Comments on: Registering a UDF Take 2

By: jkpieterse

jkpieterse — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 05:25:00 +0000

The method was designed for that, so yes.

By: corven

corven — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 16:11:00 +0000

I absolutely love the end results of this method. However, I’m curious if it can only be employeed with UDF’s contained in a DLL. Can this method be adjusted to work with XLA’s?

By: XL-Dennis

XL-Dennis — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 13:54:00 +0000

Jurgen,

Is it possible for You to make the automation add-in and its VB-project available?

Kind regards,
Dennis

By: keepITcool

keepITcool — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 16:11:00 +0000

addendum 2:
KB 285337 says: "there is no way to specify function descriptions, argument descriptions, or help for Automation Add-in functions in the Function Wizard.

Not true! I can now add full descriptions to functions in vb dlls!
I've solved the loading issues for UDF's in automation addins, by using a timer to check Excel's Ready state. Hiding the Function Category of the "original" is still a nono.

By: keepITcool

keepITcool — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 18:36:00 +0000

addendum:
a private function in a dll can de "described" but cannot be called from a worksheet.
this gives some problems with regard to the function category.

By: keepITcool

keepITcool — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 11:55:00 +0000

Guys,
no reference is needed in the caller.xls BUT the caller will have links to the xla.

I've successfully tested this method with the UDF's in a VB6 ActiveX dll.
No references and no links!
However:

Once the the dll is connected and the registration process completed it works as expected.
(OnConnect sets a global application object and calls the UdfHelper class... and even private functions in the dll can be registered)

BUT if the dll connects because the user clicks the (modal) function wizard
there's a threading? conflict when the application object is called from the dll
and registration fails..

Anyone ideas on how to force connection of the dll, or delay the function wizard?
pls contact me via email.

keepITcool

By: Charles Williams

Charles Williams — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:37:00 +0000

Stephen,

I have implemented this for the FastExcel XLA functions using a similar approach based on Jurgen's technique and it works fine in the scenario you describe in all Excel versions from 97 to 2003 (have not tried it with XL12 yet).
The only drawback I can see is that Excel still creates a link to the XLA in Caller.xls.

regards
Charles

By: Stephen Bullen

Stephen Bullen — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 16:36:00 +0000

Hi Jurgen,

Assume we have an addin FuncLib.xla, which contains the VBA UDFs and the code to register them in the function library.

We have another sheet, caller.xls which wants to use a function defined in FuncLib.xla. If I'm in caller.xls and use the function wizard to enter the function, does it work OK? If I enter the function without using the function wizard, does it work OK?

Using the technique we described in PED, the above only works if the caller.xls VBProject references the funclib.xla VBProject - which is a major downside.

Regards

Stephen

By: jkpieterse

jkpieterse — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 10:03:00 +0000

Jurgen:

If no-one says it works otherwise, I'll add this to the site.

By: keepITcool

keepITcool — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 09:14:00 +0000

Stephen and JK

I'm not entirely sure of Stephen's question, but will give it a try.

The "Registration" code exposes some functions thru the function wizard (even if private).
(this code can be anywhere and does not need a reference)

The "Function" code with the exposed functions does NOT need to be in either the calling worksheet's parent workbook nor in the workbook containing the "registration" code.
Nor does it need a reference.

If the functions are in an xla addin: no need to use qualified function names during the registration process (even if not in same wkb as registration code) ELSE you must use a qualified function name.

The "Caller" workbook needs the functions to be loaded, and alas will create an external file link.
(a reference is optional to force loading the "Functions")

Does this answer it?
Greetz, Jurgen