What was New in XLL Plus 4.3

Version 4.3 of XLL+ contained many enhancements. The main features are described below.

• International support
• COM wrapper generator
• User Guide
• Toolbars
• Samples

International support

We've made it much easier to support languages other than English, and also to write add-ins that support multiple languages.

User guide

A new chapter in the User Guide describes all aspects of XLL+ multi-language support.

Samples

Sample projects that demonstrate various techniques for international support.

Library functions

A new set of library functions have been added, to support the use of resources in multiple langauges, either in a single resource file, or in separate satellite DLLs.

Function Wizard

The XLL+ Function Wizard now allows you to use string identifiers (e.g. "#123") instead of text, to support function help in multiple languages.

Setting formulae

A new topic in the User Guide discusses how to set Cell formulae, using code that works in all Excel language versions, and with any regional settings.

COM wrapper generator

You can use the new COM wrapper generator to create a COM library which exposes all the methods of your XLL as COM methods. The COM library can be used by stand-alone applications written in languages that support COM, including MS Visual Basic 6, C++, C# and VB.NET.

Click here for the COM Wrapper Generator User Guide.

User Guide

We've added several new sections and topics to the User Guide.

Using references

How to use and create references to ranges of cells, in order to manipulate their values, formulae and formats.

Setting formulae

Discusses the available techniques for setting formulae of cells.

COM events

How to trap events in workbooks and run your own code, for instance each time Excel recalculates or saves a workbook.

International support

How to ensure that your add-in works properly in all Excel language versions, and how to support multiple user languages with a single XLL.

Menus

How to add menus to your add-in.

Toolbars

How to add toolbars to your add-in.

Toolbars

A new toolbar class, CXlToolbar, has been added that makes it easy for you to create Excel toolbars and to manipulate their buttons. The AppWizard can generate all the code and resources required for a simple toolbar, and you can add your own code for any special behavior.

Samples

We've added a lot of new example code, including several new complete sample applications.

CreateBook

How to create new workbooks, add sheets and populate them with data.

Serialize

Demonstrates how to serialize Excel native data types to and from streams.

SetFormula

This sample add-in shows how to use the CXlOper class to set the formula of a cell, using various techniques.

FInspect

How to inspect and display a list of all registered add-in functions and their arguments.

Simple Toolbar

How to add a toolbar to Excel when your add-in opens and remove it when it closes.

Toolbar using resources

How to add a toolbar to Excel, using bitmaps held in the add-in's resource file.

Dynamic toolbar

How to add a toolbar to Excel, and change the state of the buttons at run-time.

International

Demonstrates how to get and use Excel's international settings.

Localized (Single DLL)

Demonstrates how to support multiple languages in a single XLL.

Localized (Multiple DLL)

Demonstrates how to support multiple languages using one DLL per language.