Hi,

I need to write an ActiveX DLL for use in an Excel spreadsheet.

Question:

Can I write an ActiveX DLL using "Visual Basic .NET Standard Edition"?

I am new to .NET so am not sure if the new .NET version of VB allows you to write an ActiveX DLL (for use, say, in a VBA application).

If it is possible, please tell me where to start.

Hope you can help.

Thanks.

James

If you are using Visual Studio.Net, this is pretty simple. View the properties of a .Net project. Go to "Configuration Properties" then "Build". Under "Output Path" there is a checkbox for "Register for COM Interop". This will automatically register the .Net assembly for access from standard COM.

Alternative to this is the "regasm.exe" program that comes with .Net. Just type "regasm" at a command prompt and you should get the command-line help for that exe. This will do the same thing that VS.Net does. After compilation, this registers the .Net DLL with the registry for access from COM.

Peter

Thanks, Peter.

Am I right in thinking that Excel 2002 is a COM-based application? i.e. to write a bespoke class for it (outside of VBA) I must write a COM object (DLL)?

Or... am I making things too difficult - perhaps I can simply write a .NET class that Excel can use.. I don't know, because it is all rather new to me.

Hope you can help.

Many thanks.

James

I think you are misunderstanding things...

If have an application for which you would like to write a COM object you have two options:

1. Write in pre-.Net VB and create an ActiveX COM DLL
2. Write a .Net assembly, and use regasm.exe to register that .Net assembly for use by COM.

The latter gives you the flexibility of writing a much more useful and robust .Net assembly (that runs under the framework) but is accessible to both .Net and COM.

Peter

Did you ever get your excell spreadsheet able to access the .net exe??

I have a similar problem in Access trying to "see" a .net dll. Do you know what to do?

Walt (desperate)