel?

[Govert van Drimmelen]

Excel-DNA (and VSTO) are .NET only libraries with no Python support.

 

-Govert

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[Zhang He]

Thanks for replying! Yes, I understand that, but given your immense experience in addin development, can you provide some toughts on the structure I propose : using ExcelDNA for addin, but initiate a python windows process (not addin) on the background, to leverage python's abilities alongside C#? Do you think this is safe or performance vaible?

[Govert van Drimmelen]

I think the structure you propose is unnecessarily complicated.

Adding cross-process calls with multiple runtime systems sound like a very bad idea to me.

 

You have stated that you MUST have Python support, but given no reason why you’d use .NET in the add-in.

 

If you want to make an Excel add-in with Python, just use xlOil or PyXll – they’ll both support all the features you require.

If you wanted to make the add-in with .NET, then use Excel-DNA.

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