EXE File using ExcelDNA Add-in

[heezea]

Hello all,

I was hoping you could help me. I'm trying to make an Excel Add-in with some special features.

I really want to use ExcelDNA since it is awesome! Especially for writing UDFs. However, I also want to create a stand-alone program (a System.Windows.Forms : Form) that handles the bulk of the interaction with the user. One of the key features is the ability to use custom hotkeys with a hook (using the CAPSLOCK button in combination with other keys). What do you think is the best way to do this?

The options I've tested/tried/considered:

1. A pure XLL file. I don't like this because I feel like it becomes cumbersome to have the UI I want.

2. A pure Windows Form file. It doesn't seem like I can effectively use the XLL with this method?

3. Maybe I should use a combination Window Form (.exe file) with an XLL file and then when I deploy the program I can use an installer to install the XLL and then the EXE can use the formulas in the XLL? If this sounds promising, any installer recommendations?

I appreciate you help!

[Govert van Drimmelen]

Hi,

Excel-DNA can help you if the code is in an Excel add-in that runs inside the Excel process.

For a standalone executable, even if it talks to Excel through the COM object model, Excel-DNA has no role to play.

You can add a user interface, show WinForms or WPF windows etc. in your Excel add-in. Some aspects or doing this can be a bit tricky regarding the threading and communicating back to Excel.

This project explores a few ways to build a user interface in your add-in that interacts with Excel, so it's a good one to experiment with a bit, and try to understand what he tried to do: https://github.com/Ron-Ldn/DotNetRefEdit

For installing your Excel-DNA based add-in, you can look at the WiX Installer template project here: https://github.com/Excel-DNA/wixinstaller

If you do want a separate application that talks to Excel through cross-process COM calls, you can still have an .xll add-in loaded in Excel (you load it through Application.RegisterXLL). Bu in that scenario there's really nothing about Excel-DNA that interacts with your external application.

-Govert

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From: exce...@googlegroups.com [exce...@googlegroups.com] on behalf of heezea [hee...@gmail.com]
Sent: 20 July 2018 05:10 PM
To: Excel-DNA
Subject: [ExcelDna] EXE File using ExcelDNA Add-in

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