[Sample of June 29th] C++ application automates Excel application

Sample Download : https://code.msdn.microsoft.com/CppAutomateExcel-44214081  

The CppAutomateExcel example demonstrates how to write VC++ codes to create a Microsoft Excel instance, create a workbook, fill data into a specific range, save the workbook, close the Microsoft Excel application and then clean up unmanaged COM resources.

There are three basic ways you can write VC++ automation codes:

1. Automating Excel using the #import directive and smart pointers

The code in Solution1.h/cpp demonstrates the use of #import to automate Excel. #import (https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/8etzzkb6.aspx), a new directive that became available with Visual C++ 5.0, creates VC++ "smart pointers" from a specified type library. It is very powerful, but often not recommended because of reference-counting problems that typically occur when used with the Microsoft Office applications. Unlike the direct API approach in Solution2.h/cpp, smart pointers enable us to benefit from the type info to early/late bind the object. #import takes care of adding the messy guids to

the project and the COM APIs are encapsulated in custom classes that the #import directive generates.

2. Automating Excel using C++ and the COM APIs

The code in Solution2.h/cpp demontrates the use of C/C++ and the COM APIs to automate Excel. The raw automation is much more difficult, but it is sometimes necessary to avoid the overhead with MFC, or problems with #import. Basically, you work with such APIs as CoCreateInstance(), and COM interfaces such as IDispatch and IUnknown.

3. Automating Excel with MFC

With MFC, Visual C++ Class Wizard can generate "wrapper classes" from the type libraries. These classes simplify the use of the COM servers. Automating Excel with MFC is not covered in this sample.

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